Latest news with #Jacksonian
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
President outlines the Trump Doctrine: Prosperity equals peace — for the entire world
President Donald Trump gave an important speech in Riyadh that may come as close to outlining a 'Trump doctrine' for his second term as we'll probably see. It was a direct counterpoint to George W. Bush's second inaugural address. The simplistic way to put it is that what liberty was for Bush, money is to Donald Trump. That's not quite right, though. The speech had values, they just weren't typical values — accountable government, human dignity — but rather prosperity and peace. These are universally regarded as goods, but Trump is elevating them over other goods — especially democracy — and putting his own distinctive gloss on them. 4 President Donald Trump speaks after signing the guest book at Qasr Al-Watan (Palace of the Nation) in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025. AFP via Getty Images If Bush wanted to spread freedom, Trump wants to spread gleaming high-rise buildings. He spoke glowingly of the new towers in Saudi Arabia and hailed Riyadh as 'becoming not just a seat of government, but a major business, cultural and high-tech capital of the entire world.' He continued, 'Before our eyes a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce not chaos, where it exports technology not terrorism, and where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together not bombing each other out of existence.' Notably, there is no liberty in this affirming sentence — it's all economic activity. Likewise, near the end of the speech, when he sketched out his vision of where the region could be headed: 'It is within our grasp to reach the future that generations before us could only dream about, a land of peace, safety, harmony, opportunity, innovation and achievement right here in the Middle East.' The speech was very critical of Iran. His critique wasn't that it's a theocracy but that it isn't constructing anything. 4 President Donald Trump visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during his official visit to Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025. AFP via Getty Images Its landmarks 'are collapsing into rubble and dust,' and its buildings put up long ago 'are largely falling apart, falling down while you're building some of the world's biggest and most incredible infrastructure projects.' Trump's speech wasn't isolationist, or alien to American traditions. The address ran in the slipstream of the Hamiltonian tradition as famously outlined by Walter Russell Mead, with its emphasis on the role of commerce in foreign affairs. And there was, as always, a Jacksonian element, as Trump spoke of smashing ISIS, repeatedly bragged about the strength of the US military, and talked of smacking the Houthis. There was, however, no Wilsonianism in the speech. In the passage that got the most attention, Trump rapped neocons and liberal nonprofits for trying but failing to develop the Middle East because they didn't know or respect the culture of the region. There is merit in this charge. We had no idea what we were getting into in Iraq and Afghanistan and only began to learn in depth about those countries when the wars were far along. 4 President Donald Trump and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. AP George W. Bush's vision for the spread of democracy systematically failed to account for the influence of culture and for the centrality of order to liberty and almost any other social good. That said, both Afghanistan and Iraq were originally conceived as wars of self-defense in the wake of a spectacular terror attack that shook America to its core. Both conflicts initially also had wide support, including on Jacksonian grounds — we'd been hit hard and were going to eliminate any further threats. It's also unpersuasive to hold up the Gulf states as a counterexample of development. Anyone can run an emirate sitting atop gobs of oil that is living under the security umbrella of the United States; if these countries had to make their own way, they would long ago have been gobbled by some neighboring wolf — say, Saddam Hussein — and wouldn't look so alluring now. For all that Trump emphasized the importance of the different cultures of different places, his vision is as universalist as Bush's; Bush believed everyone could become a democracy, and Trump believes that everyone can prosper. He wants Iran 'to be a successful country.' They can be 'a wonderful, safe, great country, but they cannot have a nuclear weapon.' Lebanon, too, long victimized by Iran-sponsored Hezbollah, can embrace 'a future of economic development and peace with its neighbors.' In Trump's telling, the yearning of every human heart isn't necessarily liberty but wealth and security. 4 President Donald Trump hands a pen to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan after signing a guest book at Qasr Al Watan, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. AP He claimed that in brokering a cease-fire between India and Pakistan, 'I used trade to a large extent to do it. I said, fellas, 'Come on. Let's make a deal. Let's do some trading. Let's not trade nuclear missiles. Let's trade the things that you make so beautifully.'' He'll reach out to anyone and bring them into this charmed circle of commerce and comity. 