Alan Couey, a graduate student at MSU in Public Policy and Administration and a resident of Ward 5, submitted this column for publication. This appears as originally sent and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the website.
“The other side isn’t committed with the truth,” so spouts Ward 5 Alderman and Democratic candidate for Mayor of Starkville Matt Cox in a section of his website (www.mattcoxformayor.com) entitled “Get the Facts.” Last I checked, there were two additional candidates who could possibly be revealed as the alleged “bad egg,” but we skeptical and ever-fickle voting citizens of Starkville are left with a mystery. Suddenly, this race is starting to seem like a less provocatively suggestive episode of The Dating Game.
So, humor me on this analogy and just go with it. For instance, baby boomers and Gen X-ers and some Gen Y (or “Gen Why?”) up-and-comings are all familiar with the process of The Dating Game. We the citizens are the bachelorettes/bachelors, seated next to Jim Lange/Chuck Woolery. Our host, however, is our local media. Their job is to spur the questions, prompt dialogue, and create an atmosphere of anticipation. Simply put, beware. Even Jim Lange had a motive.
Unlike Alderman Cox, who is undoubtedly burdened with a delicate political situation in which he can only make vague references to other candidates (plural), I have the freedom to name our bachelors for the City of Starkville. Bachelor Number 1, incumbent Mayor Camp (with whom we’re all familiar), has been Mayor for four years, has faced much opposition due to his mayoral style of “strong mayor/strong board,” which theoretically, cannot function properly for a small municipality like Starkville. I beg to differ, however. Personally, I believe cooperation between our Board of Aldermen and Mayor would increase in the case that Mayor Dan Camp would be re-elected, given the number of incumbent candidates for Alderman for this year and the familiarity of management style between the two. But, I’m just one bachelorette with a lot of questions.
Bachelor Number 2, Alderman Matt Cox, is undoubtedly the most controversial bachelor in our political version of the Dating Game. I say this not because he has some outrageous reputation, but because he is an Alderman with a good sense of what Masters of Public Policy and Administration students call “CYA” (Cover Your…). He claims, publically, that he has a record of supporting city employees by “fighting” to hire within, hire locally, and add police officers. Fellow bachelorettes/bachelors, I encourage you to investigate further.
Bachelor Number 3, the young and energetic attonery Parker Wiseman, son of the “Messiah of Mississippi-Based Political Science” himself Dr. Marty Wiseman. However, Parker, without piggybacking on his pops, is an incredibly intelligent political observer, and should not be viewed exclusively as Dr. Wiseman, Jr. His advantages are clear- he is young, is in touch with resources for “campaign fuel” (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and his platform is oddly specific (“Adopt a land-use and transportation strategy that is appealing and economically friendly”), which can indubitably be a by-product of his education at Mississippi State, University of North Carolina, and University of Mississippi School of Law. If my fellow bachelorettes/bachelors can follow just what he’s describing, Parker seems legitimate in spite of his youth and general inexperience in working with Starkville’s municipal government.
Bachelorette (for gender-specific purposes) Number 4, also known as the “token Republican” of the race, could become a sleeper candidate given the level of support she could potentially generate amongst a large group of Starkville “Academites” and Republican supporters who simply can’t pick from the three options in the Democratic slots based on party affiliation. Marnita Henderson, dubbed a “regular fixture at City Hall” by SDN reporters Kelly Daniels and Brian Hawkins, filed for candidacy on March 6 via her husband Charles.
And so, we’ve set up The Dating Game, with many questions to follow. With the groundbreaking for construction of Cotton Mill Marketplace anticipated to take place mid-April, the Cotton District Arts Festival, and the recent (unanimous) approval of curbside recycling, maybe we’ll have more questions than our typical “cold beer on a Sunday without offending anyone” nonsense. Good luck, bachelors and bachelorettes, and choose wisely.
This has to be the most poorly written article I’ve ever seen. I would hope the Dating Game would be much more congenial and even-handed in tone. Furthermore, if a side was to be taken (as Dan Camp’s side seems to be in the article) I would expect more of a reason than the one given (especially from an MSU Public Policy and Administration graduate student). The fact of the matter is Dan Camp is undeniably bad for the city of Starkville as a whole. He is lost and out of touch with reality. We need someone that is young and experienced to move us into our current century. Only one candidate fits the bill and that is Matt Cox.
This is a “voices” column, not a news article, which entitles Alan to say whatever she wants and side with whoever she wants. She is simply adding a little healthy comedy to the game, much needed in my opinion. Emotions are too high in this game, which is probably why someone who disagrees with her says it is the “most poorly written article” he’s ever seen.
I was being mean. It’s not the most poorly written article ever. The Reflector opinion section tops it every week! But, I didn’t appreciate the humor or tact of the article. I believe it could have been written in a more positive tone while still taking a side.
Charlie and Kelly, thank you for your comments. Charlie, I’m pleased to call you a new friend and very positive critic. I re-read through this and agree with you- but then again, maybe you could submit a little something that takes your side of things? You could probably say it better than I could.
