The Star-Herald asked each of the mayoral and aldermen candidates for election in Kosciusko to discuss three specific things: their background, why they decided to run for office at this time, and what they believe to be the most important issues facing the community and what they would do about those issues. What follows are their responses, organized by office sought and then alphabetically.MayorTim KyleI would like to see Kosciusko move forward through these challenging times. I am 100% vested in this community and want our city to thrive. I want to ensure that Kosciusko remains a great place to call home and raise a family. The current Mayor and board have always kept our community financially strong and I want to ensure this continues. Being a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars and being accountable is very important to me.The main issues:Lagoon odor — There has to be a final solution to our sewage lagoon odor problem. We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on aerators and chemicals with little results. We have identified the source of the odor and hopefully this will lead to a permanent answer to this lingering problem.Streets — We are in need of resurfacing many of our streets. The city owes some on the current paving bond. Money from the general fund is used each year for additional paving projects as the budget allows. We are currently working to finance a paving project and have a proposed schedule for paving on local state roads from MDOT.Litter — Litter is a growing concern. We have to educate our citizens about the negative impact that litter has on our society. I think this education must start with our youth and I hope to implement a Keep America Beautiful program in our schools.Community Pride — I want to encourage every citizen to have pride. Pride in your community, your property and especially yourself because you do matter -step up and volunteer. We literally have to beg people to serve on committees. You can make a difference in Kosciusko. Government can’t do it without the participation of good citizens.I am married to Beth Kyle, who is employed with the Kosciusko School District as the HR/payroll clerk. We have two adult children. Emily is married to Ryan Logan and they live in Olive Branch, with their children, Skyler and Sawyer. Chad is married to Cortni and they live in Kosciusko with their children Greyson and Anna Payton. I am a graduate of Holmes Community College and have a B.S. in Agri-Business from Mississippi State University. I am the previous owner of Craft Cleaners and the Sears Dealer store in Kosciusko. The Chamber of Commerce, Main Street and the Lions Club are some of the organizations that I have served in various leadership positions. I am a member of the First Baptist Church of Kosciusko and also a member of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team. My current employer is Dickerson Petroleum. For the past 20 years I have been the Alderman At Large and served as Mayor Pro Tem for the past 16 years for the City of Kosciusko.Alderman At LargeRandy FullerMy name is Randy Fuller. I am a native of Kosciusko and a 1999 graduate of Kosciusko High School. I am the son of former Kosciusko Police Department Captain Jimmy Fuller and Alberta Fuller. I am married to the former Alicia Miller and we have three children: Zahria, BoBo and Laiya. I work as the Unit Director for the Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club. I previously served as member and Vice-President of the Kosciusko School District Board for eight years. I am also a member of the KFEE. Alderman at Large gives me the opportunity to be a voice for not only the ward in which I reside, but for the entire city of Kosciusko. There are issues that need to be addressed in our community and I feel as though I'm the right candidate for the job.The number one challenge for Kosciusko is a lack of job opportunity. I feel that we are at a crossroads. We are standing still while other communities around us are moving to new elevations and greater platforms. It's time for growth and I want to be a part of the process.Earl PriceMy name is Earl Price, and I was born in Kosciusko in 1954, and have lived here all my life. I have always lived within a mile of the court square and the history and beauty of it has always held a special place for me. I married Melinda Bane and we have been married for 47 years. We are members of First Baptist Church; my wife has taught preschool at the church Childcare for the past 30 years. I graduated from Kosciusko High School in 1972 and went to work shortly after in the truck parts business. I worked at that business for 44 years. I retired in 2018 from Waters Truck and Tractor as Parts Manager where I had been employed for 20 years. We have one son, Seth. Seth is in ministry and he and his wife, Amanda, live in Conway, Arkansas. We have three grandsons, Hayes, 10; Sims, 5; and Reeves, 2 ½, some of our greatest joys.I have wanted, for a long time, to be able to work within the city government, but my job would not allow it. Now that I am retired, I have more time, so after much prayer and seeking the Lord’s