Barring a runoff, the citizens of Indianola will decide on Oct. 10 who the Democratic nominee for mayor will be .
The winner will face Independent candidate Jimmy Smith on Dec. 12.
The race is between three candidates.
- Incumbent Mayor Steve Rosenthal is seeking his third term in office to lead Indianola’s city government.
- Mario Robinson, vice president of Urban Planning Association is seeking his first political office.
- Former alderwoman and co-founder of Restoration Ministries Christian Academy Vivian Jenkins is running for mayor for the second time in as many election cycles.
Each of the candidates have agreed to speak to The Enterprise-Tocsin on a number of issues.
We have laid out a list of questions we feel are important for the candidates to answer.
Where do the candidates stand on key issues in Indianola?
What will be your approach to economic development and job growth over the next four years?
Rosenthal
Answer: The best businesses are home-grown business.With that said I will move our semiannual entrepreneur training to quarterly and increase our financial literacy programs. I will work to grow the ACT “Work Ready Community” program that uses the NCRC testing format. This format proves to interested industries that we have people who are qualified, countering the negative image of our large high school drop-out rate. I will continue to work with Indianola Promise Community to reduce the number of drop-outs using the many literacy programs and after school tutoring programs that they currently offer. Partner with the current program called “Getting Ready to Excel, Achieve, and Triumph” (GREAT). This program is designed to give young adults in Indianola the opportunity to gain skills that will assist them with employment and furthering their education. Using three tracks, (1) GED and soft skills employment training to prepare them to enter the workforce, (2) medical training to receive certification as a Certified Nurse’s Aide, Registered Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Child Development Associate, Medical Laboratory Technician, or a Home Health Aide, and (3) work to obtain a certificate in one of two available trades. Currently over 25 programs have been put into place in the last 7 years to improve the employability of our citizens. I will work with Delta Strong, which is our regional marketing program. I have been working the last 2 years to bring a Boys & Girls Club to Indianola and it finally looks promising. This program will have a strong focus on career readiness.
Jenkins
Answer: I propose to work to promote expansive economic development. This will be accomplished by first developing an inclusive and comprehensive vision or plan for the city of Indianola. The vision will encompass the following areas: employment and entrepreneurship; education and youth development; housing and neighborhood development; faith and hope; health and healthy families; violence prevention and intervention; and, a thriving cultural arts community. Because parks are not just city amenities, but also economic development tools, I will work to create a regional recreational attraction.
Robinson
Answer: In the next four years my approach will be to create well-paying jobs, establish two new manufacturing firms employing up to 50 people each, provide early stage technical assistance to this area’s entrepreneurs and growing companies, and lastly to contact small manufacturing firms to gauge interest in expanding.
How do you plan to address the city’s infrastructure issues when it comes to roads, bridges, sewer, drainage, etc.?
Rosenthal
Answer: We are currently replacing one of the 38 pump stations that we maintain funded through a $400,000 CDBG grant. This grant also funded the smoke testing of all of our sewer lines. When this grant is complete, we will then apply for an additional CDBG grant by using the data that we have collected. We will repair or replace some of the broken sewer lines that were detected during phase one. We currently have a list of city street recommended by the “Concerned Citizens” of five streets per ward for repair or overlay. We are in the process of analyzing the total cost per street based on the surface repairs and water and sewer repairs that are needed Once the cost of the 25 streets is calculated, we will then look at what the city is willing to pay for and methods of funding. For the last 6 or 7 years, funding for street replacement has been almost nonexistent but hopefully there will be a new federal infrastructure plan put into place that will offer some type of funding. We will have to look at some type of bond issue if that funding does not materialize.
Jenkins
Answer: First, a complete assessment of our infrastructure will be done. We will examine the infrastructure based on several factors, such as usage, condition, and cost to determine the best approach to resolve the issues. Good infrastructure is pertinent to raise the standards of our community and to promote economic development.