Alan,
Actually, I thought you were favoring Parker in your article but, politics aside, I think you missed an opportunity to flesh out a great premise. The Dating Game analogy could work but you never really got off the ground. Kind of reminded me of a miss-fired bottle rocket that whizzes back and forth before falling to the ground and fizzling out.
I went for a drive through several neighborhoods this past weekend just to look for yard signs. While they don’t vote, signs in yards, versus signs in the right of way, are one indication of organization and support.
Using the sign barometer Cox looks like the front runner with Wiseman and Camp following. That said, there was a distinct lack of campaign signs overall so apathy and For Sale could carry the day.
Bill,
Completely agreed (bottle rocket analogy). Yet, it’s my first submission of what hopefully can become something more effective in both humor and fact as far as premises are concerned. I’m still a “youngun” learning the “ropes” around this town, and I’ve only been living here for approximately a year, in spite of my mother’s presence in the community over several years.
While the yard sign barometer is a commonly used indicator of support, there are multiple factors (zoning requirements like how many per property are permitted, distance from the curb, candidates who voice concern over others’ yard signs thus having them removed for violation of the requirements, consideration towards money spent on signs vs. money spent on more viable campaign functions) that one must consider when seeing how the populus may actually vote.
I chuckled a bit at For Sale, our most ubiquitous presence in yards, but what can you expect from a still-crippled housing market? Perhaps this election, in conjunction with that notion of a failing economic situation nationwide, may be unique in the characteristic of limited funds, and we can eventually look back on it to see how the internet and other cheaper but technology-based methods of drumming up support have been utilized in an otherwise rural (but progressive) environment. Interesting points you’ve made, in other words.
Thanks for your comments, Bill. I’m looking forward to hopefully speaking with you further.
-A
Well said, Alan. The yard sign barometer is valid in that one usually doesn’t put a sign in the yard unless they genuinely support the candidate on a pretty strong level. As for spending on signs vs. other campaign paraphernalia; if a candidate can’t drum up the money to run a ward race in a relatively small community then I’m not sure they’re competent to handle millions of taxpayer dollars.
We’re only talking about a couple of thousand dollars at most for a ward race. A couple of hundreds bucks for yard signs is little more than a cover charge for getting in the race. If you can’t afford the cover then you probably don’t need to be at the big dance.
I enjoy the civil discussion.
Alan,
Before reading your opinion article, I was browsing Matt Cox’s and Parker Wiseman’s campaign websites. I haven’t decided who to vote for and was searching out information for both candidates.
I came across Matt’s “Get The Facts” page (URL listed below) and noticed the same thing you did. While the accusations are clearly defined, the accuser is left completely in the dark thereby giving a voter like myself very little to go on in terms of researching the actual facts. I sent him an e-mail shortly thereafter asking which campaign (I assume either Camp or Wiseman) was putting this stuff out there. I’ll give an update when/if I get a response. Any others who might have more information would be a welcome addition to these comments.
As for your suggestion that Henderson may pick up votes from “Academites” like myself by default is ludacris. I doubt anyone who is bothering to vote in a local election would vote republican by default. I have yet to figure out by what standards a candidate chooses to run as Republican or Democrat in local elections, but they certainly aren’t attached to the positions and values that exist on the national level. I certainly hope not anyways, as either set of policies would lead our community into financial debt that would border on insanity.
http://www.mattcoxformayor.com/get-the-facts/
Sam,
Isn’t it crazy that local candidates even run on a party ticket? The issues facing Starkville have little to do with gun control, school prayer or gay marraige. The party identification just gets in the way and results in pandering to the “party faithful” on the extreme ends of both tickets.
I’ve talked with some alderman candidates and they all say one of the first questions asked when they go door-to-door is their party. What in the Wide World of Sports does that have to do with taking care of the people of Starkville??
The electorate is as much to blame as the candidates…and the local party leaders. Makes no sense.
I think it is fairly simple. People look for some sort of identifying marker and party designation is a pretty simple one when you are introducing yourself as a candidate. It is a rather basic way of saying “I favor these policies.” Painting with the red or blue brush.
National issues very rarely play a part in a municipal race, but by declaring as one party or the other, you hope to ID yourself with macro issue stances.
A Republican is perceived to favor business and lower taxes. A Democrat is assumed to be sympathetic to the poor and minorities.
Is that the case locally? Is Dan Camp or Matt Cox really a Democrat? Is Rodney Lincoln a staunch Republican?
It is much easier to run as a D locally than a R. My stance is that several candidates who are running blue did it to get in on the primary action and not because they ID with the national party.
It’s a lot harder to get elected as a R in Starkville. Those who have gone that route are probably closer to towing the national party lines than their counterparts across the primary aisle.
Bill,
I have been driving around Starkville and I noticed something about the Matt Cox yard signs. They are all pretty much at his rental houses or property that his mother-in-law is selling or own.
And have anyone else heard the things Matt is talking about in his get-the-facts section around town? I haven’t. Do you think this guys could be making this stuff up?
Sam,
I am a Parker Wiseman supporter and would ask you to look at each person platform ideas. I think Parker’s are the most detailed ideas right now. He is the only one who is transparent about what he wants to do for the city.