will, it seemed the time was right to try. I look forward, if elected, to be able to work with the other aldermen in the different wards and the new mayor to help make decisions that would make life better for everyone in Kosciusko.I’m sure that there are many challenges for our town, probably many that myself or others may not realize. Since I have lived here all my life, as many of you have, I see a lot of things you would like to see different. This will certainly be a learning experience for any new alderman, and if given the opportunity, I assure everyone I will do the best job possible for the betterment of our town in every situation. I appreciate all the prayers and encouraging words that I have already received from so many and I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve you and the City of Kosciusko as Alderman at Large.Frankie ThorpeI was born and raised in Kosciusko and have lived here 43 out of my 44 years. My family name came to town in the 50’s when my grandfather helped bring Superior Coach in from Ohio. My wife Ashley was born and raised in Vicksburg, moving here in 2001. We married in 2006 and have one son, Colton, who is currently at KJHS. My background has been primarily in business management through UPS, construction safety management/consulting, and most currently, the managing broker/owner for McCool Thorpe Real Estate. These leadership positions have taught me so much about unifying my firm belief in the rule of law, profitable business practices, and most importantly, negotiating to win the needs of ALL people involved.I love this town for all that it is, and what it can be. Just like you, I work and support my family here; it is our home just like it is your home.The “Voice of Kosciusko” should truly be heard. I want to hear from you, and have confidence moving forward that I am representing everyone. I see the potential Kosciusko has and I want us ALL to know that the best is yet to come.Our community is changing every day, and not just economically. Our population changes dramatically every single day as people commute for work, but still choose to call Kosciusko home. We have people who move here, and live here, when they could choose other cities with more opportunities for work.What we have is a certain quality of life that attracts people to choose Kosciusko, even if it means driving 3 hours a day to and from work. This is something we can all take pride in because we all have a foot in that race. If we increase our focus on what works, and learn from what doesn’t, we can improve our quality of life even further. I believe we can take it a step further and increase our focus on attracting more employment opportunities, and also making it easier for entrepreneurs to start their dreams. If we successfully create a business-friendly atmosphere, people won’t need to commute so much every day. People will spend their hard-earned money at our local businesses, and our community during the day instead. Families can have more time to spend with family versus a daily commute. That alone is increased quality of life, and it can help our town thrive more than we have ever seen.Ward One AldermanJames Culpepper is the incumbent Ward One Alderman and there are no challengers for the position this election cycle. Ward Two AldermanCheryl BayneI am a 1980 graduate of Kosciusko High School and I hold a B.S. degree in Accounting from Jackson State University and have done further study at Mississippi State University in Workforce Development. I grew up in Ward 2 and my father, James W. Bayne, Sr. was the first African American to hold the position of Alderman Ward 2. I am a member of First Baptist (M.B.) Church, 711 North Jackson Street where I am a Trustee and Financial Secretary. I am a member of Jackson State University National Alumni Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. I am a member of the Attala County Democratic Executive Committee. I own and operate The Bayne Agency, a virtual insurance firm and TaxXperts, virtual tax and bookkeeping firm. I am the mother of one daughter, Joie Johnson who is a Freshman at Jackson State University, majoring in Biology/ Pre-Physical Therapy. I enjoy reading, singing and playing the piano.I am a team builder and team player and look forward to working with our new mayor, Mr. Tim Kyle, and the other aldermen for the betterment of Kosciusko. I will do my part for the growth, stability and safety of Ward 2 and all of Kosciusko. It is also my goal to bring jobs here for our citizens because this is what they need and desire. Tim CookI am a lifelong (62-year) resident of Kosciusko/Attala County. I am married to Sandra Thorne Cook who is employed at Ivey Mechanical Company and we have one daughter, Lauren Moore who teaches Kindergarten in the Kosciusko School District. Lauren’s husband, Destin is employed at Ivey Mechanical Company. They have 3 children – Sara Beth (14), Mallory (12) and Mary Margaret (9). All three of our grandchildren attend Kosciusko Public Schools. We all attend First Baptist Church in Kosciusko.I am a 35-year employee at Ivey Mechanical Company currently serving as Vice-President