Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a two-part series.
Candidates for key Pine Bluff and Jefferson County offices gathered Thursday evening for a forum hosted by the Divine 9 and Community Partners.
Held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, candidates debated topics ranging from intergovernmental cooperation and public safety to economic development and Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency. Held in two separate sessions, the event provided a platform for candidates for prosecuting attorney, sheriff, City Council and justice of the peace to share their vision and qualifications with the public.
The candidates for prosecuting attorney — Karres Manning-Center, Mircha King, Joe West and Evelyn Moorehead — answered questions about collaboration with diverse teams and their suitability for the 11th West Circuit.
Manning-Center highlighted 25 years of experience and advancement from juvenile prosecutor to chief deputy. She emphasized the success of collaborative efforts in addressing child abuse and sexual abuse crimes. She said her discernment comes from the experience of having prosecuted over 2,500 cases.
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King acknowledged the existing collaborations within the attorney’s office but focused his critique on community access and transparency. He promised to directly address concerns about the office’s perceived distance from the general public, focusing on accountability and reform. “I’ll bring transparency. And I’ll also bring accountability and not just accountability for those that commit crimes, but accountability to this staff,” he said. “I believe that the office now is very prison-focused, and it doesn’t allow the people who need the services to actually get the services.”
West, citing experience in state government including roles in the attorney general’s office and the governor’s office, stressed the necessity of intergovernmental teamwork. He promised to bring his collaborative experience with elected officials and assembly members to the county level.
“I think I’m the best choice because of the experience that I’ve had. … What I bring to it is just a fresh perspective,” he said.
Moorehead detailed extensive involvement with local community organizations, focusing on initiatives to support youths. Her efforts included helping lead a coalition to unify voices across community groups and chairing an organization that brought community leaders into schools.
“Prosecutorial discretion is necessary for our systems to work. We don’t bring up charges against every crime that happens, but we need the power of prosecutorial discretion to be controlled,” she said.
Seven candidates present for justice of the peace — Jacqueline Tillmon, Deshaun Eans, Alfred Carroll Sr., Joseph O’Neill III, Reginald Johnson, Ivan Whitfield, and Cedric Jackson — were asked how they would improve the strained relationship between the legislative and executive branches of county government.
“Communication,” Tillmon said. “It’s being accountable, being transparent and being able to bring them together, ensuring that we can be one in any situation, rather than confusion.”
Eans stressed the importance of clearly defined duties and teamwork, saying, “Divided (we) fall.”
Carroll proposed specific structural reforms to foster a better environment, adding that the goal is to be “in a more relaxing setting … and we can talk, and we can communicate, and we can again bring back that camaraderie.”
Addressing the need for personal initiative, O’Neal highlighted the necessity of a willingness to cooperate. “Regardless of what you do, those who are involved have to be willing,” he said. He then offered his personal commitment, saying, “What I would do myself is I would make sure that I’m always the voice of reason … encouraging all those others around me, you know, to do the same.”
Johnson detailed current efforts to bridge divides. “I can tell you what I have done. I have tried to meet with the judge to come to an understanding,” he explained. He believed listening is the key to understanding, and his main goal is to have conversations so everyone “can have an understanding from my point of view.”
Whitfield called for a serious shift in focus at the start of the new term. He advised colleagues to “Stay away from personal … Know what’s your responsibility,” and focus on policy. He advised officials to know their roles and “hammer the policies and respect area elected officials across-the-board.”
Jackson reiterated the call for professionalism, saying, “It’s important to first listen before you speak,” and “We need to put personal agendas aside.” He said officials must “know our roles” and focus on “county business” to move forward.
Pine Bluff City Council candidates Jeffrey Neal, Lanette Frazier and Nathaniel Baker debated local economic issues. The question of whether to continue or eliminate Urban Renewal drew a clear divide among the candidates.
Neal opposed. “The people of this community voted twice to do away with it,” he said. “I believe that Urban Renewal should be eliminated.”
In contrast, Frazier urged caution against a complete halt to the program. “I’m saying don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” she said. According to her, the city can not tear down dilapidated homes as quickly as Urban Renewal.
“The private-public partnership is necessary,” she added.
Frazier explained how Urban Renewal is valuable for improving infrastructure and addressing dilapidated buildings. Furthermore, Urban Renewal allows for the implementation of tax incentive financing. She said numerous benefits and opportunities are available through the program that the city cannot achieve on its own.
Baker focused on the need for continued action, regardless of the program’s name.
“We need to continue the work, so whether there’s Urban Renewal or not, do we have to have a pathway to cleaning our community up?” he asked.
Candidates were also asked what could be done to address the lack of grocery stores. Neal suggested exploring a “food cooperative” model, citing Flint, Mich., as an example. He proposed a solution in which the community invests in a locally driven grocery store rather than relying on external help.
Frazier noted Ward 3, her zone, has grocery stores, but other wards face challenges that are not a “quick fix” and require feasibility studies. She said in the meantime, she has worked with food pantries and organizations to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the community.
Baker mentioned a mobile grocery store pilot program. He supported the idea of a community-invested co-op and suggested leveraging and expanding successful local businesses like Thomas Groceries, Carpenter’s and Joey Coleman’s White Hall Fresh Market to serve other parts of the community.
Sheriff Lafayette Woods was the sole candidate in attendance for the office to address the forum and was asked to justify his reelection. “I’ve spent my entire career dedicated to public service,” said Woods.
He spoke about the reduction in overall crime and violent crimes, citing tangible results since he was first elected in 2019.
Woods highlighted a 16.3% reduction in overall crime and a 12.7% reduction in major and violent crimes year-to-date.
Looking ahead, Woods said his mission for reelection centers on building upon progress and modernizing the office’s capabilities. He said that while much has been accomplished, there is “much more work to be done,” positioning himself as the leader capable of moving the county forward on public safety.