'As I've shown repeatedly,' he said, 'I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even of our differences may be very profound.' He added, 'I have never believed in having permanent enemies.' In this, there was an echo of Palmerston ('We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies'), but it's the British statesman as real-estate developer. For Trump, it's the results that matter — the prosperity and peace — not how a given government achieves them. That's none of our business. 'I believe it is God's job to sit in judgment,' he pronounced. 'My job [is] to defend America and to promote the fundamental interest of stability, prosperity and peace.' In sum, the speech was a dealmaker's realpolitik, or a doctrine that we won't really have a doctrine except for trying to get everyone rich and to get along with as many people as possible, a few fundamental interests aside. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters The address might have put more of an emphasis on all this given the venue and the audience in Saudi Arabia, but it was a notable contrast with Trump's signature foreign-policy speech from his first term, in Poland. That speech was all about our civilization — faith, freedom and culture — whereas the Saudi speech was more purely transactional. The address was certainly bracing, and there is no doubt that Bush's second inaugural never could be a practical guide to US foreign policy. But values do matter. Liberal societies are, as a general matter, more reliably our friends and more reliably achieve prosperity because it is less likely that they will be interrupted by civil war or revolution. If Bush's vision advanced an unrealistic view of what motivates mankind — all yearning for liberty, no yearning for power, revenge or honor — Trump also drastically simplifies human motivation. As history has shown again and again, people will fight and die for faiths and ideologies when these have nothing to do with prosperity or actively run counter to achieving it. Also, it should be said that standing for democratic ideals is an enormous part of America's appeal around the world, and if we get into a competition with China purely over who is richer and can cut more deals, we are kicking away one of our major advantages. That's likely an insight for another president, though. Trump has his doctrine.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Continuous improvement:' Jackson's new superintendent on new role
JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS) — The Jackson Public Schools school board approved the hiring of Superintendent of Secondary Curriculum Jeremy Patterson as the district's next superintendent in a 6-1 vote last week. 'I absolutely love it here. I think this community is a reflection of myself, having been a lifelong Jacksonian,' says Patterson. 'So this is personal, as far as professional.' The Jackson native says he has several goals and a plan to promote student development. 'We have great programs, we have great people, and we just look to continue to engage our community to make sure we're servicing our students and our families,' says Patterson. On June 1, Patterson, who graduated from Jackson High School in 1993, will replace current superintendent Jeff Beal after 11 years in Jackson Public Schools. 'My vision is continuous improvement,' says Patterson. 'You know, we always strive to do better each and every day. And so there's areas where we're being excellent, and there's goal setting, so we have a robust plan.' Patterson says the focus remains on the students and equipping them with everything they need for the next stage of life. 'It happens with the dedication. It happens with the communication and the clear vision, and focusing on the needs of our students is the top priority,' says Patterson. 'They're the ones that we're serving, and we want them to be great moving into if it's college or career readiness, that they're well prepared by Jackson Public Schools.' On May 6, the Jackson School Board signed off on a $126 million bond plan that Patterson says will address critical infrastructure needs for staff and students. 'Just programs that are going to attract the top educators in the state, as well as provide opportunities that students, again, if they want to go into trade programs, then we have opportunities to get those hands-on learning opportunities in addition to the advanced curriculum we already have in place.' Patterson says his understanding of the community will help him succeed in the role. 'I think it all begins with trust, and having 27 years of experience with education, that helps,' says Patterson. 'And being of a community that I'm highly visible in, and they know that I listen and take those things into consideration.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump's expulsions are jaw-droppingly cruel. But they're part of an American tradition