Human Resources & Special Projects. I also am a former business owner in Kosciusko owning and operating City Cleaners from 1995-2000. Having grown up in Kosciusko, I attended Kosciusko public schools, Holmes Community College and Mississippi State University. My community service:Active Deacon at First Baptist Church KosciuskoMember of the TV Ministry at First Baptist ChurchChairman of the House & Grounds Committee at First Baptist ChurchChairman of the Board - Baptist Memorial Hospital AttalaPast President & Current Kosciusko Lions Club MemberFormer Board Member - Central Electric Power AssociationFormer President & Board Member of the Kosciusko Attala Partnership (KAP)Former Alderman-At-Large – City of KosciuskoKosciusko is my home and I want to do all I can to see that it prospers and remains a place where we provide good quality education for our children, a place where we can safely raise our families, a place where we have immediate access to quality healthcare and through workforce training provide a skilled workforce to existing and potential employers in Kosciusko and Attala County. I would like to utilize my work experience at Ivey Mechanical and my involvement in the community to serve Kosciusko and the citizens of Ward 2.While there are many challenges facing Kosciusko, especially during these uncertain times, providing adequate employment opportunities must be a high priority. Local government along with the community must support our public schools so that all our young people receive a quality primary and secondary education to prepare them for college or give them the necessary foundation to enter the workforce. For those who for whatever reason, decide not to go to college, we must provide quality employment opportunities through workforce training. Having an adequately trained work force is a huge factor in whether a new business or industry decides to locate in our area. An available trained workforce also benefits our existing employers in their decisions to maintain, expand or grow their business. Local government should, in my opinion, grow our partnership with Holmes Community College to provide these vital technical training opportunities for those high school graduates and others seeking employment. Henry Daniel I am the democratic incumbent, first elected to office in 2001 as Ward 2 Alderman. I am currently the longest serving black official for the City of Kosciusko. I am a graduate of Tipton Street High School and attended Jackson State University. My wife, Rosie, and I are members of Plantation M.B. Church. We are the parents of Marcus, Roshanda, Gwest, and Tearra, all graduates of Kosciusko High School. We also have five grandchildren. I have been employed with the Kosciusko-Attala Career Technical Center for 24 years. I am a member of the NAACP, Attala County Executive Committee, Attala County coordinator for US Congressman Bennie Thompson and Barbara Blackman, Oprah Winfrey Boys and Girls Club advisory committee, Mississippi Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Board of Directors (MBC-LEO), Mississippi Municipal League (MML) certified professional official, past member of MML Mayor’s Youth Council, C.H.I.L.D. Ahead Project founder and chairman since 1982, and member Lone Star Lodge #51-Past Master.I would like to complete the vision I have for the citizens of Ward 2 and the city of Kosciusko. My vision is to repair our streets, improve the sewage system, increase pay for city employees, and provide equal employment opportunities. I feel the most important challenge facing Kosciusko is the lack of industry and job opportunities. As Ward 2 Alderman, I would work with other city and county officials and the Kosciusko Attala Partnership to attract and recruit businesses to our area. Working together, we can develop a vision to bring industry and jobs to our community. Shelby KuhnI have been a citizen of Kosciusko for the last 20 years. I graduated from Mississippi State University (2001) with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education/ Teaching and Coaching. I have been a teacher/coach in the Kosciusko School District since 2006 after working in the Attala County school district from 2003 to 2006. I am currently the Physical Education coach for KME and KUE.I want to be a spokesman for our community, make positive changes, and serve as a voice for the citizens of Kosciusko. I want to help keep Kosciusko a great place for families, education, and business.The number of young people getting in trouble concerns me. As a teacher/coach at Kosciusko schools and Attala County for the past 20 years, I know a lot of these kids, and the situations they face on a daily basis. I’m dedicated to mentoring them to make healthy and positive decisions. Being elected alderman would further my passion for developing ideas and plans of improvement for these young people. I want to serve as a spokesman for the community and share these strategies with other elected officials.Ward Three AldermanRobert EllisI am running for reelection as Alderman Ward 3 in the City of Kosciusko. I have served as Alderman Ward 3 since 2005 