Mayoral Update

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Mayoral Update

Election Day -- Tues, Aug 8th

MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE POSTED AS THE COUNT IS GIVEN TO THE GAZEBO GAZETTE

STAY TUNED TO HTTP://GAZEBOGAZETTE.PASSCHRISTIAN.NET

Unofficial Returns as of 9:15 p.m. -- 8/8/06

No Run Off for Chipper

Chipper = 950

Russell = 281

Kalif = 196

	Posted on Wed, Aug. 09, 2006
	Pass picks alderman for mayor By MELISSA M. SCALLAN mmscallan@sunherald.com PASS CHRISTIAN - Alderman at large Chipper McDermott was the apparent winner in Tuesday's mayoral race in Pass Christian. According to complete but unofficial returns, McDermott received 980 votes, compared to 281 for Alice Russell and 196 for Margaret Jean Kalif. The votes, including absentee ballots, will be counted at City Hall today. Some residents of Pass Christian were forced to move to surrounding cities because of Hurricane Katrina, but as long as they intend to return to their city, they could vote in the mayoral election. Tuesday's election was held to fill the unexpired term of Billy McDonald, who retired. Another special election will be held to fill McDermott's position on the Board of Aldermen. McDermott held his victory party at the Katrina Cafe on Tuesday night, where hundreds of people from throughout the city stopped by to congratulate him and wish him luck. Pass Christian was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and most of the city's homes and businesses were destroyed. But McDermott said Tuesday night that the situation is starting to improve. "We're trying to set our budget," he said. "We've been doing things, just like other cities, but we've just been going slower."

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Aug 8, 2006 05:13 PM CDT

Poll Workers Say Pass Christian Voter Turn Out Is High

All day Tuesday, residents filed into Pass Christian precincts, casting their votes for one of the three candidates who want to lead Pass Christian's rebirth.

"Everyone who came in said, 'This is very important.' And they're just turning out and glad to come in and want to see the right person get in here and help us out. We need a lot of help," said Jeanelle Barnes, a poll worker at the Kittiwake Baptist Church.

The Ward One Precinct at Kittiwake Baptist Church was a small one, but poll workers say it was filled with voters throughout the day.

"It's been good, very, very steady," Barnes said. "This was the best end, where they had the least damage, so most of the people lived on this end, so everybody's been turning out."

This is Jeanelle Barnes's third time to work the polls at the Kittiwake Baptist Church precinct. She says this is the biggest turnout she's ever seen at this precinct.

"We've had a good time. We've talked and laughed, but we haven't had much free time, we've just been steady. You know, it's just been a steady flow," Barnes said.

Just four hours before polls closed, nearly 300 voters had cast their ballots, keeping poll workers busy, but they say they don't mind and are glad to be part of what they call one of the most important votes in Pass Christian history.

The three candidates for mayor are Margaret Jean Kalif, Chipper McDermott, and Alice Russell.

By Toni Miles

From: "Diane" <harbouroaks@mednrey.com>

To: "Dan Ellis" <danellis3@juno.com>

Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:45:50 -0500

Subject: absentee ballot

dan....have just spent way too much time w city hall and county clerk's office. you might want to pass this on to chipper and maybe the other candidates.....on absentee ballot request application -- one of the first questions is what precinct one lives in. i couldn't remember so called city hall.....twice.....spoke w 3 people there....they insisted i'm in ward 3 "precinct"....told them that this is impossible....application wants harrison county precinct. Finally i guess i annoyed them enuff (i do have this incredible ability to annoy people...HMMMM) they gave me county clerk's fone nbr....and it only took 2 calls to get answer! by the way the answer is 304-2 precinct for 126 west scenic...could be for whole town too..... ?

i don't know how many absentee ballots are out there......and i don't know if a wrong answer would invalidate the request for ballot...but it's something the candidates might want to check into......hope this finds you well.....you are certainly doing a wonderful service for the community.....i applaud you......sincerely, diane brugger

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Mailed off my Absentee Ballot on Mon, July 24th, Hope its in order. There were quite a few Absentee Ballots thrown out of the recent 4th Ward Aldermanic election.

