Blytheville City Council president R.L. Jones believes the city should move towards a city manager form of government.
That will be part of his political platform this fall as he runs for Blytheville mayor.
Jones, who has served on the City Council for 16 years, announced his intentions to seek the city's highest office today.
"I want to establish a set of checks and balances for city officials," Jones said. "Someone once said: 'absolute power would cause absolute corruption.' I would do this in a couple of phases. The first would be to hire a city manager to manage day-to-day operations while I focus on the bigger picture. Things such as jobs, education, crime, neighborhood development, meeting with other key city officials to get ideas on what it took to make their city prosperous and bringing those ideas back to the people of Blytheville. Also I would spend time making sure our concerns are heard in Little Rock and Washington D.C. and that we get a response in a timely manner. I will donate a portion of my salary to be able to bring a city manager on board to increase the accuracy of achieving day-to-day objectives."
He said he understands that a critical time for the city and its citizens is fast approaching.
"The people of this wonderful town planted a seed 16 years ago that will be highly beneficial for the future of the city," Jones said. "I have been blessed to serve Ward 3 and work with two mayors -- Mayor Joe Gude and Mayor Harrison. I have worked with several councilmen across the board for the success of the town."
Jones said his experiences, which include chairing every Council committee, have taught him to appreciate the good times and "roll up my sleeves and work extra hard and persevere in the tough times."
"But most of all I have gained insight that will keep the people of Blytheville and the city moving in the right direction ... I know how to get the job done. I know how to hear the voice of the people and work across the aisle with people whose opinion may differ from mine. I understand success and that is why I fully support the Sportsplex and I saw all the hard work of every volunteer that donated their time."
Jones said he would fight for economic growth, to enhance the quality of education and to protect citizens by putting more trained police on the streets.
"This would bring the crime level down and this would help bring peace to citizens and those that would want to move back or possibly move into our town," Jones said. "I would also increase the number of firemen we have and to insure that when one goes into a dangerous call that they would have the comfort of knowing they are well equipped to do battle."
He said Blytheville needs strong, resilient, trustworthy, hard-working leadership to keep the city moving forward.
"You can find this leadership in a seed that the people of Blytheville planted 16 years ago," Jones said. "I would like nothing more than to give back to Blytheville what the people have invested in me. My experiences and my current obligation have built me for this moment."
Some of Jones' accomplishments he lists include:
-- increasing the water lines in some neighborhoods
-- brought the Dogwood community into the city limits and provided those residents with a proper waste water system
-- spearheaded an infrastructure tax for street improvement in the late 1990s
-- fought to have Rose Street extended from 16th to Division, giving emergency vehicles better access to west Blytheville
-- worked to close ditches and pour sidewalks in South Blytheville
-- supported efforts to build a bigger, better animal shelter
-- worked to help pass a permanent parks and recreation tax, a sales tax that supports the police and fire departments and a county economic development tax to help create good jobs for Blythevillians
-- added hundreds of street lights to make neighborhoods safer
-- helped to close the Blytheville incinerator and stop pollution in South Blytheville
-- led the charge to clean up Walker, Williams and Cypress parks
-- helped get grants and supported the effort to improve the Blytheville Municipal Airport
-- watched "700-800" houses be torn down by the city
"I have always had an open door approach," Jones said. "I know this will continue as the next mayor. I want to thank the people of Ward 3 for giving me the opportunity to serve, but also the people of other wards for sharing their concerns. I know all of you have invested in me for such a time as this. I love Blytheville so much and that is why I have lived here for over 30 years. I have been a member of the Church of God In Christ for over 40 years and have pastored for 28 years. I am the current pastor of Bethlehem Temple Church of God In Christ. I spent several years working for Maverick Tube. I have four children who were raised and educated at the Blytheville School District: Demetrius, Cheneka, Yolanda and Ray Jr."
Jones plans to work with entities like the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Employment Services, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Education.
"I know how important it is for the people of Blytheville to succeed and that is why I am running for mayor," Jones said. "I have heard the voice of the people all over this great city and I will take those voices with me on election day. Now I do not promise change but I do promise that I have the tools and the know-how and the willingness to work toward change. Anton Chekhov wrote: 'Man is what he believes.' I believe I represent the right choice for the next mayor of Blytheville. Thank you so much for the 16 years you have allowed me to serve as councilman and may God bless Blytheville."
Jones is planning a political rally in Cypress Park.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com