[10/28/03] In advance of general election voting Nov. 4, The Vicksburg Post provided questionnaires to candidates for local offices.

Their responses, as they wrote them, are being printed in a series of articles, continuing today with those from candidates for Warren County District 2 supervisor.

Incumbent Democrat Michael Mayfield, 45, faces ballot opposition from independent candidate Tony Hart, age unavailable.

No questionnaire response was received from Hart and he has not provided a photo to the Post.

District 2 is the county’s northwestern district.

Q: How would you decide which public-works projects are most important?

Mayfield: The first thing you would have to do is develop a list of projects that are needed. Then you need to do an assessment of the cost of each project. Unless there is an emergency situation, you can usually accomplish several projects without having to raise taxes.

Q: Development in Warren County outside Vicksburg has increased recently in areas including U.S. 61 North near River Region Medical Center. What, if any, level of land-use regulation or zoning laws would you support? Why?

Mayfield: Land-use and zoning ordinances are definitely in the foreseeable future for Warren County. Depending on where you live in Warren County, whether you are in a business district or residential area, some will face more stringent rules and/or regulations than others. The number-one issue the county board will face is having to inject grandfather clauses, which will cause the elected officials to use a great amount of common-sense judgment.

Q: Groups such as the Community Alliance of Vicksburg Warren County have pushed for consolidation of some functions performed by both county and city governments. What, if any, opportunities do you see for gains through consolidation?

Mayfield: I see the Community Alliance as being a group of very good, well-meaning, serious individuals that have this entire county and its future at heart. I think recreation is a good place to start. Interlocal agreements to a certain degree have worked well for both local governments. Before you start consolidating services, you need to be sure you dot all I’s and cross all T’s.

Q: Four years ago, county voters said in a non-binding referendum that they wanted the old Mississippi River bridge open to light vehicular traffic. Supervisors followed with a 4-1 vote to do that. The bridge remains closed. What are your thoughts on this?

Mayfield: I was at the forefront of the battle to repair and reopen the old Mississippi River bridge, and I presently hold that same desire to cross that bridge again. But after the most recent meeting between the supervisors, the bridge commission and the engineers, I have become somewhat disillusioned by what we are told. There was talk of the possibility of spending millions just to reopen the bridge to one-way traffic.

Q: What do you think is the most important aspect of a Warren County supervisor’s job?

Mayfield: The most important aspect of any elected official’s job is to be able and willing to deal with people from all genders, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. You have to have the people you represent at heart, and you can’t be fake. You have to be genuine and serious at all times.

Q: If there are specific things you’d like to accomplish in office, please list them and explain.

Mayfield: The No. 1 thing I would like to do at the present time is find a way to get both local governments on the same page. I would like to see both boards work hand-in-hand to foster an environment that other communities would like to pattern after. If I had a magic wand, the first thing I would do with it is wipe out the red tape that strangles local government. It is my desire to continue working with business and industry to see them running at full capacity so that everyone that wants or needs a job will be able to find employment.