and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve as your Alderman Ward 3 again. I have been awarded all three levels of Certified Municipal Officials (CMO) with the Mississippi Municipal League (MML), Basic CMO, Advanced CMO, and the Professional Development COM. I am married to Susan Blackwell Ellis, and we have three children, Lauren Knight, Robyn Ellis, and Colby Ellis. We have one grandchild, Noble Byron Knight, and Lauren is expecting our second grandchild in May. I was born in Kosciusko and have lived here most of my life. I want to continue to assist the Mayor and Board of Alderman with the task of serving our city the best we can. Antonio Riley I am a lifelong resident of Attala County. I have two kids, Aniyah and Amarion. I am a faithful member of Christian Liberty Baptist Church in Kosciusko under the leadership of Dr. Marvin K. Myles. Sr. I am also deeply involved with my community. I am currently President of the Attala County NAACP, President of The Kosciusko Cardinals (a youth football organization with 5 teams and over 120 players), and President of the Northside Park planning committee, Cox Lodge #15 Junior Warden with The Fraternal order of The Masonic Masons (MW Stringer affiliated), and Parliamentarian of The Attala County Democratic Committee. I also help other organizations, but these are the ones I hold a specific titles in. My foundation is love for all mankind and all of Kosciusko. Kosciusko is a fantastic place to live and raise a family, but also needs some major improvements. The world today has been elevated to some desperate and unusual times, but with the community’s help, I'm willing to be the voice for our community. Please pray for me and our community for this will be the foundation for our future success.Ward Four AldermanBrad StanleyI have served as a police officer in the towns of Goodman, Durant, and Vaiden. I am also a process server who has served for Circuit, Justice, and Chancery courts, dealing with sensitive matters of local citizens. I have run a successful bail bonding business, and a successful IT company named Digital Depot.My father was the late J.B. Stanley, who contributed to Kosciusko by running a successful house building business. My grandparents are the late Emmett and Wilma Frazier, who served as the Attala County jailers from 1980 to 1988.I am married to Tammy Lynn Mays Stanley, and our two children, Jenna and Bradley Stanley, are members of the Mayor’s Youth Council.There are a number of key issues that have inspired me to run for this office:• Police should get regular raises, new advanced protective gear, and crime fighting tools. • Revitalization of city streets (sidewalks and paving of streets) • A childrens’ play area with swings and slides in every city park. • Workout equipment with pull up bars, exercise pads, and walking/running tracks in all city parks. • A city barn with a set of garbage dumpsters behind the gates available to citizens, who can apply for a free to use to help keep people from dumping trash on our roadways.• Support of our second amendment rights.We also need to focus on job creation, bringing factory work to town in conjunction with the Kosciusko-Attala Partnership by posting videos showcasing available buildings and factory locations on social media, including all pertinent information, such as addresses, square footage, history of the structure, and contact information.I look forward to answering your questions and humbly ask Ward 4 voters to cast their ballots for me.Jeffery WoodsI am a graduate of East Mississippi Community College. I took up funeral directing as a career afer majoring in Mortuary Science. I completed my education and received my degree and license credentials and have been serving in the funeral industry for 40 years. I am the manager of Myricks Funeral Homes in Kosciusko and Carthage. I am currently serving as Alderman Ward Four and have been serving for the past six years. I have been a resident of Kosciusko for the past 27 years.I am married to Lynette Greer Woods. We have one daughter, Keshia, and one son, Jay, one granddaughter, Phoenix, and one grandson, Priest.The reason I am running for reelection is simple; I want to make a continued investment in our community. I feel deep down in my heart what we put in is what we get out. I still believe in and wish above all things that man my propser and be in health even as your soul prospereth. Kosciusko is fertile ground and we can plant good seeds for growth.The most important challenges facing Kosciusko are race relations and a right/wrong problem. With the season that our nation is in, we will implode from within if we don’t change. Racism is not something you are born with. It is something you are taught, a learned behavior. Whatever you are teaching in the home shows up in the community. We need to start calling wrong, wrong and right, right. Before we can fix the streets, jobs, the economy, and anything that makes the city great, we must treat people the way we want to be treated. We need to remember that all men are created equal. Kosciusko can be great, and by its people working together, we can accomplish anything and everything.