The recent expulsion of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, a protected legal resident who had committed no offense, is only the latest example of the Trump administration's unbounded efforts to detain and rapidly expel any immigrant, undocumented or not, who may come into its grasp. Although expulsions – often known as deportations – of undocumented men, women and children have been regular features of life under Democratic as well as Republican presidents in recent years, those of the new administration have been jaw-dropping in their cruelty and utter defiance of federal law and judicial due process, in their heralded scale and in the lust with which they have been carried out. And we would be mistaken to believe that immigrants will be the only victims of what is in effect a widening campaign of political expulsion. After all, Trump has just requested a sixfold increase in funding for detention facilities. Unprecedented as they may appear, the expulsive policies that Trump and his supporters relish, in truth, have a very long and worrisome history in this country. Indeed, they have been integral to political and cultural life since the colonizing settlement of the early 17th century, almost always expressing the will of a self-designated 'community' against those accused of threatening its security and integrity. Puritans had barely established the colony of Massachusetts Bay before they expelled Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams for challenging their religious doctrine and civil authority. Others, of less notoriety, would follow them, not to mention the many women who suffered lethal expulsions owing to witchcraft accusations before the century was out. The enlightened republicanism of the 18th century offered little respite and, in some cases, further provocations. Thomas Jefferson expressed the belief that slavery could not be abolished unless the freed Black population, whom he regarded as inferior to the white, was expelled to some foreign territory. His perspective, soon sanitized as 'colonization', would be embraced by most white people in the antislavery movement, including Abraham Lincoln, until well into the civil war. During the revolutionary and constitutional periods, those holding objectionable political views could be treated to tar-and-featherings, ridings on the rail and other well-known rituals of humiliation and expulsion. The early republic and Jacksonian eras, when political democracy appeared to be on the march, were in fact awash with violence-laden expulsions. The targets included Catholics (long associated with 'popery'), Mormons (not seen as Christian), abolitionists (accused of promoting miscegenation) and Masons (reviled for their political secrecy) as well as Native peoples who were subjected to the largest mass expulsion in all of our history, forcibly driven out of their homelands east of the Mississippi River to 'Indian' territory in the west. Both Alexis de Tocqueville and Abraham Lincoln feared at the time that the tyranny of public opinion and the rule of the mob, found north and south, were eating at the vitals of the young United States, and threatened to turn the country into a despotism. Yet, over time, expulsions became more common and widespread, almost routine methods of resolving problems as communities – however large or small – saw them. For African Americans, expulsions came in the form of segregation, political disfranchisement, red-lining, the destruction of their settlements (think Greenwood, Oklahoma, and Rosewood, Florida), and the brutal treatment of those who attempted to find housing in white neighborhoods. For unwanted and politically radical immigrants, expulsions came in the form of deportations, vigilante violence and federal repression. And for the poor, expulsions have long come in the form of turning-outs, confinements to workhouses, the denial of political rights and housing, and arrests for vagrancy. At all events, expulsions depended on paramilitary enforcement, whether by armed patrols, the Ku Klux Klan, the American Legion, citizens' associations or neighborhood watches. Mass incarceration is but the awful culmination of an expulsionism that has been at the heart of criminal punishment since the advent of the penitentiary in the early 19th century. Enlightenment-inspired social reformers had begun to insist that convicted offenders be removed from their communities rather than punished in public, apparently to the benefit of all. From the first, however, those incarcerated were disproportionately poor and Black (wherever they were held), and subject to close surveillance and coerced labor, even when slavery and involuntary servitude were under attack. Recall the 'exception clause' of the 13th amendment, which allows for slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. Expulsive incarceration was deemed an appropriate solution to growing social disorder and was quickly embraced when racial unrest became of concern to politicians and policymakers, who then roused an easily frightened public with warnings about crime and demands for law and order. The expulsions were political as well as social, disenfranchising felons not only during their time of incarceration but often for years thereafter as they fulfilled parole requirements and attempted to repay debts contracted while they were locked up. The state of Florida now has nearly one million formerly incarcerated people who are still expelled from the arenas of American politics. Race-based gerrymandering, which denies the Black representation that a state's population would have required, has enabled Republicans in some legislatures to in effect define themselves as a political community, set their own rules, establish rights that members could claim, and expel those who push back. In Tennessee, the general assembly recently expelled two duly elected Black legislators – and nearly expelled an 'unruly' white female legislator – with some of the most explicitly racist language to be heard in public these days, clearly performances for their white Republican supporters. But they were only