Mayor Parker Wiseman’s veto of a school board appointment by the BOA based solely on race, not qualifications, is truly a black eye for City Hall.
With this veto the Mayor said that qualifications don’t matter, the color of your skin does. It sets a dangerous precedent for this administration. I am truly disappointed in this move.
I can’t imagine this veto standing, especially with the Fab 5 of Dumas-Sistrunk-Parker-Carver-Corey voting. Corey probably would be the target to flip his vote.
Beyond that, you have to think that this will come back to haunt Parker Wiseman politically. I’m sure this has been filed away for the 2013 cycle.
Technically the “Fab 5″ you mentioned above shouldn’t all have voted on this in the first place. Dumas should have recused himself due to a conflict of interest in the fact that his spouse works for the SSD.
See Miss. Ethics Commission opinion from January 15, 2010: http://www.ethics.state.ms.us/ethics/ethics.nsf/OpinionsByDocId/F37539E41C51DCF8862576B8006FC6AC/$file/10003.pdf
Well, there is alot that goes with the decision of the veto.
#1, I don’t think the BOA was all too suprised by the Mayor’s decision to Veto. I am pretty confident that he “under-the-table” told the BOA that since the outgoing Board member was black, the BOA must replace the existing position with another black member. Otherwise, it would all break loose.
#2, I am sure Wiseman’s veto came after he received an unprecedented amount of “political advice” on what he should do. Since the SSD is majority black, then his voters are too.
#3, Dumas SHOULD NOT have recused himself. I could not careless what the “ethics” say. Since his wife is an employee of the district, even more reason to vote. She knows more than anyone all of the critical, critical needs that our district faces. She spends 10 hours a day working tirelessly on Starkville’s children and you tell me her husband who sacrifices his time and money so that his wife can be one of the best teachers in the district should not vote…are you kidding me Bill?
Actually Parker’s voters are not majority black. You forget about the Academy, Starkville Christian School, Hebron Christian School, and the home schoolers. Starkville is a majority white town.
Wow! If you believe that I have some water front property in Hickory Grove Estates for sale to you. I mean, you take out the 80/20 split of the college students, we might as well be in Macon.
This is from http://www.americantowns.com/ms/starkville-information
“White Population in Starkville, MS
The estimated White population in the Starkville community is 14,128, which is 64.6 percent of the total population (The U.S. average is 75.10%).
Black Population in Starkville, Mississippi
The estimated Black/African American population is 6,565, which is 30 percent of the total population in town (The U.S. average is 12.30%).”
The total of the above is about 21,000 and the enrollment at the University is close to that. I wonder how many college students are in those numbers. The census form says not to count people away at college for the household surveyed and that it conducts counts in institutions, so are the students subtracted from the population as given from census data?
Thanks for the info Rufus. Now about that water front property in Hickory Grove Estates……
Well, you could pull some manhole covers and catch some crappie…
But wait…nothing in Parker’s record gave us a hint that he would do something like this!
Oh yeah, I forgot, he had no record before being elected. And now the votes for him are coming home to roost.
I did not support the mayor when he ran and have mixed emotions about the veto but I am happy to see him step up to the plate and do something besides hide behind his board. Think about it, he hasn’t said much about anything even remotely controversial.Extended drinking hours? Sunday sales? School uniforms? He can do this because there is no real media in Starkville. As the mayor of our town he has an obligation to say how he feels about issues affecting the city. WHAT THE MAYOR (any mayor) THINKS MATTERS. But, no one ever asks him!!! (on the record, at least)
This veto shows me he at least has the gravitas to take a stand on an issue. I admire that and expect it from those in leadership positions even if I don’t always agree with the decision. So, kudos Mayor for demonstrating some leadership. You’ve earned some respect with me.
Bill- Although I agree our leaders should speak up, Wiseman showed a SERIOUS lack of judgement on this issue that has me questioning his ability to make simple decisions let along more complex decisions on serious issues facing Starkville, such as a new justice facility, comprehensive planning, etc.
GoState04,
Wiseman is smart, I don’t doubt his ability to make decisions. To me the question is whether he makes political decisions or whether he makes decisions based on his duties as the mayor of Starkville. I don’t know what the thought process was on this veto but I’m glad he stepped up was decisive. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Leroy says Wiseman is behaving like a fool. Leroys says PW might as well be out politic’n for his opponent in 2013, cause he just cut off his nose to spite his face. Leroy says his peeps, both crats and pubs, are dissin PW now.
I believe Wiseman is smart and should continue the fine job of doing nothing (remember this is just something to add to his college resume). When he does surface, it only makes you wonder what he’s up to and who’s pulling the strings. If we keep it simply, we might make it til the next election.
Leroy agrees PW is good at doing nothing!
Parker may be smart, but he is not wise; wisdom only comes through experience, and we elected a mayor with absolutely none. That limitation is now beginning to show.