Five Selma mayoral candidates answer 20 questions leading up to live forum Thursday night

A mayoral forum is set for Thursday night on Zoom and hosted by the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Selma.

The forum will be Thursday, Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook Live. Click here to view it.

To qualify to participate, mayoral candidates were asked to answer 20 questions. Five candidates responded, and they are James Perkins, Yusuf Salaam, Havard Spencer, Turkesa Sullivan and Randy Williams.

Their responses are featured in an insertion in Thursday’s Selma Sun print edition. You can find the papers at Vasser’s Mini Mart, Mark’s Mart, Carter’s Drug, Swift Drug, Valley Grande Grocery, Dave’s Market, Crossroads Exxon and Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

You can view the questions and their answers via pdf here.

You can also read through the insert with questions and answers here:

TRHT Mayoral Forum

The elections being held this month in Selma will be critical for the future of our city. In this challenging context, the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Selma initiative is sponsoring a Mayoral Forum to allow citizens of Selma to understand the platforms of each candidate. TRHT is a multi-year partnership between the Black Belt Community Foundation, the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation, and the Kellogg Foundation. Our press partner for this project is the Selma Sun.

Five of the 12 candidates chose to answer the questionnaire that was sent to all of them, and candidates had to fill it out to qualify for the forum (they were all given a week to respond). There are four categories of questions published below (candidate responses below are in no specific order, and there was a 600-character response limit per answer). Answers qualify them to participate in Thursday night’s forum.

There are four categories of questions:

• Economy & Business
• Law & Justice
• Separation, Education & Community Relations
• A Vision for Selma

The 20 questions were developed by TRHT community-led Design Teams: Economy, Law, Separation. The Visioning questions were created by the Design Team Co-Chairs. This supplement offers the Selma community an opportunity to read and understand the positions the candidates hold. Design Team meetings are open to all those who are interested. More information can be found at www.SelmaCNTR.org

RUN-OFF: In the case of a run-off election between two candidates on October 6, we will hold a new forum between the candidates on Thurs., Sept. 17 at 5:30 pm on Facebook.

Economy & Business

1. What are the top three economic drivers in Selma / Dallas County and how would you engage with these entities to improve economic development?

James Perkins – The top three economic drivers in Selma/Dallas County are: 1) manufacturing, 2) education, and 3) retail, with medical not being far behind.

I will engage these entities by maintaining open communications with them and using the office of mayor to support their missions where it is feasible to do so.

I will promote existing workforce development, training, and recruiting programs that improve the chances of local under-employed and unemployed citizens getting hired, and support recruiting efforts to bring new talent into Selma to live, attend school and church, play, and shop.

Havard Spencer – Focus on growth of existing business and stimulate small business to stay here and not leave Selma. Give tax breaks to manufactures to come to Selma in Business Opportunity Zones.

Randy Williams – The top three industries in Selma are Healthcare, Education and Government. As Mayor I would exhaust every resource to research how the City can be supportive of any financial initiatives and policies that would help those industries grow. Additionally, I would help develop incentives for those employees to shop in Selma thus adding to the tax base.

Turkesa Sullivan – The top three economic drivers in Selma/Dallas County are restaurants, tourism, and manufacturing. I would engage with these entities to improve economic development by revitalizing Selma first, then present to each entities the reasons why they should invest in the economic development of Selma, AL.

Yusuf Salaam – 1. Industrial Base 2. Historic Assets & Tourism Apparatus. 3. Alabama River. Establish an institute of human asset enhancement, which would effectively enhance the productivity of aforesaid human assets, thereby providing a more capable workforce for industry, a hospitable and developed populous for tourism, and a labor force to undergird any and all economic activity that may result from a use of the Alabama River.

2. What are your top three concerns regarding the Selma economy, and what is your plan for economic development (please consider transportation, affordable housing, zoning, vacant and abandoned properties, and poverty)?

James Perkins – My top three concerns about Selma’s economy are people, neighborhoods/streets, and community reputation. I am concerned about physical, educational, and economical health of our people. Without quality neighborhoods we cannot recruit/retain families needed to build a strong economy. Our reputation is severely damaged and must be restored so that businesses and families want to move and live in Selma, and existing businesses and families want to stay. To develop/sustain a healthy economy, we must restore our image, honor, and integrity. Together, we can restore our healthy economy.