And last, Alan are you running Dan Camp’s campaign? Word around town is that you are his campaign manager. And who is running everyone’s else campaign?
Jamal,
I wouldn’t assume for a second that he’s making it up out of thin air. Situations like this, however, often contain grey area on one side or the other that you wouldn’t necessarily hear about from listening to only one point of view.
As of 10:00 a.m. Monday morning, I have received no response from the Matt Cox campaign. Again, I’ll update if I receive a response.
Jamal-
Not really true on the Cox sign placement. FYI, there are a ton of his signs in Plantation Homes and he doesn’t own a lick of land over there.
Robbie,
You wonder why people say you are so far up Matt Cox’s you know what.
All three candidates seem to have less than 300 signs each up around the city. I just tell people to drive around the city and notice the Matt Cox signs and the Caldwell Banker signs in the same yard. Just in case people are wondering, Matt’s mother-in-law is a real estate agent with Caldwell Banker.
At this point 300 votes (assuming yard signs equal votes) won’t win anyone this election and at the end of the day votes are the only thing that matter. This is still anyone’s race and it seems Parker Wiseman is making the rounds right now. He has knocked on my door and my friends across the city say he has knocked on their doors also. No one else has been willing to come to Ward 7 and knock on doors. So this will go a long way with black voters.
This city have better people suited for public service than Matt Cox and Dan Camp and I can’t wait until the city is done with both of them.
No, “it’s in the tank.” Get it right.
Does Camp have as many signs out as Parker/Cox?
Honestly, I like both Parker and Matt. Matt has been a good alderman for my ward. Parker has a fresh approach on things. I think both are very capable.
And Dan could have been a good mayor if he could play well with others.
I have enjoyed reading the dialogue that has shown up on this post. As I am not totally informed with the local politics, I am trying to do my research and cast my vote accordingly. Seeing everyone’s opinion helps see light on some things. Though I must say I am leaning towards Parker for he is the only one that has come to my door and made a voice to me personally. Matt has some good views as well (that I have read on his website) and he has served the Board of Aldermen well.
I have noticed the amount of signs he has in yards, but I have also seen Parker signs as well, but I don’t drive around town to look for those. I personally believe those are the two front runners right now.
A friend of mine says Camp came to his house and kept referring to Parker as “that boy.” Didn’t mention Cox once, seemed to imply that it was a two man race between himself and Wiseman.
Back to the signs…I don’t think it’s smart to put signs on commercial rental property, especially when the storefront is vacant. Just doesn’t send a strong message. Residential is a bit different if someone lives there.
Starting to see more signs for the Republican mayoral candidate but no one seems to be taking her run seriously.
Haven’t seen a candidate in my neighborhood but did get a nice direct mail piece from Cox. The content was typical for a mayoral candidate but the quality was first rate, made a good impression.
Surprised at the general lack of activity with the primary only a month away.
Jamal,
Why is it that if you support someone you have your head up their @#$? It’s funny, we fuss about folks not getting involved in the process then when someone volunteers to work and support a candidate we tear them down.
Follow his lead and, in your own words and using specific examples, tell us why Parker is your man. Convert the unwashed, undecided masses. Get your head out of your own #$% and get busy for your guy.
Bill and Robbie,
(Applause.)
-A
Bill,
I say that Robbie has his head up Matt Cox’s you know what because he always come to his defense. Robbie also tries to say he is neutral because of his website when he is anything but neutral. People would stop giving Robbie a hard time if he was honest about his support for Matt Cox instead trying to hide it. I respect honest people who are up front about their political views.
So here is a questions for Robbie, are you supporting Matt Cox in this election? Bill let see if he is willing to show his cards.
Also, I have been very open about why I think Parker Wiseman is the best candidate. You should visit http://www.parkerwisemanformayor.com to look at Parker’s ideas. I support Parker because he is the only candidate that is not selling us a lot of BS. Matt Cox doesn’t want to talk about the issues and neither does Dan Camp. Where is the new police department that both Matt Camp and Dan Camp promised the citizens of Starkville four years ago? Please go to Parker, Matt and Dan’s website and see who really is talking about changing Starkville. It isn’t Matt Cox or Dan Camp.
Point of clarification: There are two Robbie’s lurking around SN now. Me (Robbie C.) who runs the site and Robbie W(ard) who admits his unbridled support for all things Matt Cox.
My thoughts, which will be vague so as not to get charged with bias, are still pretty much up in the air. I personally like Matt but was very impressed with Parker when he taped his podcast.
But keep in mind that I still have my Bush/Quayle ’92 campaign sign. And there is a Republican running.
Robbie,
Why is it that Republicans are always holding on to the past? Reagan and Bush #1. Just kidding. I still have my Clinton/Gore 92 bumper sticker, yard sign and button.:-)
And I do hope you keep an open mind about Parker. He has a passion for this city like we haven’t seen before. I was very impressed with him when I spoke with him about his views for the future of Starkville. Starkville could use a little pit of that passion right now.