Prichard Mayor has a choice

A standing room crowd fills the council chambers for the Prichard City Council meeting this past Thursday, and none of the visitors and citizens attending the meeting was there for any other business but info on former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner termination.

Former Chief Jimmie Gardner

Former Police Chief Jimmie Gardner was terminated because his contract had expired and an extension was not approved by the City Council in October. However many in the city like the former mayor Ron Davis, his supporters and his former defeated rival Severia Campbell Morris is spear heading an attack on the newly elected mayor Troy Ephraim about Gardner termination. But it is no surprise the former Mayor Ron Davis will be in support of Gardner whom he hired as police chief during his administration.

A statement by Mayor Troy Ephraim stands out in this matter, "The citizens asked for a new direction for the city of Prichard," Ephriam said. "That's exactly what (the mayor's office is doing)."

By now regardless how the former Police Chief tries and decided to argue his termination and drum up support in his favor, the law stands and the citizens made a choice. In this previous election, I can’t recall that Jimmie Gardner was on the ballot for mayor.

Mayor Ephraim is right, the citizens of Prichard has made a choice and ask for a new direction when they elected Troy Ephraim as mayor by overwhelming margin.

In the midst of all this is Severia Campbell Morris a former candidate for mayor, she is a big supporter of Jimmie Gardner now that she has been defeated for mayor.  Not only does she support Jimmie Gardner, but she also now a big support of the former mayor Ron Davis. I now question the motives of Severia Campbell Morris, was she really running for mayor to make a change for the people of Prichard, are was she running just to capture votes to help Ron Davis. There is something very strange about Severia Campbell Morris.

I interviewed Severia Campbell Morris for a post here on the Political Beacon last fall when she was a candidate for mayor, some of those answers I did not post but I will post today to inform you on why I question her leadership and character.

Severia Campbell Morris is now the voice of the so-called movement that is supporting the former police chief of Prichard, and organizing the same people from her non-profit citizens group and people of Ron Davis camp to attack the mayor.

Severia Campbell-Morris now a resident of Prichard whom moved back here from Illinois has really came back here to stir up flames that she can’t put out.  

I recall last fall when I interview the former mayoral candidate, I asked her did she approve of the leadership of the current Police Chief and the Police Department. Campbell -Morris stated that she did not and that if she was elected mayor she would seek to overhaul the police department and possibly hire a new police chief, because she believes the City was headed in the wrong direction same as the mayor office.

Mayor Ron Davis did everything he could to try and keep Jimmie Gardner in the position. Regardless of the decision that was made by terminating Gardner, the newly Elected Mayor has the right to choose whom he pleases to represent the city and serve in his administration.

There is a lot that goes on that these crooked politicians do that they don’t want you the citizens and voters to know about. Maybe they think you just would look over it and pay it no attention and forget about it.

The council did not vote on Ephriam's termination order. A court hearing into whether Ephriam requires the City Council's endorsement of that move will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Mobile County courthouse downtown. A judge upheld a restraining order against Jimmie Gardner.

Once again the people of Prichard has spoken and new leadership should take place.