Havard Spencer – Low income individuals need to be trained for skilled jobs. Outreach to the community that need training. Affordable housing through USDA LOAN PROGRAMS. Vacant housing and abandoned properties have to keep the homeowner responsible through code enforcement.

Randy Williams – My top three concerns regarding Selma’s economy are the rate that businesses have been leaving, the vacant buildings in downtown Selma and the lack of attracting new businesses to Selma. I plan to begin a process to revitalize the downtown area which includes supporting existing businesses, support the development of Water Ave., build a rest area in the Songs of Selma park for tourist, landscape the banks of the Alabama river on the Selma side entrance and spark riverfront development and clean the City up so we can create a favorable atmosphere for the recruitment of new businesses.

Turkesa Sullivan – My top three concerns regarding the Selma economy are low wage jobs, housing, and poverty. My plan for economic development is to increase the hourly pay of some jobs in Selma to at least $9.75-$11.00 per hour. There needs to be more affordable housing based on the individual’s income. Decrease poverty by offering free on the job training which leads to possible employment.

Yusuf Salaam – There will be no economic development of Selma without the development of a potent community development strategy. The overwhelming majority of experts will tell you that the socioeconomic realities of Selma cannot be considerably enhanced without a holistic community development strategy addressing transportation, affordable housing, zoning, vacant and abandoned properties, and poverty.

3. What are your plans to bring in industry that pays at least a living wage? Similarly, what is your knowledge and acceptance of worker-owned enterprises as a strategy to not only increase incomes but to increase wealth (as in assets and ownership)?

James Perkins – My plan: convene leaders; identify an industry in technology, agriculture, or service that is a good for the region; solicit federal/state incentives; and complete the deal. Also, know 5,000+ people come into Selma daily to work in above livable wage jobs. I will ensure that Selma’s workforce have a Mobile App that lists available jobs. Giving citizens information/opportunities, improving life quality, and deliberate branding improves community health and increases industry recruiting.

Worker owned enterprises, done properly, stabilize local economies, and increases morale and performance.

Havard Spencer – Industry will come once the Selma places the monies to improve roads, trash and schools. Would you move your HERE if local government did not take care of the city parks and recreational areas? Where are my children going to play and be SAFE?

Randy Williams – I plan to coordinate with the Chamber of Commerces from Montgomery to Mobile to have the Alabama River dredged so that barges can once again ship products to the port of Mobile through Selma. This would complete the marketing strategy to sell Selma as a strategic transportation hub for rail, land, air and water. Thus, luring large industries in the area to consider operations in Selma. The other thing would be to develop a comprehensive strategy involving incentives that would make Selma an attractive choice.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would like to decrease the crime rate, revamp Selma, and establish better working relationships within City Hall so that new industries would want to come to Selma with more higher paying wage jobs. Worker-owned enterprises is an awesome strategy for individuals to have their own nonprofit organizations or business that would help to increase wealth within some of the citizens of Selma.

Yusuf Salaam – My plan is to bring in industry that pays a legitimate wage, and to advocate a jettison of low wage strategies that have persisted in our city and region since slavery. One other way to achieve this is to bring Selma actively into the 21st century with a high tech and A.I. economy. By impacting the salary level, we will create a wealth accretion institute linked with our human asset, thereby increasing incomes, wealth, assets and ownership.

3. How would you make sure tourism economically benefits low and medium-wealth Selmians?

James Perkins – I will promote small business entrepreneurship through training and development by working with entities with a proven capacity to train, mentor, and coach micro-business enterprises (SCORE – Service Core of Retired Executives), SBA, Selma Small Business Center, WCCS, BCIA, etc.). I will promote independently owned family-friendly businesses by making building codes more business friendly. Most importantly, ‘Customer First’ training will significantly increase the economic benefits of all community sectors.

Havard Spencer – Tourism is not going to be increased without keeping the tourist to spend money here and to stay overnight here. Montgomery takes away tourism. So, have more City Events per year. And promote Events.

Randy Williams – The tax dollars generated by tourist will be used to enhance the City being able to provide basic governmental services more efficiently. Trash and garbage collection. Overdue pay increases and the like.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would make sure tourism economically benefits low and medium-wealth Selma citizens by allowing businesses to be able to give their employees higher paying wage and salaried jobs based on the revenue generated from tourism.

Yusuf Salaam – I plan to intensify tourism efforts by establishing a sister city relationship with the two other civil rights giants, Birmingham and Montgomery. Such a triangular relationship will inherently produce many jobs that will benefit handsomely many low and medium-wealth Selmians.