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RECIEVED by Mail on Sat. July 22, 2006 -- My Absentee Ballot as requested by telephone call on July 20, 2006. This was a very quick response and I muchly appreciate the U.S. Postal Service because the street spelling was incorrect, the State was the wrong state, and the zip code was partially wrong. Like I tell folks here in Eureka Springs --- my three most favorite places are New Orleans, Pass Christian, and Eureka Springs. Each of the three have two words separated by a space, and each of the three are so unique that none have a duplicate name anywhere throughout the entire world. So much with my whimsical citation --- below is a copy of the Official Absentee Ballot and I will have it notarized Monday and mailed off by priority mail to be safe. If you don't know who I am voting for, just ask!

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Pass residents hear mayoral candidates

The 3 hopefuls address town's big questions

By EMILY RANAGER

SUN HERALD

Posted on Sat, Jul. 22, 2006

PASS CHRISTIAN - Residents had a chance to size up the city's would-be mayors at a forum here Friday evening.

Mayoral hopefuls Margaret Jean Kalif, Chipper McDermott and Alice Russell sat on a panel to describe their visions for rebuilding the devastated city to a throng of nearly 400 residents, answering questions submitted in advance by the public.

Attracting businesses to the city, SmartCode, and building condominiums and casinos were key concerns among residents. Candidates' plans for historic preservation were also addressed.

Each candidate cited a dire need to attract small businesses as soon as possible. Russell suggested setting up an economic-development committee to solicit businesses, stressing the importance of getting storm cleanup completed.

Kalif, McDermott, and Russell support SmartCode and voiced their confidence that once it is tailored to the wants of residents it will be an important tool in shaping the city.

Kalif and Russell adamantly oppose building high-rise condominiums. "I think there is a balance we have to maintain," Kalif said. "I am not opposed to condos. I am opposed to seeing condos above a tree."

McDermott, however, supports building 5-story condos in approved zones, citing economic benefit for the city. "They're also going to bring protection (from hurricanes) to any of us who live down near there," McDermott joked.

All candidates said casinos were unnecessary to the future of Pass Christian.

The forum remained remarkably civil and lighthearted throughout, with jokes exchanged between candidates and McDermott praising both his opponents in his closing comments.

McDermott said with three good candidates, it's up to the public to decide who is best to represent them.

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Election Results --- It's up to YOU !!!

Special Mayoral Election -- Tues, August 8

Absentee Voting

Absentee Ballots are NOW available. CALL 228-452-3311

Signed and Notarized ballots must be returned no later than August 5.

Three Candidates are:

Chipper McDermott

Margaret Jean Kalif

Alice Russell

So, Let's see what happens --- Today, July 20, I called the above number and was assured that an Absentee Ballot would be promptly mailed.

I will let you know when I have received it and its follow-up.

I urge you to do the same --------

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Report from Chipper McDermott (June 20)

Mayor Billy McDonald's last day is 7/1/2006.

The Board of Aldermen will meet 7/3/2006 to declare the office vacant.

The election will be held on Tues 8/8/2006.

Qualifying deadline will be 7/19/2006.

The Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate's Forum on July 21 at the Espy Community Center.

The incumbent Mayoral candidate is Chipper McDermott who is in his Third Term as ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE and Second Term as MAYOR PRO TEMP.

Margaret Jean Kalif was former Alderman and school teacher.

Alice Russell co-managed Russell's Service Station.

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Pass mayor resigns

McDonald letter cited health issues

By JOSHUA NORMAN jdnorman@sunherald.com

PASS CHRISTIAN -

Mayor Billy McDonald sent a letter to the Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening announcing his plans to resign July 1.

In the letter, read by Mayor pro tem and Alderman-at-large Chipper McDermott to an audience of about 80, McDonald, 70, said his decision was based on "continuing health issues," which he has attributed on previous occasions to dangerously high blood pressure.

Once his resignation is official, the town will have 45 days to hold a special election. Several city officials and many residents said they expect several people to run. If a runoff is required, it could be as late as September before a new mayor officially takes office. McDonald's term runs into 2009.

In the meantime, McDermott will run the day-to-day operations of the city.

