A crucial election that matters for the City of Prichard

As the 2012 runoff election nears it’s an election that will decide who will lead Prichard for the next four years. There are two different views from two candidates that seek to lead the struggling city. On October 23^rd the citizens of Prichard will chose between Councilman Troy Ephraim or the incumbent Mayor Ron Davis.

The City of Prichard is at its crossroads…indeed, and it’s a hard stake on change for the City or the status quo that continues to hold Prichard in its current position of failure.

There is a choice to be made, a choice for the same ole politics or leadership that will provide the citizens and businesses of Prichard with an equal and fair opportunity with a descent quality of life and not the same ole watered down politics.

Over the last decade we have watch a once thriving city become one of the nation poorest cities. In a few weeks the citizens and voters in Prichard will have a chance to cast a vote that matters, a vote that will change the direction for which Prichard will take. The question is will it be a choice of the Status Quo or will it be change that Prichard so desperately need.

***Sideline Spectators***

As the election nears, many or sitting on the sidelines watching and claiming to be neutral, instead of fighting for what’s right and what the citizens deserve…which they deserve better. Do they have the seniors, children, education, working families, government, retirees and businesses at heart? It seems as though they don’t...because if the silent spectators did they want be sitting on the sidelines watching and instead be embracing change for the betterment of Prichard.

Over the past four years many has cried out for change, rallied for change and even went on to hold their marches…but now that the 2012 election is upon us, they are all choked up.

Choked up for what? It seems to be fear of politics that associate itself with favoritism and the behind closed doors handshakes. I think it’s time to call it what it is.

Question, how many of your pastor’s, educators, businesses leaders, elected officials or community leaders have come out and voices their support for change in this crucial election in the City of Prichard. That answer is easy to answer and don’t need any thoughts…a very few.

***Just A Quick Note You Should Know***

Pastors that lead the citizens of Prichard on a weekly basis and collect their tithes and offering when they (the) citizens at the same time fighting poverty, These pastors is being silent on what matters the most in their city.

Community leaders that rallied and voiced their opinions for change have now become silent, what happen to hope?

Politicians that seek your vote are silent, why because they also fear the back lashes if they voice their support for one or the other. These are the ones that say they have your interest at heart and they are concerned…Really?

If so why aren’t they speaking up for you now in a crucial election that decides where Prichard is headed in the future? That’s not leadership. I think it’s safe to say Prichard is democratic and elects democrats in other elections outside of the municipal election.

***Prichard the time is now***

As Prichard face its darkest days, all voices need to unite together for the better cause of the city and its citizens. So Prichard can once again be that thriving city again. Not only do the voices need to cry out, but the voices need to translate into votes. It’s time to fight for what we believe and that hope that our fore fathers once had.

Question again, how can we go out and campaign for change and hope, better yet move forward…no doubt which is good, but on the other hand watch our local community in which we live degrade its self?

My view is simple…if you are going to sit on the sideline and watch your local city degrade, then you should go ahead and throw away your voting card.

If you look at the image of Prichard and have the city at heart and not the special interest or politics, then you will step up and step out and be that man or woman you claim to be.

Our leaders should want the best for Prichard after all that it has been through and not the status quo. 

Let us say in unity, no more decline, no more poverty, no more crime, no more mis-management, no more politics as usual…but a new Prichard for all people.  

Don’t let the people of Prichard continue to suffer, speak up and speak out now and vote for change, for the betterment of the City and its families.

Troy Ephriam edges out Ron Davis for Prichard mayor; A run-off needed

Councilman Troy Ephriam 

Political Beacon pre-election poll was right 

Who will lead Prichard for the next four years? That’s the question that’s now on the minds of many. With a low voter turnout in Prichard, I thought with many people wanting change would have shown up at the polls in larger numbers. Maybe the change in the scheduled date caused the low voter turnout...who knows.

But at the end of the day, a frontrunner clearly emerged in the race to become Prichard next mayor for the next four years in Troy Ephriam. Ephriam serves on the City Council and has served as Council President.

Ephriam edged out Davis, 1,437 votes to 971 leaving the other three candidates with a decision to make, in whom they should throw their support behind. All of those candidates that are not in the run-off should be considering that move as you read this post. Because it is important on who becomes Prichard next mayor, all of those candidates promoted change for the better. So it will be interesting to see who they support moving forward.

Back in August, the Political Beacon conducted my own polling for the election of mayor in Prichard, and the results showed a close race between Ephriam and Davis. Ephriam was leading in a tight race with 28 percent to Davis 26 percent, however I had Harden in third place according to results. In Tuesday election Campbell-Morris managed to get more of her supporters to the polls to come in third place. Harden came in fourth place and Teresa Fox Bettis finish last as the results showed in my pre-election poll.

With Ephriam receiving the amount of support he did yesterday at the polls, and he lead in all precincts clearly shows that the people is hungry for change.