4. Based on research in 2016, of 15 comparable cities in AL, all within 5,000 more or less people than Selma, city budgets ranged from $25 million to $42 million, with only Selma and Prichard falling outside of that range ($17.5 million for Selma at the time, $11.4 million for Prichard). For example, Troy, which is not a satellite of a larger city and, like Selma, is 50-100+ miles from an interstate, has a smaller population and a $27MM budget. Given all of that, do you feel the size of the city budget is adequate to meet the needs of the city, and if not, what do you think is needed.

James Perkins – When budgets are based on prior year’s revenue and expenses set under that real revenue base, a real budget results that we must live under. US News reports TU has 13,452 campus students each dumping $17k – $27k in the local economy. This voids any budget comparison with Troy. But it highlights the neglect Selma has shown towards our colleges. When Concordia screamed for help, local government did not help. SU had the largest conventions in Selma, local government ignored them. In four years, we lost them. As mayor I will work to restore SU and to bring back a college system at former Concordia.

Havard Spencer – The size of the Budget is good. The elected officials misuse the taxes collected. So, cut back on Administration salaries. Secretary to Mayor pays $50,000. Gone. I.T Director, Gone. Buildings Director Gone. Lower the amount City Administration salaries. And increase public works pay.

Randy Williams – To answer the question fairly I would really need to do an assessment of where we are and how our money is presently being spent. That being said, if Selma is like many places that have become top heavy, I would not be surprised to find that we have enough income already to provide basic governmental services. Can we be extravagant? Probably not. If we develop the right strategies to increase people shopping in Selma and being aggressive about collecting our sales taxes owed, I think we can make it work with what we have.

Turkesa Sullivan – I do not think the city budget is adequate to meet the needs of Selma. I think an established budget would help facilitate a sufficient higher budget that will help take care of the needs of Selma.

Yusuf Salaam – The Selma city budget is woefully inadequate to meet the city’s needs. Rather than initially adopting revenue enhancing strategies, we must first restore confidence in the city government. City resources must be managed by responsible, honest and competent city stewards. Without restoration of governmental confidence, it will be virtually impossible to bring about the budget needed to properly support the city.

5. Please describe your understanding of Restorative Justice

James Perkins – Restorative Justice is justice achieved through truth and nonviolence led by the winner of the conflict. When conflicts occur, there are winners and losers. Losers can stop fighting; but only winners can stop the fight. Restorative Justice occurs when those on top stop the injustice and stop the fight.

Havard Spencer – Working with closure for Victims of violence by addressing their Offender. Restoring mental and physical health. Therapy structured to both parties. That is my understanding Helps reduce suicidal attitudes for some individuals.

Randy Williams – My understanding of restorative justice is a balance struck between victims and offenders where the victim is compensated in some way and the offender is held accountable in such a way that they do not become a repeat offender

Turkesa Sullivan – Restorative Justice is a conceptual theory of justice that tries to refrain from causing harm to the individuals based on the crime committed.

Yusuf Salaam – We are living in area that reduced many of the ancestors of our citizens to 3/5s chattel slavery. I propose that any definition of restorative justice must include a human development strategy that restores the mass of its citizens to their full productive capacity.

Law & Justice

6. How will a restorative city look under your leadership, and how you will use restorative practices to resolve interpersonal conflict between leaders to maintain collaborative relationships.

James Perkins – My vision of a restorative city includes active communications, lots of inclusive focus groups targeting specific opportunities, and making tough decisions.

My vision for resolving interpersonal conflict between leaders is: developing a clear understanding of the conflict by talking, listening, and documenting; bringing together the talent needed to develop a feasible solution; clearly defining what constitutes a successful conclusion between conflicting parties, and moving towards completion. Between each step, conflicting parties should decide if it is feasible to take the next step.

Havard Spencer – Healing takes time. Some heal faster than others. Unify groups by working on Community projects together. Focus on the Community as one.  Come together.

Randy Williams – A restorative city under my leadership would have the offenders in some sort of wholistic rehabilitation that would result in them have the necessary skill set to become productive citizens and finding a way to protect the victim for future problems and maybe a depending upon the nature of the crime find some form of compensation for the victim.