Robinson
Answer: I would evaluate the current condition of the city’s entire infrastructure, then I would say, where do we want to be, I would work with local planners, citizens, administrators, and business owners to create a master plan that identifies the growth opportunities and the major and minor problems of the city.
Lastly, I would tell, how we will get there, that would compose of the funding it will take the objectives of the project and time span of the project
In your opinion, what will be the number one issue facing the city of Indianola over the next four years?
Rosenthal
Answer: The answer to that question is easy but the solution is difficult with many parts needed to overcome it. The number one issue is moving our citizens out of poverty. If we could move just 20% of our citizens that are currently in poverty, we would see sales tax revenues increase, property value increase along with property tax revenues, crime would drop and quality of life for everyone would improve. The city could afford to repair and replace many of the problems with our infrasture, we could employ more police officers, offer more programs and make many other improvements without raising taxes.
This is a wonderful dream but it will take our community working together to make this dream a reality. Over the last few years, Indianola has put in place a number of the needed tools, such as technical training programs starting in high school, plus programs at MDCC, and the Capp’s Center. We have programs that improve parental involvement with their children and with the schools, programs that help prepare children to be work or college ready by high school graduation. We have agencies that lift people up such as Sunflower County United for Children, Save the Children, Youth Build, Indianola Promise Community, and Sunflower/Humphreys County Progress.
Jenkins
Answer: The number one issue facing the city of Indianola is to unite and work together as one city with the same goal in mind and that is to rebuild the waste places, and they are many. First, we will develop a strategic comprehensive plan for the city. We will restore financial accountability with the hiring of a qualified city clerk and restore transparency and efficiency within the daily financial operations. We will raise the standards of care for the city. Maintenance will be a high priority. We will support and promote our existing businesses, while encouraging and developing new businesses. We will pursue and support housing development and ownership of quality and affordable homes. We will tighten our efforts in making Indianola one of the safest cities in which to live and retire.
Robinson
Answer: I feel infrastructure will be the number one issue. It is a costly but important aspect of the city. Without a proper infrastructure, your community will lack very key elements and accumulate many costly problems.
What is the number one missed opportunity in terms of economic development and job creation in Indianola, and how do you plan to capitalize on that opportunity over the next four years?
Rosenthal
Answer: The number one missed opportunity is correcting the "false impression" that our citizens are not trainable. Companies look at workforce availability as their #1 priority. Currently with interest rates so low quality companies have no interest in an old building, even if it is given to them free. Prospective industries look at us via the Internet and see that our dropout rate has been between 25% and 35% over the last 15 years. They also see that so many of our graduates have to take remedial courses when they get into college or do not graduate college at all.
Our plan to correct this missed opportunity has many moving parts, some that have already been put into place.
1. Making available more usable acreage in our industrial park (2016) . We are working on becoming a certified industrial site.
2. We became an ACT "Work Ready Community" in 2016, using the nationally recognized NCRC system which helps to overcome the negative impression of our high dropout rate. This approach links workforce development to education, aligns with the economic development needs of communities, region and state, and matches individuals to jobs based on skill levels.
3. Delta Strong (2017)-A regional, branding, marketing, and business attraction program aimed exclusively towards attracting new manufacturing opportunities to the Mississippi Delta.
4. We are using a nationally known “Site Selection” sales group that is making hundreds of face-to-face calls to prospective industries to look at the Delta as a growth area. (2017).
5. Incentive programs (2017) – New market tax credits, cash grants, reduced start-up cost programs, no state taxes, workforce training cash, on-the-job training cash, and financing programs through USDA Rural Development, SBA, and Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and Delta Regional Authority (DRA)
We are also working with programs for small start-ups such as regular entrepreneurial training, financial literacy programs that include cash grants and financial assistance along with guidance through the Small Business Administration.
Jenkins
Answer: Our number one missed opportunity is that we have failed to identify and focus on our greatest asset---the people. Maximum efforts will go into identifying our potential workforce and bridging the gap between the available resources of skills development and job-readiness training of our potential workforce and ultimately placing them with employment.