The announcement ends months of tension between the mayor and the aldermen, who were set to vote on reducing his salary by half just two weeks ago because they were frustrated with his job performance. The board had also voted to reduce his salary by 10 percent last October for the same reason, but McDonald vetoed the resolution and the Board of Aldermen did not override it.

There was no audible response as McDermott read the letter, and few reacted with shock once the meeting was over.

"I wasn't surprised," said Lou Rizzardi, Ward 1 alderman, adding there was much behind-the-scenes discussion and wrangling over this topic the last two weeks.

Lifelong Pass resident Jack Lang, 81, said he thought the mayor's retirement package - which will be based on his decades of service with both the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and as mayor - was probably the focus of McDonald's decision-making criteria.

"I don't know how many years he's got with the town and county with his state pension, but I assume that's what he's thinking," said Lang, who is on the Pass election committee.

Lang said he thinks the decision to stay or go was brutal for the mayor.

"He's taken this harder than most people think," Lang said. "He does a good job when he's able. It's no picnic."

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CITY COUNCIL MEETING 5/30/2006

The mayor sent a letter that read, "AS YOU KNOW, MY LEAVE OF ABSENCE WILL EXPIRE THURSDAY. PLEASE KNOW THAT AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION AND CONSULTATION WITH MY FAMILY AND PHYSCIANS, I HAVE DECIDED TO RETIRE AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PASS CHRISTIAN EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2006. THIS DECISION IS PREDICATED UPON THE CONTINUED HEALTH ISSUES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO ATTEND THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING MY RETIREMENT WITH PEERS (Public Employees Retirement System) SHALL TAKE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH. DURING THIS INTERIM, DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY SHALL CONTINUE AS BEFORE WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEMPORE (Chipper McDermott) PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONS AS MAYOR. ALSO, I WILL ASSIST THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE TRANSITION DURING THIS TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION TO THIS MATTER."

BILLY MCDONALD

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Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2006

http://gulfcoastnews.com/GCNkatrinaPassAtcrossroad.htm

GCN Special Report

Pass Christian at a Crossroad

Mayor's Experience Key to the City's Survival

By Keith Burton - GulfCoastNews.com Filed 5/15/06 Updated Additions 5/18/06

Nine months after Katrina, if there is any city that may cease to be a city at all, it is Pass Christian. Its mayor is currently under fire for being absent from meetings and redevelopment is not occurring.

Like Waveland and Bay St. Louis, Hurricane Katrina left Pass Christian desolate, but perhaps more so than anywhere else. The Pass lost 100 percent of its public buildings, including City Hall, the police station and library. It also lost 100 percent of its businesses and nearly 80 percent of all the homes in the city. All of this a devastating blow to the city's tax base and income.

Pass Christian’s Mayor Billy McDonald said that out of a population just over 7,000 people, the city now has only 2,500 people and the numbers are not growing.

McDonald has been sharply criticized for being absent a short while after the hurricane, and since then, not attending some city council and public meetings. Just this past Sunday, the Sun Herald newspaper’s editors penned a sharply critical editorial calling for the 70-year old McDonald to resign, accusing him of “incompetence.” This editorial misses what is truly the issue.

Pass Christian is a city that may not survive; its damages are too severe. McDonald, who has more than 30 years of experience in local government, including being a longtime Harrison County supervisor, knows government, and is certainly not incompetent. But he also sees his city as it is now, and realizes the reality of its future. The problem is that he is ill, and suffers from high blood pressure, which threatens his health.

Residents of the historic community of Pass Christian are in turmoil too. They lost their homes, they livelihoods and perhaps their future. They are distraught and want answers. But those answers are grim. Real leadership is called for in such times, but name calling and finger pointing will do nothing for the city, and the Sun Herald’s editors should know that.

If the city is to survive, it needs to use the most of its leadership and talent. There is a role then for the mayor, despite his illness, and a role for others willing to take up the challenge, but to criticize and point fingers is not leadership, or a solution for what faces the city.

GCN spoke with Mayor Billy McDonald this past Saturday by telephone. The mayor was articulate, deeply hurt from some of the comments being made about him, and very much concerned about the future of Pass Christian. He was certainly not a man consumed about himself, but very realistic about what he can do and not do.