Turkesa Sullivan – A restorative city would look amazing because it would speak true healing and reconciliation and love shown to others that former civil right leaders and foot soldiers have fought so hard to bring about equality among every ethnicity. I would use restorative practices to resolve interpersonal conflicts between leaders to maintain collaborative relationship so that everyone can be an important team player in helping Selma to rebuild back to the historic, beautiful, and booming city it once was.

Yusuf Salaam – A restorative city will be a redemptive city undergirded by an intense faith-based dynamic force. Thereby challenging all forms of hierarchical human arrangements that reduce the full expression of human capacity.

7. Since the mayor is responsible for the police department, what plans do you have to ensure that the use of lethal force is limited?

James Perkins – SPD will limit lethal force by maintaining officer psychological profiles and continuing education and training. When hiring, ensure psychological profiles carry heavy weight and increase both random/situation psychological evaluations. We will increase new hire education requirement and give existing officers the opportunity to increase education level thereby improving officer communication skills, report writing, and decision-making. Citizens limit lethal force by properly responding to authority and supporting protect and serve missions. Doing both will reduce the need for lethal force.

Havard Spencer – Training. Give the police force an understanding of alternative actions. Reduce lethal force by training lethal force is not an option. Unless you feel your life is in danger.

Randy Williams – I would institute a weekly or biweekly review of incidents involving the use of force and provide regular training for officers in learning how to deescalate potential conflicts. I would also make it clear that the officers would be held accountable for their actions and consequences enforced should department policies be broken.

Turkesa Sullivan – The plans that I would have to ensure that the use of lethal force is limited is to sit down and have an one on one conversation with Chief Fulford to strategize together and well as with stakeholders and community partners to come up with new customer relations and policing training.

Yusuf Salaam – We must first correct the dismantling of the leadership structure of the Selma Police Department that commenced during the administration that started in 2000. We must then return to the proper vetting of all officers. Finally, we will craft an efficient community development strategy wherein a knock and talk strategy is a common policing policy. We must also train the officers to use nonviolent conflict resolution tactics.

9. What plan do you have to eliminate violence in the city, making sure to specifically describe how, if at all, you will prevent violence (opposed to simply reacting to it)? What is your assessment of the city’s crime statistics and how effective are current strategies?

James Perkins – Violence will never be eliminated. A realistic goal is to reduce violence below national averages. When we increase jobs, improve neighborhood quality of life, increase city/citizen trust, crime goes down. There are people who are a menace to society. We must increase community support by identifying them and citizen participation on juries. We must aggressively pursue justice for both street and suite crimes.

Since the hacking of the city’s computers and the extreme length of time the systems were down, I question all data that comes from the city, crime and financial.

Havard Spencer – Violence is learned. And taught. Keep preventive measures through job training. Selling drugs is not job training. Give people options. Some take the easy Road.

Randy Williams – Increasing a police presence in the community would be my first step by implementing community policing strategies. Providing some sort of recreational and educational activities for youth and adults. And finding a way to provide social, economic and psychological services to people who need help and a way to identify them. I have not seen any recent crime statistics.

Turkesa Sullivan – My plan is to go into the communities and offer buy back gun incentives, establish neighborhood watch programs, more patrols in the neighborhoods, more staff and well equipped police precinct throughout Selma, and offering bonuses and incentives for new police recruits. I see firsthand how there is no regard for human life among some people, and there is a lack of ethics and respect shown to police officers. Bring in the FBI, and the Alabama Crime Task Force to help implement new strategies. Also, talk with citizens to voice their concerns that possibly can assist in combating crime.

Yusuf Salaam – Establish a pivotal Human Relationship Institute to be linked Mayoral Office and police department, to advocate a Sunday school, faith-based revival allowing our people to establish an aggressive cultural evaluation committee designed to study the impact of television and gaming effects on our youth.

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10. What is your position on the decriminalization of mental health, the addiction crisis, and marijuana usage?

James Perkins – Marijuana usage is a state issue. The mayor has no jurisdiction. But I support hemp used for medical and other applications. The hemp industry could be one of the economic tickets for the Black Belt. We must not ignore it. As for decriminalization of mental health and addiction, I totally support these efforts. Locally, we will impact these issues through law enforcement training, community policing, and working with social services. My record on these issues is strong. I led First Responder Mental Health training and grief counseling for families who lost someone to gun violence.

Havard Spencer – Not all programs work. But having PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IS A MUST FOR TREATMENT.  Treat the person then treat the symptom.