It bother me to see the mayor do an interview on TV last night and claim that the people are demanding change now and that it is impossible. He also quoted that it takes time. It’s been eight years Mayor Davis, and in those eight years nothing has been produced for Prichard that’s productive besides FedEx, but the shame ole politics that got Prichard into this current mess. Eight years is enough time to make needed improvements much more could have been done for the city and its residents. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but the attempt does.

Mayor Ron Davis 

The people of Prichard want lower waters bills, jobs, businesses, and more tax revenue to support the city. Everything is growing around Prichard including Chickasaw, Saraland and Mobile. With Airbus coming to Mobile the neighboring city, the City of Prichard has a prime opportunity to take advantage of development and jobs in the city.

Reducing the debt in Prichard, paying the bills on time, cleaning the communities, clearing blighted properties, repairing and building infrastructure, recruiting new businesses and jobs will help the city of Prichard. A plan for progress for the next five years has to be put in place and the people of Prichard will need to rally between their new elected officials to bring change. They too must hold them accountable every step of the way.

Some city council races are headed to a run-off election as well.

There will be a runoff in District 1 between Lorenzo Martin and Herman Towner, in District 2 between Earline Martin-Harris and Gwen Williams, in District 3 between Derrick Griffin and Alberta Young, and in District 4 between Donnell Hunter and either Michael Cooley or George McCall, pending provisional ballots.

Ossia Edwards defeated her two opponents in District 5, to keep her seat on the Prichard city council.

A run-off election will be held in the City of Prichard, Tuesday, October 9, 2012 from 7am-7pm. 

Obama: The Clear Choice

President Obama at DNC 

President Barack Obama has officially accepted the Democratic Nomination for President along with his running mate Vice President Joe Biden; but the two has one mission in mind this fall and that’s to make it clear to the American voters that they are the clear choice to occupy the White House.

This week we heard from great speakers that has endorsed Obama and Biden for four more years, we learned the 2012 Democratic platform one that looks and sounds more like America. San Antonio Mayor Castro delivered a great speech on opening night along with first lady Michelle Obama. We also heard from Congressman Cleaver, Congressman John Lewis, and the former Governor of Michigan that delivered a great speech.  And the one the Republicans hate at this moment and began to run negative campaign ads against is former Gov. Charlie Crist, who has endorsed President Obama as the right choice for President. Crist is a former Republican and served as a popular Governor of Florida. Crist also handed the convention an awesome speech for four more years.

Let us not forget the one man that made this country great former President Bill Clinton, who believes that Barack Obama deserves four more years and there is no doubt that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan is an unacceptable alternative.

Over the next 10 weeks, Obama - the country's first black president - will push to make history again. In ads and speeches, he'll try to do it by casting the campaign as a choice: give his economic policies more time to flourish or bet on Romney's agenda that the president says would simply benefit the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

This election will come down to Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin, Iowa and PA.  "It's a turnout election. We've got to make sure the people who support the president's plan are participating," said David Leland, a former Ohio Democratic Party chairman.

To tip the balance in those states and others, Obama's team will offer anew a steady string of warnings about Romney.

The president has questioned Romney's commitment to Americans earning modest salaries, raising suspicions about the Republican's background as a co-founder of a private equity firm. When Romney chose Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, Obama said it sealed a longstanding alliance between Romney and congressional Republicans whom Democrats accuse of threatening Medicare, education and spending priorities.

Expect to hear the president draw stark differences with the Republican on issues important to Obama's core constituencies by emphasizing his first-term successes as he looks to win support at the margins.

President Obama & VP Biden 

Republicans are asking Americans and their base, are they better off now than four years ago, and my reply to Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney; we are better off now than we were four years ago. Paul Ryan has tried to kill abortions, and a woman right to chose, take away Medicare as we know it, and give the rich and wealthy Americans more tax cuts that American just can’t afford. The two hardcore right wing conservatives wants to do away with Pell Grants for students to get a affordable education, and cut the most essential services to our middle class and poor Americans. This is not how you serve your country, this is not how you love your country, this is not Christian values, this is not clear representation.

We don’t need millionaires and billionaires telling us how to live our lives, when their lives is already A ok, we don’t need them stealing more of our tax dollars through a Tax Cut Welfare System for the Wealthy few and a Bain Capital job killer experience. What we need is a man like President Barack Obama that will lead with trust, honesty and with a heart for all people.

Republicans main view of this election is center around the color of the President skin and not the progress he has made, it very clear that this ridiculous conservative party is using race behind coded scenes and words to defeat the President. Main stream media don’t focus on these coded words and actions of the Republican Party but it’s there and we know it’s there.

This is not the America that our forefather’s envisioned. The vision was for all is to be as one, equal and have an equal opportunity regardless of who you are. So Republicans is this land and country yours or is it the people land and country.    