Everyone has commented on how much better Mississippi has handled the post-Katrina crisis than Louisiana. The most salient point is that it is Mississippi’s tremendously experienced political leadership that has been the reason behind that success, if even that word is suitable for the crisis.

What most people that do not follow government closely often fail to understand, and this apparently is true of the Sun Herald, is that the most critical decisions are made behind the scenes, in one-on-one meetings and the telephone. Only the most experienced political leaders have the type of networking experience that can get what needs to be done in government accomplished. Novice political watchers and newly elected public officials do not have the skills to handle even routine governmental issues, and in a crisis situation, even less so. They don’t have a Rolodex with the extensive contacts as would a seasoned politician.

Mayor McDonald has that experience and it has worked well for Pass Christian since he has been in office. Before he took office, Pass Christian was nearly in bankruptcy. Under his administration, the city grew and paid down its debts and was in sound financial shape just prior to Katrina.

But Katrina’s fury didn’t spare the city. Pass Christian was as much part of “Ground Zero” as Bay St. Louis and Waveland.

McDonald has spent his career in public service and loves his city. But he also loves his wife and family and he knows his health is at risk. And it is a wise man, not an incompetent one, that knows how to serve when faced with the crisis the city is now in.

Since the storm, the city’s Board of Aldermen meetings have often been contentious as residents, upset with what has happened, are worried about what their governing leaders will do. It is not just the mayor that has missed meetings, there have also been meetings where some of the aldermen were absent and a quorum could not be held. Regardless, the meetings would spike the blood pressure of a perfectly healthy man.

For the most part in government, public meetings are more theater than where real decisions are made. The meetings are important, but in the end, a Board of Aldermen’s meeting is just that, a meeting for the Board of Aldermen. Neither state law, nor practicality, requires the mayor to be present at every meeting.

One alderman had to resign since the pressures of his job and family were too great for him to serve. These are the conditions that challenge any small town government. The Sun Herald’s editors cited the resignation of the alderman as if his resignation was due to McDonald, a terrible example of journalism for the lie that it implied.

“I think a lot of the criticism against me is political,” McDonald said. “When my blood pressure spikes, I don’t go the meetings or go into my office. But when I am not in, I call my office often up to eight to ten times a day.”

McDonald understands that people are upset since the hurricane. “People are uptight, but I didn’t cause the storm. There is only so much I can do legally.”

McDonald says he is working has hard as possible, and so are the city’s employees. He said that help is limited from Harrison County, which typically provides assistance to the county’s small cities.

“They are in financial trouble too since the hurricane,” McDonald said. But they are helping where they can.

The state has also not been as helpful as citizens might think. “We have received very little help from the state, McDonald said.

What many people don’t understand is that small towns operate with very little excess cash. Their budgets are set with virtually no additional funds except to pay salaries for city workers, the utility bills and for limited public services and city debt. After a major disaster, while some immediate financial help comes in, the cities do not have the funds to pay for emergency conditions. The federal help requires local communities to pay up to 10 percent local match to draw down emergency money. This ten percent is not included in the federal emergency money.

McDonald said the city has enough money to operate this fiscal year, but not next year, which begins in October. “We lost almost all of our businesses and homes and next year, unless something happens, we will not be able to pay salaries or our bills,” McDonald told GCN.

McDonald said that the city can borrow up to $10 million from the Mississippi Development Bank, but he said, “We have no way to pay it back.”

Said McDonald, “It is going to take years for Pass Christian to recover.”

Additional Information:

Part of the debate regarding McDonald has been his compensation. Some Pass Christian aldermen have sought to cut the mayor's current pay as a way to penalize McDonald for his actions even though the mayor has not committed any crime against the city or his office. State law does not support cutting his current pay and attempting to do so against the mayor in his current term of office is contrary to state law. Pay changes can only apply to subsequent terms of office. The omission of this easily-researched law is hard to explain from McDonald's opponents and the Sun Herald's stories and editorials. They should know better.

From the Mississippi Code:

§ 21-8-21. Mayor and councilmen to be qualified electors of city; compensation; overtime to members of police and fire departments.