following politically expulsive traditions begun during the turbulent days of Reconstruction, when Black elected officials were expelled from their seats in legislatures, regularly run off after assuming local office, or murdered if they determined to stay in power. This long history helps us understand how easy it has been for Donald Trump to attract millions of supporters by offering expulsions – soon, perhaps, of political opponents as well – as a solution to their fears of economic decline, diminishing opportunities, racial replacement and social unrest. As was true in the past, Trump has described 'communities' under siege from internal and external enemies alike, and has encouraged summary punishments for those who have 'invaded', either from within or without. And as was true in the past, these are ethnic and political cleansings that should warn us of the illiberal cast infusing our democracy and of the dangerous road to its possible collapse. First they came for those who could be declared 'illegal' and were accused of 'poisoning the blood of our country'. Then … It would be difficult to find a precedent for Trump's expulsive policies in their potential reach and ambitions. Yet, frighteningly, in one form or another, they have happened before in America. Steven Hahn is professor of history at New York University and author, most recently, of Illiberal America: A History
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Six Democrats, one Republican and one Independent vying to represent Ward 7 on the Jackson City Council
Ward 7 residents will vote between eight candidates for a representative on the Jackson City Council after incumbent Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay announced she would not seek a third term. Lindsay, who has served two terms and is the current council president, announced her decision in early January. Now, six Democrats, one Republican and one Independent are vying to replace her. The Democrats include Kevin Parkinson, Corinthian "Corey" Sanders, Quint Withers, Bruce Burton, Turner Martin and Rosella L. Houston. These candidates will face off in the April 1 Democratic primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Taylor Turcotte and Independent Ron Aldridge in the June 3 general election. Ward 7 encompasses the eastern portion of Jackson, starting as far south as Bounds Road and as far north as Meadowbrook Road. It includes neighborhoods such as Fondren, LOHO, Belhaven Heights, Belhaven and Midtown. The ward also encompasses Downtown Jackson and the Farish Street Historic District. The Clarion Ledger contacted the Ward 7 candidates to answer questions regarding who they are, why they decided to run for office and what their positions are on issues that face Jackson. Below is a look at the answers, which have been edited for length, style and clarity. Martin, 25, serves as the manager of the city's Arts Center of Mississippi. He received his undergraduate degree in art history from Millsaps College. His family lives in Jackson, including his father, stepmom and two younger siblings. His older brother lives in Hattiesburg. He has never served as an elected official. Why are you running?: As a lifelong Jacksonian I grew up hearing and seeing negative narratives that surround our city, and I have spent most of my life fighting against them. My generation is currently being watched to see how we will get involved and improve the world around us; I believe that I can help make the changes Jackson needs by serving on our city council. We need younger voices represented in our local and state government to accurately reflect the change needed in our city. Working for the City of Jackson as a building manager for the past three years ultimately inspired me to run for this position. Through this work, I have learned to navigate city resources, bring people from across Jackson together, and turn challenges into opportunities. I believe that we need councilors who know how our City government works and can use that knowledge to push our city forward. What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: These are my top four priorities: First, infrastructure and city property maintenance: We need to review the budget and stop contracting out work that should be done by internal staff. Just one example is that the city does not currently employ a plumber; we need to offer competitive salaries for our public works staff and make sure these vacancies are filled. Second, transparent governance, which I believe can be immediately improved with a dedicated page for Ward 7 on the city's website. I want to make information publicly available and accessible from a central hub using resources we already have. We need to advertise the work being done — from addressing crime, to street pavings, to water improvements. Third, investing in our younger generations by adequately funding Jackson Public Schools, so they can succeed. We have to prioritize support for our public schools and setting up young people to get a quality education and then supporting them and giving them opportunities to stay in Jackson after graduating. Lastly, economic growth throughout our ward, especially downtown. We need to prioritize local businesses and offer incentives to operate in Jackson; we need to keep our grocery stores, our small businesses, and our cultural institutions. