This is America!!! The most democratic of principles is our ability to vote for those who represent us in the federal, state and local government.

We vote for a president, vice president, Congress. We elect a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer.

In the Town of Ferriday, we have the privilege of electing a mayor and a board of aldermen.

On the parish level we elect a sheriff. Vidalia and Clayton elect a chief of police.

From Lake Providence south, only Waterproof and Ferriday have appointed chiefs of police. These chiefs are neither accountable nor responsible to the citizenry of their respective municipalities. Their loyalties are with the mayor who appointed them and signs their checks.

Imagine, if we were able to elect our chief of police. Imagine if the chiefs of police were accountable and responsible, not to the mayor, but to the citizens. To you and me.

Too many of the town’s people are suffering and being hurt by Mayor Allen and his regime. I say, “Enough is enough…”

Mayor Allen is the judge of Mayor’s Court. He supervises the police department and then determines who is guilty and who is not. Sounds like Boss Hogg from the Duke of Hazzard to me.

As a matter of record, Mayor Allen is being disingenuous with his claims of what the town can and cannot afford. An elected chief of police will not cost the town another penny.

Martin Luther King once said, “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” With an elected chief of police, we would like to see city court with an elected judge. My proposal will include a prosecutor and defense attorney.

In the next several months, I will also introduce term limits for all elected officials within the town of Ferriday. I think probably between eight years for the mayor (and chief) and 12 years for the board of aldermen.

Elijah Banks, 

Alderman, District B

Ferriday