(1) The mayor and the members of the council shall be qualified electors of the municipality. The compensation for the mayor and the members of the council shall be set by the council. After the salaries of the first mayor and first council have been determined by the council of any municipality electing to come under the provision of this chapter, such salaries shall be effective immediately. Thereafter, any increases or decreases in the salary for the mayor or councilmen may be authorized by the council at any time prior to ninety (90) days before the next general election for the selection of municipal officers. Such increases or decreases shall not become effective until the next elected mayor and council takes office.

An Archive of past Board of Alderman meetings can be seen at a website operated by Dan Ellis in Pass Christian. Click Here for the meeting's archive The archive report is compiled by Alderman Chipper McDermott and is not a GCN report, but is provided for your information.

Received on the GCN Political Message Board

Posted by: Jeff Emerson (jje539@comcast.net) 05/17/2006 14:17

Absolutely correct. I served three terms as alderman in Pass Christian, about 6 years with Ted Lawyer and 6 with Billy. No one knows more about getting things done legally, for a city, than Billy.

From the limited information I have, it seems to me that the board of aldermen have been just sitting around in their aldermanic chairs demanding one miracle after another without making any substantial effort to pitch in and help in recovery. The impression I have is, they just point to Malcolm (the city attorney) and the Mayor and say fix it.

I personally feel good that Donald Moore resigned as he personified the complainer without offering a contribution.

Posted by: Jessie Heitzmann (beachwalker98@juno.com) 05/20/2006 11:28

The Sun Herald has as much right to express its opinion on Mayor McDonald as you do. As you so aptly demonstrated, they certainly don't have a monopoly on "arrogance and ignorance". In the end, however, it's the people of Pass Christian who will make the final decision about the mayor, not the media.

Regarding Mr. Emerson's remarks about Donald Moore, they are beneath contempt. Mr. Emerson obviously wouldn't recognize an honest man if he fell over him.

By the way, I thought your number one rule on this message board was "no personal attacks". I guess that only applies when you don't agree with them.

See More Photos of Pass Christian

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From: "Huey Bang" <hueybang@cableone.net>

To: "Dan A Ellis" <danellis3@juno.com>

Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 08:00:07 -0500

Subject: Re: City Council meeting

Our job as Aldermen is to do what's "best" and "right" for the City of Pass Christian. That is what we "try" to do. I can certainly understand that it

may not seem that way to the public, but that's exactly what we did last night. Anyone who was at that meeting last night noticed that there was

more media there than has been in Pass Christian in a long time. Rather than create more bad publicity for the City of Pass Christian and drag our name through the mud, the board made an "advised" decision to postpone our action for two weeks. Our hope and anticipation is that this problem will resolve itself in such a way that every citizen in Pass Christian will be "best" served by the decision of their Board of Aldermen. The public should know that we "sometimes" have information available to us as the City leaders that leads us to make decisions that we would not make otherwise.

Just know that we "all" have the best interests of Pass Christian at heart and will always do what we "think" is best for our City.

Huey L. Bang, RMR, CRR

Fish-Man Reporting Services

Phone (228)452-4403

Fax (228)452-4051

e-mail: hueybang@cableone.net

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From: beachwalker98@juno.com

To: dan@passchristian.net

Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 21:29:14 -0500

Subject: City Council meeting

After tonight's City Council meeting I'm speechless. How can five seemingly intelligent people be so effectively played by the mayor?

Am I the only one bewildered by their actions (or lack thereof)?

I'm beginning to wonder if any of them are capable of making any firm decisions at all. Maybe we need a new election to "clean house" and

start all over again.

We've wasted enough time in this "Where's the Mayor?" game already.

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Posted on Tue, May. 16, 2006

Mayor's pay cut tabled

McDonald takes leave of absence

By TRACY DASH tadash@sunherald.com

PASS CHRISTIAN - Mayor Billy McDonald's high blood pressure has forced him to take an unpaid leave of absence while he undergoes medical tests.

About 100 residents filled the Board of Aldermen's meeting room Monday night to hear the decision whether to cut McDonald's salary because of what some call a "lackluster" performance the past several months.