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: I believe that we have to find ways to keep our younger generations here and incentivize young, talented people to move here from across the country and make Jackson their home. We have seen the effect of 'brain drain' on our area, as well as many of the city's residents leaving Jackson for the nearby suburbs and even other states. This is not an issue that we can solve overnight, we have to put in the work to prove to our current and potential residents that Jackson is worth investing in by investing in ourselves first. This starts with a complete reassessment of our facilities, infrastructure and public education systems. We need to set up regular routines, inspections and processes for our infrastructure to make repairs and make sure it stays in good condition. And we need to give our public schools the support they need and deserve. I personally hope that as a council member I can be an example for other young people in our city that there are opportunities if you choose to stay, and that I want to be a voice for you and your needs so that you feel proud to call Jackson your home. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I am committed to joining the council with the goal of working collaboratively with my fellow council members and the mayor to ensure we are best serving our community. We need to prove to Jackson that our government can function as intended: with a council that represents each of our ward's best interests and needs and an executive branch that enforces all ordinances and resolutions passed by the council and that holds the departments accountable for their duties. We need to maintain a respectful environment in our government and keep in mind the people we are elected to represent in every action that we take. Parkinson, 38, is an educator who lives with his wife Stephanie and their three kids. He received his Bachelor's degree in Communication studies and history from Illinois State University and a Master's degree in Educational leadership from Columbia University. This is his is first time running for office. Why are you running?: I was the principal of a public school in Ward 7 that serves students from all over the city. As I drove to home visits or community events, I was able to explore North, South, East, West and Central Jackson. I can say definitively that every neighborhood in our city has something about it that is truly special and inspiring. At the same time, I was able to see, firsthand, the many challenges that Jacksonians from every corner of the city experience. I am running to preserve the things about our community that make it so special while also addressing the many challenges we face. What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: There is already so much that makes Jackson special, and there is nowhere else I would want to live. At the same time, Jacksonians are facing real challenges that must be urgently addressed. We'll know we are on the right path when city services work reliably (regular garbage collection, safe drinking water, quick pothole repairs, and enough police patrolling our neighborhoods). To do so, we need to elect a City Council that insists on transparency and holds the mayor accountable for the day-to-day running of the city government. Let's govern with respect, partner together and put the people of Jackson first. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: Jackson needs as much help as it can get and I welcome assistance from federal, state, and regional partnerships that advance our city. And I also believe that government works best when local governments control basic local services. But most of all, I care about serving the citizens of Jackson and I will always ask this simple question: Which option is more likely to improve the situation quicker and better in the long run? How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: The current relationship between the mayor and city council is dysfunctional. The mayor's job is to run the day-to-day operations of the city and be transparent with the council about the progress made. The council's job is to hold the mayor accountable. The council sets the budget and passes ordinances, and we should use our council meetings to insist on timely, accurate reports from the mayor. We should work alongside the mayor to advance the city, but we cannot be a rubber stamp. Sanders, 32, is a graduate of Callaway High School and Hinds Community College. He also earned a Bachelor of fine arts degree in architectural illustration and sequential design from Savannah College of Art and Design. He is a sixth generation Jacksonian and a ninth generation descendant of Louis LeFleur. Sanders has been married for seven years and has one son. He has never served as an elected official. Why are you running?: I am running because I'm committed to a community that values responsive, effective governance and a clear vision for our future. What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: In my ward, I will address aging infrastructure, public safety, and housing affordability through strategic investments and community partnerships. A key element of my plan is to pass a working budget that pays down our deficit, saves for the future, and leverages funds to complete necessary infrastructure projects. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: I believe the most critical issue for Jackson's future is establishing a sustainable fiscal foundation to support essential projects and improve service delivery. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: As a council member, I will engage constructively with the city and the mayor by maintaining regular communication, focusing on shared priorities, and building consensus to achieve common goals. This collaborative approach will ensure that our decisions lead to lasting improvements and a stronger, more resilient Jackson. Withers, 42, works as a business and accounting professional, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business administration from Millsaps College. His mother and father, as well as his cat all live in Jackson. Withers also works as a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Ann Prewitt Realty. He has never served as an elected official. Why are you running?: I'm running for Ward 7's council seat to ensure Ward 7 leadership remains strong. Ward 7 has played a critical role in providing smart, ethical leadership on the council. However, these have been turbulent years for our capital city. We must restore trust and rebuild Jackson. It is going to take ethics and professionalism. I bring both of these to the table. Fiscal oversight and financial budgeting skills are paramount. We must insist on legal compliance with policies and procedures — while getting the job done the right way. As a professional accounting specialist and a third-generation real estate professional, I bring attention to detail and negotiation skills through experience. For over 20 years as a Governor-appointed commissioner to Volunteer Mississippi, I oversaw the fiduciary and programmatic responsibilities of a major state agency with a multimillion-dollar budget. Twice, my peers elected me as board chair. Success will take a significant time commitment from your Ward 7 representative. People who have worked with me know that I have structured my schedule to include service hours since my college days. I will not have to find the time in my daily life for this — it has always been a core priority and lifestyle choice I've made. When it comes to representing Ward 7, Quint won't quit! What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: It is no surprise to anyone that Jackson needs an all hands on deck teamwork approach and a call for volunteerism. Volunteerism is the heartbeat of a thriving community. It is unity. It is service above self. I have a heart for service. There must a be a Voice of Reason and A Vision for All. Like Ward 7, Jackson is a diverse city. One of the strongest attributes of leading is listening. It is open communication, relationship building, talking together, compromising for the common good, and collectively the power to get things done. It is recognizing different histories we have while bringing together fairness and a work ethic to a vision for all through leadership. We all share a vision for enhanced safety, improvements to infrastructure, blight, creeks, street lights, strong schools, and traffic light synchronization. We must strengthen neighborhoods and grow values. Economic development is key to Jackson's future. I remain committed to fostering an environment where local businesses can thrive, new investments are welcomed, and job opportunities abound. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: Those who know me will tell you I'm a firm believer in optimism. It was a lesson my grandmother instilled in me during childhood. There is always a bright spot in the day regardless of the potholes we might encounter on the day's journey. The job that Jackson needs will take more than Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm. It is going to take courage. The courage to take risk. Success never happens in the comfort zone. It is the bravery to push beyond the status quo. The courage to lead through uncertainty. It is the ability to navigate uncertainty with calm, confidence, being adaptable, and decisiveness. It is knowing your grace and forgiveness are necessary when errors are made by your Ward 7 council representative. Errors will be made – it is only human. It is the courage to uphold values. It is knowing what is right, ethical, and to lead with integrity. It is the courage to inspire others. It is empowering and uplifting others. It is the Power to Create Change. I will show up informed and prepared to work. It is about standing firm on difficult issues while respecting opposing views shaped by our diverse histories without creating division. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: While disagreements are inevitable, we must focus on collaboration rather than division. Strong community ties, optimistic ethical leadership, a vision for progress, a heart for service, and a head of financial transparency and responsibility make me ready to Restore Trust and Rebuild Jackson into the safe, clean, functional, and thriving city we are ALL proud to call home. Quint won't Quit! Burton did not respond to repeated attempts to answer Clarion Ledger election questions by publication time. At a recent forum, Burton said he works as an attorney with his wife at their own law practice Burton Law Firm and he wants to bring more transparency to city government. According to a past campaign website, Burton ran for Mississippi Court of Appeals for District 4 in 2022. Houston could not be reached for comment. According to Mississippi Today, Houston withdrew her name from the Ward 7 ballot. Aldridge, 74, previously served in the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 66 from 1984 to 1988. He