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Economic developer better alternative than full-time mayor The issue of a full-time Jackson mayor versus a full-time economic developer is being debated right now. There are two schools of thought on the subject. One is that the position should be full time so that the mayor-whoever he or she may be-can devote all of their energies to the job. The other is that the mayor should remain part time and the extra money that could be spent on a mayor's salary be applied to a full-time economic developer for the city. Both sides offer convincing arguments on the subject. However, we tend to favor hiring an economic developer based on the following observations. Few qualifications are required to be elected mayor. A person must be a certain age and they must reside in the city. Jackson has had good mayors over the years and we don't doubt that the city will continue to have capable leaders in the future. However, mayors are elected for four year terms. It would be bad enough to elect a part-time mayor who is mediocre. It would be something else to pay out $50,000 to $60,000 annually (up to $240,000 over a four-year term) for a full-time mayor who couldn't or wouldn't perform. We'd be stuck for four years (short of impeachment which is a hard recourse). Full-time advocates point to Thomasville where Mayor Sheldon Day has done an amazing job. The right man and the right position came together at the right time there. We're not sure the next mayor (if Thomasville ever elects anyone else) will be as successful. A good economic developer has more credentials than just being a certain age and a resident of a given area. Good ones have the education and training, the expertise and the experience to do the job. The $50,000 to $60,000 or whatever salary that would be spent on a full-time mayor would be better applied to hiring a good economic developer. A good developer can be sought from all over the nation. A full-time mayor would have to come from the municipal confines of Jackson. We don't mean to be ugly, but the pool for good economic developers would be much greater than the limited pool for a good full-time mayor. An economic developer is hired help. They would certainly have to have some kind of contract and be given time to perform but if they turned out not to be satisfactory, they could be dismissed. You wouldn't have to wait until the next election. We say all of this not to belittle or demean the mayor and council positions. We need qualified elected leadership willing to work hard for the city. In time, perhaps a full-time mayor and a full-time economic developer could work hand in hand.
But right now and for the immediate future, we think a fulltime economic developer and a part-time mayor best for Jackson.
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