Robinson
Answer: A vibrant downtown and exploring and the creation of opportunities for large manufacturing firms to gauge interest in expanding. Growing downtown in Indianola is a large key in business development. You create entrepreneurs in your own city that can create jobs for citizens, also a vibrant downtown makes people want to shop and it can give a better quality of life to your citizens and community
What role, if any, will your administration play in improving education and the education facilities in Indianola?
Rosenthal
Answer: Education is the life's blood for growth of any community. I will continue, as a city, to work with our public schools to assist with any mechanical or infrastructure problems that they have here in Indianola. I will continue to work with the P 16 counsel as one of its founding members. I also serve as chairman of the Excel-by-5 coalition, a member of Sunflower County United for Children, former member of the Board of Directors of Sunflower/Humphreys County Progress, and currently serve on the advisory board of "Save the Children". I have worked closely with the Indianola Promise Community since it's inception to bring summer enhancement programs, after school mentoring programs, and parenting skill training. For the last four years Robin and I have hosted a monthly breakfast meeting at our home for ministers, laypersons, and educators and concerned citizens to make them all aware of the many programs offered through the above mentioned organizations that give extra support to our school system.
Jenkins
Answer: I have a vision to develop a city-wide community network to promote tutorial programs at the local churches, civic organizations, and non-profits. These programs will help mentor and boost the children’s educational process, while yielding better test results and higher scores for our public schools. We must strengthen and promote our schools.
Our schools are also economic development tools. Therefore, as a proponent of economic development and for the morale and safety of our students, I plan to support the construction of a new Gentry High School in Indianola, preferably, on Highway 49. This will also attract new businesses on Highway 49, one of our city’s greatest assets. Good schools are major proponents of economic development.
Robinson
Answer: I would facilitate the important communitywide conversations about education challenges and solutions that empower our consolidated district to pursue effective strategies for reform. Create programs such as Early Childhood Education Task Force and Save Our Children (S.O.C.).
Begin to work closely with key partners, including business and education leaders, to create local action plans that create educational programs and practices responsive to the specific needs of our schools and students in the community.
What will your administration do to promote and support small businesses in Indianola?
Rosenthal
Answer: I have been working with SCORE which is a free small business mentoring program sponsored by the Small Business Administration. They offer one on one guidance as well as possible grants/loans to create a small business. We have had many success stories in Indianola but the most recent is Mable Campbell and her sisters opening the Platinum Plus Extended Care Facility on Highway 82. Mrs. Campbell and her team was guided through the process of financing, construction, certification, business plans and are now open on their way to success. We have supported the many small businesses that have opened or expanded in the last four years such as Fox Trot Fitness BootCamp, Burns Health Institute, Snap Fitness, Karen’s Corner, Betty’s Place, Turner’s Downtown Market, Magnolia Insurance Company, Nola Restaurant and our newest Royal Ink. These are all owned or operated by local entrepreneurs and by many that are minorities. We promote all of these by partnering with Indianola Chamber/MainStreet, B.B. King Museum, Indianola Tourism Commission, Enterprise-Tocsin, The Delta Business Journal and Delta Magazine.
We will enlarge our current entrepreneurship training programs and literacy training. We will continue to seek out nontraditional financing methods for small business start-ups.
Jenkins
Answer: I am a strong supporter of small businesses in Indianola, having started several small businesses of my own. Small businesses account for a large percentage of all businesses in Indianola and contribute greatly to job creation. I would like to establish a business incubator to provide support to local businesses who desire to expand due to growth, or who want to own their own facilities. I will work to provide self-starters with business development and marketing support through the Small Business Development Center. These businesses are very vital to a growing community.
Robinson
Answer: I would first show my appreciation for the businesses that we have. I would create newsletters and things of such to spotlight a new business weekly for certain things. I would create a downtown business district to bring us closer to be able to talk about the needs and ask them for their help and support in recruiting. Lastly, I would create a business task force. They would be leaders that could give input to the city council and mayor on how to eliminate or reduce petty regulations that hinder new business.