is a graduate of Jackson Public Schools and the University of Mississippi's School of Law. He also attended the U.S. Army Engineer Officer School. He is married to his wife Beth. Together they have three children and four grandchildren. Why are you running?: I've never stopped working for Jackson, its residents and businesses my entire career. Our capital city must have elected officials who come ready to restore the broken trust. I love Jackson and its people, have 'no fear' of going anywhere, I weep and cry out at the neglect and hazardous life too many have had to endure. My heart won't accept that for these forgotten. I have a broad successful experience in life, business, government and community service, and strong work ethic to continue bringing and working together our neighborhoods, churches, ministries and government to stop Jackson's downward spiral and begin immediately to restore an entire city we can all be proud to call home and as our capital city. We have too many positive attributes to allow this to continue and we must quickly focus also on our positives! I'm ready to continue working for all of Jackson! What are issues you'd address in your ward if elected?: Crime and Safety — gangs, drugs, homeless. I'd do what I helped do in Fondren — bringing our professional law enforcement together, improving crime communication between all, as well as our residents and businesses. Infrastructure — Safe smooth streets, proper drainage, safe reliable water. I'd use my extensive relationships built on years of trust to seek assistance from the county, state and federal officials and agencies. Good Paying Jobs and Training — My past State Workforce Investment Board service, decades of solving business legislative and regulatory problems, and as Fondren Business Improvement District's (BID) Board Chair will facilitate attracting businesses to all areas of Jackson. Clean neighborhoods to live, grow businesses, work, play, attend school and attract more to build the tax base. My 33 years on Keep MS Beautiful's board and my work ethic helping cleanup all over Mississippi are committed to clean up every area of this city by working together. My involvement the last three years extensively with Bridging the Gap Outreach Ministries, also evidences my commitment to all the people of Jackson as we've brought churches, ministries, and neighborhoods together for the common good and make our community safer. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jackson's future? How would you solve that?: We must elect officials who have have proven they will unify and restore the people's trust, and also city and also with other level government officials. We don't have time to waste. This foundation is a must to fix all else that's broken. My extensive record of doing that is well established, and I'm committed to be that person I've always been — one whose word is his bond. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I'd do as I've done throughout life with my solid record of forming personal relationships, listening, encouraging, being truthful, getting all facts - pro/con, working tirelessly together in a congenial, cooperative manner, building unity and working to find common ground and practical solutions, while establishing various time levels of goals toward working a plan to fix our obvious problems, while also addressing other citizen concerns Turcotte did not respond to repeated attempts to answer Clarion Ledger election questions by publication time. She does not have a campaign website. According to previous Clarion Ledger reporting, Turcotte ran as a Republican in Mississippi's U.S. Congressional District 2 race in 2023. Turcotte lost in the Republican primary. She owns own a small advertising agency that focuses on the advertising and marketing needs of small businesses, according to previous reporting. Turcotte earned a Bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and a specialty in pharmaceutical sales from the University of Southern Mississippi. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Meet the candidates running for the Ward 7 seat on the Jackson City Council
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Hal's St. Paddy's Parade celebrates Mississippi's Blues heritage
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The 42nd Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival will take place in downtown Jackson on March 22, 2025. The theme for this year's celebration is 'Hey, Hey, The Blues is All Green,' highlighting the rich Blues heritage of Mississippi. The grand marshal is legendary Bluesman and Jacksonian Jesse Robinson. 2025 MARL Pet Parade The parade and festival will raise funds for Children's of Mississippi, the state's only hospital for children. 'Hal's St. Paddy's Parade & Festival is more than just a celebration,' said Malcolm White, Parade & Festival Founder. 'It's a homecoming, a showcase of creativity, and a testament to the spirit of Jackson. Every year, we bring people together in a sea of green to share joy, music, and community. I can't wait to see the streets come alive again with the magic of this tradition!' The full Saturday parade day schedule includes a pet parade benefitting Mississippi Animal Rescue League, a children's parade, the Hal's St. Paddy's Parade, and official After Party at Hal & Mal's. The entire schedule of events for the celebration can be found online. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
