By By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
Oct. 23, 2002
Two of the four candidates for Lauderdale County District 4 supervisor seat met in a political forum Tuesday night.
Rickey Harris, a county patrolman, and Melvin Wright, a retired hospital worker, responded to questions from a group of about 30 citizens and elected officials. They are running in a Nov. 5 special election to fill the unexpired term of supervisor Q.V. Sykes, who was in his second term when he died of cancer in July.
The forum, held at the county courthouse annex, was sponsored by the Empowerment Committee a group organized by District 2 supervisor Jimmie Smith and others to develop and promote a community agenda.
State Sen. Willie L. Simmons, D-Cleveland, working as a consultant to the organization, opened the forum and expressed the importance of community participation in the political process.
Wright and Harris made brief statements then responded to questions from the audience. One of the first was, "Why do you want to be District 4 supervisor?"
Harris said in his job as county patrolman , he's gotten to know the needs of the community and that one way to make change is through public office.
Wright said he spent his life serving the community in a health care capacity and when he retired, he thought he was tired.
The other two candidates, Joe Norwood, a television cameraman, and John Nelson Jr., a private investigator, could not make the forum due to prior engagements. Norwood was represented by his daughter.
District 4 resident Robert Hughes said he came out to meet the candidates and hear their responses.