There isn’t a city in America that is not facing issues with crime. How do you plan to address the issue of violent and non-violent crime in Indianola?
Rosenthal
Answer: We currently have the largest number of certified police officers in Indianola’s history. Having more is just part, we support these officers with extensive and continual training and have given them the most up to date technologies to help fight crime. Our latest is body cameras funded by community support, GPS devices in all patrol cars with computers using E-Force law enforcement software to search reports and criminal records on scene.
We have seen in the last 12 months violent crime drop by 35 percent, arrest rates at 30 to 40 percent, a court system that has implemented a number of alternative methods of retribution rather than incarceration or fines. Programs in place to improve people rather than punish.
Jenkins
Answer: I will support the chief to tighten our belt with greater presence of our law enforcement as well as increased follow-up and investigations, while remaining people-friendly public servants. Social health facilities, such as recovery programs and ex-offender support services will be promoted and utilized. The police force will be adequately staffed and provided ongoing training.
Robinson
Answer: Putting people back to work has a major influence on crime but I also would work with our citizens to keep city neighborhoods safe, physically attractive and pedestrian-friendly.
Start a program called Build a Block Watch network; and find ways to engage neighbors in meaningful and rewarding neighborhood activities. Institute an assertive code enforcement program with a focus on blighted areas in the community and vandalism
Once elected, what is priority number one for your administration?
Rosenthal
Answer: Given Aldermen who are willing to roll up their sleeves and make hard decisions, I will push forward the plan I attempted to put into place in 2015 by having them select 25 streets to be analyzed for infrastructure repairs and asphalt overlays. Our city engineer along with our public works director will analyze needs based on total cost and quantity of traffic per street. We will then look at possible methods for financing such a large project.
Jenkins
Answer: This is a difficult question to answer, because there are so many areas that lie in waste and need to be restored immediately. Internal controls will be established to promote efficiency and effectiveness in city financial operations and to safeguard against loss from waste, abuse, mismanagement, errors, and fraud. An inclusive and comprehensive vision for the city of Indianola will be developed driven by community-based, bottom-up involvement and engagement. Together, we will rebuild Indianola on a foundation of integrity, honesty, and leadership focused on what counts----you, the people.
Robinson
Answer: After recommending a candidate for city clerk, I would like an audit done and with it being winter my first departmental priority would be securing funding and ensuring a stronger recreational department for youth activities and employment opportunities for the spring and summer.
What inspired you to seek the office of the Mayor of Indianola?
Rosenthal
Answer: My love for Indianola and the people that live here. The good people of Indianola supported my family at “Ben Fried’s Department Store” for 89 years and three generations; this is my way to give back. I saw Indianola in a downward trend in early 2000 and when the previous Mayor increased his and the board’s salary by 50 percent, that was the final straw. My first official action as mayor was to lower my salary by $12,000/year this has saved the citizens of Indianola $96,000 over my term. Being Mayor is a public service position and I take that term to heart, pay is not the driving force.
I knew Indianola’s potential and that if given the chance I could guide us to bring our people the tools to take advantage of that potential and the opportunities I would bring. I would do everything possible to give them the opportunity to become employable including job training and I have worked constantly to increase job availabilities.
Jenkins
Answer: After having served as Alderwoman for nearly five years and witnessing the inadequacies that exist under this administration, I have a strong desire and determination to see our city rise from the ashes and become a very beautiful, prosperous, and safe city in which to live. I recognize that God has given me a heart for the city of Indianola that I cannot shake. I have a willingness to serve as a leader who cares and is willing to make the necessary decisions and actions to lead our city.
Robinson
Answer: I decided it was time for a change in the community that never gave up on me. I felt that it was time out for people who didn’t have a heart for the entire community (who are) at helm of the community. It was time I took my knowledge of city planning and serve the place that I call home. After working with influential people in the community to host several outreach events, I later decided to run for mayor.
With my vision of increased citizen engagement, new businesses, safer neighborhoods and more youth recreational opportunities I feel I’m the “Choice For Change” in Indianola, Miss.