Randy Williams – I think that the root causes of these issues need to be identified and addressed. Further, working with professionals and organizations with expertise in a wide range of areas and bringing them to the table at the same time would be a goal. We need an effective strategy to combat these working with professionals and organizations with expertise in a wide range of areas and bringing them to the table at the same time would be a goal.  We need an effective strategy to combat these issues.

Turkesa Sullivan – The decriminalization of mental health, the addiction crisis, and marijuana usage is inhumane. These individuals who suffer from these saddening conditions should be treated with the upmost respect and dignity. Show compassion and love of them. Sit down and have a conversation with them to see what caused them to get in the situation(s) that they are now facing. Love is what love does.

Yusuf Salaam – My general position is to promote decriminalization of any punitive mental health regulations. To decriminalize any addictive offenses unless violent behavior results. Decrease the penalties associate with substances which dull the senses.

Separation, Education & Community Relations

11. Our city’s theme is from Civil War to Civil Rights and Beyond. How will you move us to the “and Beyond” part? What is your vision for the Beyond that includes reconciling our history of Civil War and Civil Rights (opposed to simply not talking about how they relate?

James Perkins – I propose placing authenticating/preserving of our civil war and civil rights history under an authority much like the Housing Authority or Economic Development Authority. Its structure to be determined by a series of listening and organizing sessions led by an independent historian also to be determined. This structure will be that unifying voice that is authorized to correctly tell our history and sustain our historical artifacts.

Our “Beyond” must include educating our children and world on our total history. And as time passes our “Beyond” will take its rightful place in our history.

Havard Spencer – What is Beyond? History is made. You cannot choose your History. So, embrace your History. HISTORY assures us that we will embrace Change.  Adapt.

Randy Williams – I would study other Cities with a similar history like Montgomery, AL and Chattanooga, Tn and Atlanta, Georgia to see how they married the two histories into income-producing engines of tourism while creating harmony through healing with truth and social activities lending themselves to helping people get to know each other.

Turkesa Sullivan – There is so much strife and division among some Selma citizens that I my vision for the Beyond is to establish better rapport among our city leaders to network together as a team to rebuild the historical aspects of the Queen City so that generations to come can build upon what former ancestors, community leaders, and regular citizens strive to unite as one.

Yusuf Salaam – Move beyond the racial based impact community values. Move from the Civil War and reaction to the Post Civil Rights race based environment to a Human Rights focus. Ensure that Human Rights are first and foremost.

12. As mayor, how would you enhance the partnership with Selma City Schools and how will you ensure that the educational system is supported, including financially?

James Perkins – As mayor, I will enhance the partnership with SCS by advocating for excellence at all education levels: Pre-K through Post-Secondary, and workforce development and training. I will provide easy access to our PEG Channel (Charter 181) to highlight high achievers at all levels, team with superintendent to advocate and apply for supplemental funding for non-funded cultural/enrichment opportunities that provide unique exposure to school aged children, and establish a task force to explore the feasibility of a comprehensive capital improvement program to modernizes our aged school facilities.

Havard Spencer – Really stay in line with spending and bring alternative learning. Be there. Do not ignore our children’s learning capabilities.

Randy Williams – I would continue the financial support at its present level but I would also like to eventually create some safe spaces for students who need tutoring or study halls of some sort utilizing abandoned schools or buildings the City already owns in each ward.

Turkesa Sullivan – As mayor, I would enhance the partnership with Selma City Schools with various businesses by helping to formulate a curriculum that can enhance their personal relationships, communication skills and well as analytical and problem-solving skills. I would ensure that the educational system is supported, including financially by asking stakeholders and various businesses to contribute to the continual funding of the school system.

Yusuf Salaam – Establish a goodwill policy with education as the number one priority. Promoting a policy of multicultural collaboration with the public city schools, and University and state-wide systems. Creating a focus on adult and parental education by establishing a neighborhood community education system.

13. How will you collaborate with stakeholders to keep children safe and promote positive youth engagement and activities?

James Perkins – I will fully fund the Recreation Department, add security to parks, properly maintain city’s playground and recreation spaces, and work to ensure that city programs are feeder systems to education system extra-curricular activities. I will install more cameras in public spaces. I will spend quality time listening to children, sharing findings with city council, and investing to develop a mindset that they plan to return to Selma when they finish their higher education

Havard Spencer – Safety is taught at home. But creating a safe environment through teaching in the classrooms is a must. Get out and play. But give Selma a safe place to play.

