Why You Should Vote for Mayor "Jamie" Mayo

All too often, we have a tendency to only recognize our blessings once they are gone. Don't let that be our downfall this year. Your right to vote was hard-won through years of strife and challenge. Don't be fooled today into squandering it in our upcoming elections. Mayor Jamie Mayo is up for reelection this year. He has served Monroe well, and has had particular allegiance to Monroe's African American communities. Under the Mayo administration, the City of Monroe has enjoyed some of its best fiscal positions. For many years, Mayor Mayo has maintained a multi-million-dollar fund balance (surplus) for the City of Monroe, despite periods of recession experienced in other parts of this state and others. In fact, he maintained a fiscal year budget surplus for more than eleven consecutive years. Under Mayor Mayo's leadership, Monroe has won several Economic Development awards. Monroe has experienced major business growth and expansion with more than 2000 new small, medium, and large-sized businesses that opened up shop in Monroe during the Mayo Administration. Monroe has also been ranked among the best of or top locations for retirement, women entrepreneurs, economic development, and tourist attractions during this same time. Even though his administration has no direct authority over our local school system, he believes that government and education should work together to benefit students at all educational levels. For that reason, the Mayor administration has formed many productive "Partnerships in Education", which include: Creation of the Entergy-City of Monroe Community Service Scholarship which has awarded scholarships valued at more than of $80,000 to deserving graduating high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom and community service; coordination of after-school tutoring in city recreation/community centers; employment of more than 200 students each summer as part of Monroe's Youth Summer Job Program; and, operation of a six-week summer recreation program from early June until mid-July to bridge the gap between students' regular academic terms. Residents who benefited from these after school and summer sessions primarily hailed from low income areas on the south side of Monroe, both as program participants and student workers. His dedication to the whole of Monroe is evident, but his affinity for the needs of Monroe's African American and low-income communities is even more clearly apparent. During this current pandemic and the recent tornado that struck Monroe, Mayor Mayo again showed his leadership skill by assisting residents in affected areas in obtaining protective masks, food, and housing assistance to tide them over until their homes could be repaired or replaced. Mayor Mayo stood tall and inspired a sense of confidence in us that as we traverse these trying times, better times would come, if we would only pull together and provide care and concern for each other. Although Mayor Mayo has received numerous awards and accolades designed to reward him for his shrewd stewardship of our city, his greatest joy comes from seeing his community prosper with the knowledge that he had a hand in that growth and development.

Don't be tricked into giving up on a tried and true leader for the City of Monroe. Don't ignore your current blessings. Use your voting power wisely to continue the progress that has been made under Mayor Mayo's leadership. Let's stand together and REELECT JAMIE MAYO, Mayor of Monroe!

Photo Mayor James E. "Jamie" Mayo