Moments before the 6 p.m. meeting, Malcolm Jones, city attorney and chief administrative officer, gave the board a letter from McDonald. Alderman-at-Large Chip McDermott read it aloud.

"As you are aware, I have recently experienced serious medical problems due to high blood pressure that have made it very difficult for me to regularly attend meetings and perform my daily duties as mayor... ," McDonald wrote. "Beginning on the next pay cycle of this week I will not draw my salary for the remainder of my leave of absence. During my leave of absence I will be considering other options concerning my future."

After hearing the letter, the board unanimously tabled the motion to cut the mayor's salary, an act that drew moans from the crowd.

McDonald, 70, did not attend the meeting, but told the Sun Herald his leave begins Thursday.

McDermott, who also serves as mayor pro tempore, will be in charge of handling the day-to-day operations.

Ward 1 Alderman Lou Rizzardi tried to ease the crowd's concerns.

"I think with the pressure that's on," he said, "I believe you might see a favorable outcome."

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Posted on Sun, May. 14, 2006 --- Sun Herald Editorial

Pass Christian Mayor McDonald should resign

Due to his continuing lack of leadership during an unprecedented municipal disaster, Pass Christian Mayor Billy McDonald should resign.

This call for his resignation should not come as a surprise or shock to McDonald.

For whatever reason, McDonald has not been there for the citizens of that proud but battered city since Hurricane Katrina devastated their lives and property on Aug. 29.

Not only has McDonald been unable to adequately perform the duties of his office, he has frustrated the efforts of others to meet the challenges of recovery.

Since McDonald has ignored repeated invitations to discuss with us his performance and, more importantly, the progress of Pass Christian, we do not know what excuses or explanations the mayor might have for his conduct. But we do know what others in city government think of their mayor.

His absence from the city immediately after Katrina and his inability or unwillingness to focus on relief and recovery efforts in the weeks afterward caused some members of the Pass Christian Board of Aldermen in early October to suggest that he either step down or take a cut in pay.

By early December, aldermen appeared to have had enough of McDonald's "lackluster" performance and voted unanimously to cut his $48,000 salary by 10 percent.

McDonald vetoed that measure and threatened court action if aldermen pursued the pay cut. Two aldermen then changed their votes and the mayor's veto was sustained.

McDonald's deficiencies were cited yet again in January when one aldermen resigned his seat on the board. "There's no leadership in the city and the pressure is on the aldermen to get everything done in the day-to-day operation," said Donald Moore of Ward 4 at the time of his resignation. "I just felt like I was beating my head against the wall."

Then, last month, nearly 100 Pass Christian residents were treated to a mayorless State of the City address by McDonald. At the last minute, the mayor sent word that he was unable to speak to his constituents because he was ill.

Now there is talk of the Board of Aldermen trying to cut the mayor's salary in half.

But paying the mayor less for doing less is not the solution.

Indeed, compensation is not the primary issue in this situation. The primary issue is competence, and Billy McDonald has proven that he is not competent to serve as the chief executive officer of Pass Christian.

That was obvious months ago when the Board of Aldermen added chief administrative officer to the duties of city attorney Malcolm Jones. And while Jones has performed admirably in these difficult circumstances, he was not elected mayor and should not be expected to shoulder the burdens of that office without benefit of its prerogatives.

Pass Christian deserves better and, we are convinced, many if not most of its residents are desperate for more drastic action.

Opportunities are being lost every day in Pass Christian due to McDonald's inadequate, if not inexcusable, performance.

If he cares more about the city than himself, Mayor McDonald will resign.

The editorials above represent the views of the Sun Herald editorial board: President-Publisher Ricky R. Mathews, Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Flora S. Point, Opinion Page Editor Marie Harris and Associate Editor Tony Biffle. Opinions expressed by columnists, cartoonists and letter writers on these pages are their own.

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From: "Bob Wisniewski" <bobw648@hotmail.com>

To: Dan@PassChristian.Net

Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 03:07:44 +0000

Subject: Mayor's pay

Forget cutting his pay, just vote him out. Enough is enough and he should realize its time to step down.

Where is he getting the energy to get a lawyer but cant help the town?

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