Randy Williams – Whatever resources the City brings to the table would be made available to any credible initiative whose aim it is to help our youth. I would prefer to play a supportive role to groups and individuals who have a good reputation and expertise in that area.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would collaborate with stakeholders to keep children safe and promote positive youth engagement and activities are to have more policing and security guards within each school as well as participate in community involved activities with the Dallas County Emergency Director and first responders.

Yusuf Salaam – Place our future in its proper perspective. The youth are our future. All stakeholders will be supported and encouraged. The safety of our young people will be my number one priority.

14. How will you collaborate with a variety of civic and community groups to increase the number of events that are inclusive of race, class, and other forms of diversity?

James Perkins – I do not agree with the outcome of the amphitheater and riverfront development thus far. However, I will do whatever feasible to improve these facilities and work with organizations such as Arts Revive, Tourism Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and others to promote events that have multi-cultural appeal.

While serving as mayor, our only city event was the July 4th celebration which drew 7 to 10 thousand plus people from every corner of our city. Since I left office that event has been terminated.

Havard Spencer – Get out and help the Community. Be involved. Town hall meetings

Randy Williams – I will call a town hall meeting and invite the stakeholders of the City and put together a master annual calendar and figure out what is missing and develop a way to help promote the events.

Turkesa Sullivan – I will collaborate with a variety of civic and community groups to increase the number of events that are inclusive of race, class, and other forms of diversity by having a face to face or virtual discussion to brainstorm of different ideas of events.

Yusuf Salaam – By establishing an advanced community, economic and planning department that is actively involved with planning events 18 months in advance. It will make aggressive attempts to keep all citizens involved.

15. How will you rally the different groups in the community, including the faith community, to get beyond the divisions of politics after the election is over, so we can be unified in moving forward for the benefit of all in Selma?

James Perkins – We must deliberately create listening sessions and focus groups to communicate issues and give everyone an opportunity to speak to the issue(s). We must clearly define achievable goals that focus on quality of life and family issues. I believe most people despite race, gender, or class want the same basics in life; that is, a safe and clean place to live. When we reduce the issues to our basic needs level, then we can focus on our common needs and through that oneness, all things are possible, including moving forward for the benefit of Selma.

Havard Spencer – Rally Selma by being there for Selma. Not behind a desk and closed doors.

Randy Williams – The City will sponsor a visioning process and invite the entire city to help plan the next 20 years. “Vision 2040”. The process can be held at one of the City buildings large enough to accommodate participation and may take several months to complete but it could serve as a vehicle to enhance unity.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would rally the different groups in the community, including the faith community, to get beyond the divisions of politics after the election is over, so we can be unified in moving forward for the benefit of all in Selma is conversing with citizens within the community to voice their issues and concerns, as well as having one on one discussions with the faith based overseers to see the issues or concerns that their congregants are experiencing.

Yusuf Salaam – Step forward as an example. Live reconciliation. Move beyond the rhetoric towards proactive sacrificial efforts to reduce divisiveness.

A Vision for Selma

16. How would you work cooperatively with the City Council to improve city services and operations?

James Perkins – Working cooperatively with City Council is not difficult. The processes for doing so already exist. They are frequent discussions with the council president, meeting with city council committees and department heads to hammer out details, and phone calls to city councilpersons to cover the feasibility for moving forward.

The real key to great intergovernmental cooperation is the ballot box. Citizens have a role to play. We must elect people whose desires are to work together and not fight for power. Together means citizens and our representatives must work together to fix our problems.

Havard Spencer – Really. How about showing up at City Council meetings and be there for the people. And leave the Ego at the door.

Randy Williams – The process of developing a balanced budget is the vehicle I would use to engage the Council in a healthy dialogue and improve services and operations at the Same time.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would work cooperatively with the City Council to improve city services and operations by prayer, engaging in new team building and customer relations workshops that will help me establish a better working environment that will be conducive of rebuilding Selma.

Yusuf Salaam – Promote the development of proper, respectful relations. Expect mutual tolerance of elected officials. The mayor should be an example of leadership, with expertise and skill that council members can respect. Promote a successful agenda.

17. How would you describe the current quality of life in Selma, and as mayor, what steps would you take to increase the quality of life?

