Speaking of elections, Hattiesburg's mayoral race is only months away which is most likely to be the biggest race of 2021 in the Pine Belt and rumors are already surfacing that former Hattiesburg Mayor, Johnny DuPree, Ph.D, could run for his old job again.
For months, many people have been waiting to hear if Dr. DuPree will put his name on the ballot. Asking some of the closet people in his camp, a source who was not at liberty to discuss the matter on the record said "it can go either way!"
However, it's hard to beat an incumbent, the person who is currently holding the position. It's not impossible, as DuPree was the mayor for 16 years and lost the election to Toby Barker, who is the current mayor, and who is still favorable in some communities.
Two key factors will most likely decide the race, just as they will decide the presidential race in less than 3 weeks, which are COVID 19 & Social Justice, as the country is in the middle of the Black Lives Matter movement, in which African American across the country are demanding equality in every facet of American Life.
But Mayor Emertius DuPree is no stranger to crisis. He oversaw multiple crisis including the worst natural disaster in the United States history, Hurricane Katrina, not to mention multiple devastating tornados which destroyed the city. He was also mayor during one of the worst economical crisis in American history, The Great Recession.
Times change people change environments change and most people always want growth. Everyone wants to go to the next level. No one wants to go backwards or feel as though they are stuck in the past.
However, DuPree is no stranger to growth either. Much of the growth of Hattiesburg, including Mid-Town, was developed during his time in office. The Turtle Creek Mall, strip mall, and the Long Leaf Trace were also created during his time in office. DuPree also raised minimum wage was raised to $10 an hour and gave second chances to ex-offenders by hiring a record number of convicted felons, helping to rebuild countless of families throughout the community.
DuPree was also nationally recognized for ending homelessness within the City of Hattiesburg. He was the first mayor to create a Homeless Coordinator to address the city's homeless community, helping many to get off the streets.
Yes, without questions, he's Hattieburg's most successful mayor winning 4 consecutive terms serving a historic 16 consecutive years, but is everything he's done enough to get him elected as the most powerful person in the City of Hattiesburg? Many of his supporters are excited and remain hopeful although it may or may not be enough to convince him to put his name in the race.
Bình luận