Two seeking Ward 2 alderman seat
Southaven voters in the city’s Ward 2 will select a new alderman Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by Shirley Kite.
The ward’s former alderman, Ronnie Hale, faces political newcomer Brandon Henley in a two-way race open to about 4,000 eligible voters.
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the DeSoto County Justice Court building, 8525 U.S. 51. Voters wishing to cast an absentee ballot can do so at City Hall Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.
Kite resigned in May because of changes in Mississippi’s pension system laws. The changes would not allow her to retire from her post as DeSoto County Justice Court Clerk and continue serving in another public service role as alderwoman.
Hale held the Ward 2 seat for one term before losing to Kite, then known as Shirley Beshears, in 2013. Hale said Thursday he decided to seek re-election because he wanted to get back into public service.
“I’ve never stopped serving,” Hale said. “I go to all the meetings, and I want to continue bringing businesses and jobs to Ward 2.”
Hale said he also wants to make cleaning up the ward and enforcing code requirements a priority. Ward 2 encompasses the older part of Southaven near the state line, and blight from deteriorating properties has become a concern.
Hale, 56, was on the board during the Greg Davis era. He was among board members who asked the state to step in to investigate spending by Davis, eventually leading to an order by state Auditor Stacey Pickering that Davis repay the city $174,000. The state Supreme Court recently refused to consider an appeals court ruling upholding the repayment order, meaning Davis will have to pay.
Hale’s opponent is a lifelong resident of the city’s Colonial Hills neighborhood and is making his first run at elective office.
Henley, 34, said he decided to seek office to help ensure the older part of the city isn’t forgotten.
“I always tell my son he’ll never get anywhere unless he stands up and tries to do something,” said Henley, an employee of Smith and Nephew and an Army National Guard veteran who did a tour in Iraq. “I’m just trying to make sure spending is fair and equitable across the board. Our community deserves to be heard.”
Although he’s never held office, Henley said he attends board meetings or reads the minutes if he can’t be there to keep up with what’s going on.
Henley’s wife, Ashley Henley, is a state representative for District 40.
A lawyer says a former Mississippi police officer has been indicted in the October 2015 shooting death of a black man.
Attorney Jim Waide said Thursday that a prosecutor told him Canyon Boykin, a white former police officer in Columbus, has been indicted for manslaughter in the death of Ricky Ball. Boykin hasn’t yet been served, but Waide said he’s scheduled to appear in court Friday in Columbus.
A local prosecutor transferred the case to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood in July, saying it would prevent appearance of bias.
A spokeswoman for Hood declined to comment, citing court rules. Indictments remain secret until served in Mississippi.
Boykin has said he shot Ball after the 26-year-old appeared to point a gun at Boykin during a foot chase. Ball’s family questions the shooting’s justification.