James Perkins – The answer to this question depends on where one lives. Some sections the QOL is extremely poor and others very good. Cutting grass and fixing potholes will be a great start towards improving QOL. Edmundites and YMCA are doing an excellent job. But the community needs a larger success story that will be a symbol of restoration and hope, and I cannot think of a better one than restoring the Brown YMCA building to a community center that services unreached youth and adults. From that space, we can build a better Selma.

Havard Spencer – Quality of life. Security to freedom and access to all. As a Mayor. Listen. Listen & be there for the Community

Randy Williams – If it were not for the trash, garbage, potholes, and fire issues Selma would be a destination for a lot more people. As Mayor, I would clean the City up and develop a Police, Fire, and Public Works Department that’s second to none to increase the quality of life.

Turkesa Sullivan – The current quality of life and socioeconomic backgrounds can be better than what it is. Often the quality of life in Selma can be depressing, with no respect for the environment, or for the livelihood of others. I would do one on one interviews with the citizens of Selma of each ward and find out the issues that are causing the citizens of Selma to not have a better quality of life. I would also implement new strategies to bring in better wage paying jobs, increase tourism and the new development of new manufacturing, retail and food services businesses to come in to come in.

Yusuf Salaam – Less than to be desired. I will focus on a form of governance that specializes in hard core community, economic, and transactional activities, combined with faith-based experiences.

18. How will you improve access to affordable, decent housing, including both safe, fairly regulated rental units and home ownership, without the risk of pushing existing, low-income residents out of their communities? 

James Perkins – I will work with the Housing Authority to encourage using Section 8 vouchers for homeownership. I will offer home down payment assistance as an incentive to recruit highly qualified personnel, especially public safety.  I am already having conversations with investors and developers who are committed to seriously considering housing and commercial development projects once I am in office. They want to invest in Selma. However, they need to know that our community wants experienced executive leadership whom they feel will provide proper government support and fiscal oversight.

Havard Spencer – Keep the low-income communities safe, clean, and be proud of the community. Do not trash it.

Randy Williams – I would get with the U.S. Department of Urban Development and remodel as many dilapidated structures as the law allows and provide financial literacy classes so low to middle income residents could qualify to buy the properties as owners.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would improve access to affordable, decent housing, including both safe, fairly regulated rental units and home ownership, without the risk of pushing existing, low-income residents out of their communities by going to various construction companies or writing grants to vie for money that would help in the new development of affordable housing throughout Selma.

Yusuf Salaam – I will work alongside with the Selma Housing Authority and the Jonathan Daniels CDC, which I founded, to improve access to affordable, decent housing, including both safe, fairly regulated rental units and home ownership, without the risk of pushing existing, low-income residents out of their communities. I will work with other philanthropic entities as well.

19. Given the context in our country right now, how will you address the challenges being raised about structural racism and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table?

James Perkins – I have embraced the TRHT strategies for non-violence and restorative justice and will build them into training strategies for city personnel. I will advocate for other organizations to do the same.

Havard Spencer – It is the 21st Century. Racism is not born within you. It is taught. People died for the freedoms. Respect people for who they are and not the color they are. Parents preach it.

Randy Williams – The visioning process I mentioned earlier would take care of that.” Vision 2040”

Turkesa Sullivan – I would address the challenges being raised about structural racism and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table is to have racism training and emphasize the importance of treating everyone with dignity, honesty, and respect because we are all created equal.

Yusuf Salaam – Fundamentally understand that the badges and incidents exist on a real level in Selma. The outward structures have been turned over to African American hands. I must operate from the premise of working together, to avoid creating a limited social structure, which will prevent us from taking full advantage of a dismantled racist system.

20. How will you help heal race relations, including requiring racial equity training for Selma City employees, and inviting the Selma City Council and other leaders to do the same, as an opportunity to encourage candid community dialogue about how we can all move forward together?

James Perkins – I have embraced the TRHT strategies for non-violence and restorative justice and will build them into training strategies for city personnel. I will advocate for other organizations to do the same.

Havard Spencer – Stop pushing race and start pushing equality

Randy Williams – Again Vision 2040 would address that because the process naturally makes that happen.

Turkesa Sullivan – I would help heal race relations to encourage candid community dialogue about how we can all move forward together by engaging in team building activities among community leaders, stakeholders, faith based leaders, as well as getting the participation of ordinary citizens of Selma to show love, compassion, peace, joy, and long suffering among each other.

Yusuf Salaam – I will attempt to lead a governmental order which embodies the declarative ideas of the founding doctrines of this nation; that all men are created equal.