Ward 3 candidates talk goals, needs for area

Yahoo

15-03-2025

TUPELO — While most of the municipal races will be decided during the upcoming primary election, Ward 3 is the lone race without a primary choice, meaning the outcome won't be decided until the general election.
Incumbent Republican Travis Beard will face Democrat Shirley Hendrix in the June 3 general election for Ward 3 councilperson. While Beard makes a case for his third full term, Hendrix hopes to wrest the seat, with promises of stronger communication and transparency.
Ward 3 comprises multiple neighborhoods, including Mill Village, Downtown Tupelo, Lee Acres and many others. The farthest southern border lies at County Road 814, Briar Ridge Road in the east, Main Street to the north and neighborhoods west of Lawndale, butting up with Ward 7.
This race is one of two that will be decided in the general election along with Ward 5, which has four Republicans and one Democrat running.
Beard reflects on ending term, sees potential in new term
Beard, 78, a retired teacher and coach, has lived in Tupelo for more than 60 years, and he's been in Ward 3 since 1993.
'The last four years have been good,' he said. 'We haven't had a tax increase. I feel like the administration and the council, they work well together. It's been a unified effort.'
The city recently redistricted following the 2020 census, which resulted in significant gains for Ward 3 both north and east of the previous borders. One of Beard's major goals, he said, is to learn more about his new areas and constituents to learn their issues and wants.
'Ward 3 has changed,' he said. 'The needs in Ward 3 may area may be different in that part of Ward 3, and I that is something I've got to learn. So for the rest of this term, and whoever gets elected next term, I think that is going to be bringing in some different ideas … In the next four years, East Main will be a force in development.'
At the beginning of the current term, Beard said he was focused on traffic control, code enforcement and infrastructure, which he said the city made great strides in over the last four years, though he believes more can be done on all fronts.
'Speeding is still a problem. I don't know the answer to speeding, but we've made some progress in code (enforcement), especially on rental property,' Beard said. 'We now have a code enforcement officer in each ward … That's been a big help, but I still think we have some work to do in that area.
On infrastructure, Beard pointed to the more than $18 million in state matching funds and American Rescue Plan Act funds that went to storm water and drainage. He said many of the issues he saw in the ward's drainage back up were resolved using that money at no extra cost to the city.
'We've made progress on (infrastructure repairs). I think that is a key issue going forward. We need to keep improving infrastructure and making the needed changes there,' he said. 'Drainage has been helped a great deal, especially in Ward 3 with ARPA.'
Beard said he thinks he is the best fit for the board because it already has a continuity. He added that he believed the council was in a strong position, with every council member getting along well and working together for the sake of each ward and the entire city.
One issue Beard said he gets calls about is rental properties not being up to code, including un-mowed yards or other property maintenance. He said over the next year, there will be greater effort on code enforcement, adding that the reorganization of the Development Services Department during the last term opened the door for more organized enforcement and the council approved more software to streamline the process.
Something else Beard wants to tackle is parking on the street, noting that on new construction the city hopes to build ordinances that require contractors and developers to driveways and parking for buildings. He said there will always be parking on the street, but he hopes to decongest streets were possible.
In the next four years, Beard hopes to see more economic development in South Gloster. He noted that because the street is partially in his ward and partially in Ward 7, he will have to balance and work together with the councilperson of that ward.
City-wide, Beard said safety in the neighborhoods is his biggest concern, with animal control, automobile break-ins a focus he hopes to work with the administration and police department on.
While elections loom over the city, the county is working to build a new adult detention center. Beard said he believes all the municipalities need to work together with the county on the project, noting that they are currently following the county's lead, which are still in the planning for the project.
Hendrix sees needs in Ward 3
Shirley Hendrix, 57, who owns R&B Specialty Printing, touted her acumen in the business world and the skills she's gained over the years, which she plans to use to advocate on behalf of her ward. Hendrix moved to Tupelo in 1993 and made Ward 3 her home in 1996.
'I'm not here to make promises; I'm here to get to where we can get solutions and make those happen,' she said. 'I'm not saying things aren't being done in Ward 3, … but there are so many other things we need to work on.'
Hendrix said communication is lacking between the council and city residents, and she wants to focus heavily on that through what she calls 'transparency, engagement and action.'
'My goals are really … to listen to the people, and I already have been. I've been out and campaigning and listening to what the people have said,' she said. 'They say they have never had anyone … check in. That is one of my goals. To listen to our community in Ward 3.'
Specifically, Hendrix said she wants more discussion about the city's budgeting process and more accountability in policing alongside this greater emphasis on face-to-face communication with residents.
She said residents often hear misinformation that spreads around a neighborhood without the facts to counteract them. This issue, she said, can be fixed through greater communication.
Hendrix said she hopes to leverage her experience both as a small business owner and a former member of the Community Development Foundation, the city's chamber of commerce, to have the city invest more in the local economy through different initiatives.
'Our small businesses, we are the backbone, but we don't get that respect at all,' she said, noting that regulations and taxes are limiting businesses' abilities to thrive.
In addition, she wants to see a greater emphasis on streamlining the city's website to help developers and business owners obtain permits and other resources.
For Hendrix, while much has been done for Ward 3 in the last four years, she believes some areas have fallen through the cracks, specifically her neighborhood, Lee Acres. Litter is of particular concern. Hendrix noted that some residents have complained that litter is going unanswered in their area, while others aren't.
Paving city streets is another of her priorities.
'We can talk about infrastructure; we are working on that some, but why are some of the areas not being paved?' she said.
The city has and is working on updating its street saver program, which grades roads and helps the administration, council and Public Works Department prioritize streets in need, though the council has weight in the final list of annual paving.
Sidewalks are another goal for Hendrix, who said many of the areas in Ward 3 are not walkable. The city has previously allocated money to sidewalk projects in multiple wards, including recent constructions in Ward 4 and Ward 7.
Cameras and lighting are also part of Hendrix's plan for increasing safety. The city has previously installed cameras and license plate readers across the city through the Tupelo Police Department's effort to build a real-time intelligence apparatus for the city.
Safety in general is a concern for Hendrix. She moved from her old home into a new house in the neighborhood because she 'did not feel safe.' In Hendrix's perspective, not enough progress is being made in the ward, noting she believes the council person in the seat can do a lot more to influence change and action in the area.
'We want the whole city to feel like they are part of the city, and that is the kind of change I want to bring about,' Hendrix said. 'I work. I'm a hustler, and when I work, you want me on your team. I want our team to win … There's always something to do to be better.'