Mayor is thankful
Editor, The Commercial:
When asked to hold a farewell event for my mayoral tenure, I was reluctant because I thought that no one would come. However, my team insisted and more than 600 people joined the celebration. I’m grateful for everyone who attended the event. I’m thankful for the speakers, volunteers and performers. I’m also grateful to my team for organizing the gala with excellence.
Growing up in Gethsemane, Ark., where my siblings and I helped my parents work the cotton patch, I never dreamed of becoming Pine Bluff Mayor. Yet in 2017, I embarked on an extraordinary journey when I became the first African American woman to occupy this office.
I didn’t please everyone. Yet I’m proud of what has been accomplished. We built a state-of-the-art aquatic center. We have a new public library and a primary school on main street. We remodeled the Pine Bluff Community Center. We brought Saracen Casino Resort to Pine Bluff, the largest tourism investment in Arkansas’ history.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
We opened a shelter for people without homes called the Opportunity House. We’re replacing the dilapidated Plaza Hotel with a Marriott Courtyard. We attracted a new Chick-fil-A restaurant to Olive Street. Working with Jefferson County, we developed the Group Violence Intervention Program to reduce youth homicides. And we nearly doubled first responders’ salaries. We did this as a city by working together.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to spend more time with my family, especially my husband Frank Washington. Nevertheless, I will continue to support Pine Bluff, including Mayor-elect Vivian Flowers. Not only am I thankful for her kind words at the gala, but I also wish her great success in the future.
As I’ve always said, we must be One Pine Bluff Stronger Together.
Thank you all again for your support, both last week and for the past 8 years.
Shirley Washington
Mayor of Pine Bluff