American the choice is clear, let’s give Barack Obama four more years in the White House to move us forward. 

Former President Bill Clinton gives a honest speech at the DNC in Charlotte

As the Democrats are looking for a bounce after the convention, former President Bill Clinton may have given them that bounce they are hoping for.

Former President Bill Clinton delivered a spirited defense and speech on President Obama’s handling of the nation’s struggling economy here Wednesday night as he criticized the economic agenda of Republican nominee Mitt Romney and an opposition GOP he argued has been unwilling to compromise for the good of the country. Clinton, in a speech to the Democratic National Convention formally nominating Obama that was aimed squarely at independent voters, he said America is ‘clearly better off’ than four years ago and argued that many of the serious problems ailing the economy were ‘inherited’ from Republicans. He said that, despite the slow recovery, Obama has spent the last four years laying the foundation for a more vibrant and balanced economy and needs four more years to see that vision through.

President Obama to Accept Nomination Tonight at 

Democratic National Convention

President Obama tonight will accept the Democratic nomination for a second presidential term inside the Time Warner Cable Arena here facing a wave of discouraging economic data, a potential bombshell of an August jobs report expected Friday.

The president plans to use the moment to "savor" his first term accomplishments.

More than 20,000 is expected to pack the Time Warner Arena to hear from the man that is seeking four more years in the White House.

City of Prichard to hold elections on Tuesday, September 11th

With a scare from Hurricane Issac, the City of Prichard and several other cities was forced to cancel their municipals elections.

The City Council since has rescheduled the election for Tuesday September 11, with the polls opening at 7am-7pm.

Citizens of Prichard have not forgotten about their city problems cause of Hurricane Issac postponing their city elections. The citizens and voters of Prichard are ready to cast their ballots for change. 

In our recent poll conducted by Political Beacon, we polled 327 likely registered voters. And councilman Troy Ephriam a former council president came in 1st place with 28% and Mayor Ron Davis with a close second with 26% of the votes.

Will a run-off emerge in this election, many are expecting one and with the Political Beacon to get a clear choice of the candidates one on one.

If you are not sure of your polling place in the city of Prichard please call the city hall to locate your polling site and vote, all votes matters.

First lady Michelle Obama shines at the DNC

The Democrats kickoff their convention on yesterday with inspiring speakers that showcased what America really looks like.

First Lady Michelle Obama

If you missed First Lady Michelle Obama’s inspiring convention speech last night, it is well worth looking up online this morning. I really can’t say it any better than she said it herself. The speech was more than just personal story of the American Dream as experienced by one family; it laid out a vision for what we owe each other as American citizens.

As Michelle said about her husband: He believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity … you do not slam it shut behind you…you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.

This belief is fundamentally different than what the Republican ticket has to offer. As president, Mitt Romney would slam the door of opportunity shut for students by slashing Head Start and Pell Grant funding. He would slam the door shut for seniors by ending Medicare and gutting Social Security. And Romney made his fortune at Bain Capital by sending opportunity overseas and slamming economic doors shut for American workers.

The Obamas know what it is like to come from humble beginnings. They paid off student loans, as opposed to the Romneys, who lived off stock options while in school. These things matter when selecting a leader. It is difficult to alleviate struggle and hardship if you have never experienced struggle or hardship. Working families need a president who will expand access to the American Dream by making smart investments in education and job creation. That President is Barack Obama.

This week you will see the many differences between the Republicans and Democrats, as the Democrats make their case on national TV to many voters and citizens across this country.

Democratic National Convention Opens Today in Charlotte

The Democratic National Convention opens their national nominating convention today amid polls that continue to show a very close race for the White House between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Last week the Republicans held their convention in Tampa, FL with a visit from Issac. There was music on the streets and food on the grill in downtown Charlotte Monday, as Democratic delegates and party activists came together in a kind of giant block party.

Democrats will formally open their nominating convention Tuesday with speeches by first lady Michelle Obama and Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Castro will give the convention keynote address, a speech that will lay out the main party themes for the week.

The convention will build to a climax on Thursday when President Obama will give his formal acceptance speech before a large crowd in a football stadium and the millions more watching on television around the country.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is serving as convention chairman. He says the three days of speeches will serve to rally Democrats behind Obama's re-election bid.

President Obama is hoping to make this convention a positive for his campaign and the Democratic ticket in November.

 Many who attend and watch this convention by the Democrats will see that they have a choice for leadership that will hold America back or leadership that will continue to move America forward.

Delegates also will hear from former president Bill Clinton, who remains enormously popular within the party, as well as numerous governors, senators, members of Congress and local officials.

Happy Labor Day Political Bean Fans and Friends

I want to take this opportunity to say Happy Labor Day from the Political Beacon, enjoy this day with your family and friends.

I will return on Tuesday morning with some news surrounding the Democratic National Convention which also begins on Tuesday in Charlotte, NC.