Biloxi Ward 4 candidates talk goals
On July 9th, Ward 4 residents will cast their final votes for the open city council seat in Biloxi. Two candidates will be on the ballot: Jamie Creel and Rodney McGilvary.
Only 22 votes separated Jamie Creel and Rodney McGilvary in the last election with Creel in the lead. As they head into runoffs, Creel and McGilvary are sharing more about themselves and their vision for Ward 4.
Creel said, “We have to have a voice. I want to be that voice.”
McGilvary said, “I love public service. I love Biloxi.”
Two long-time ward 4 residents are vying for the opportunity to serve their community. McGilvary, who served in the Biloxi Police Department for 40 years, and Creel, a former Mississippi representative.
Both candidates are putting communication at the forefront. “If somebody has an issue, they want someone to call and will get back with them, and two, work with their issue, their problem.”
For Creel, beautification is a huge part of his campaign. “Yesterday, we were out on the sidewalks edging sidewalks, and I took it upon myself to go and clean up the graffiti off the playgrounds. The biggest issue that you hear time and time again are the easements., the public easements that are not well maintained. There are some things we can do to upgrade our dog park as well as our children’s park right there by the library.”
Meanwhile, McGilvary sees these issues, but has a focus on big-scale projects impacting the community. “We have, you know, the drainage, the trash, that type of thing. The quality-of-life issues. The Margaret Sherry Library has been in the news, on the news, on Facebook. That’s a major concern to me. As well as, the Popps Ferry Bridge – the status. That’s what people are asking about.”
Ward 4 residents may have received a letter in the mail showcasing Creel’s criminal record. “Do they want a city councilman who has a proven record of service for forty years or do they want a councilman who has a habit of being arrested,” said McGilvary.
Creel tells WXXV he was able to receive the help he needed years ago and is in a much better place. “The Jamie Creel from back then is not the Jamie Creel you are getting today. My past doesn’t define me. It is my past for a reason. The windshield is so big and the rearview mirror is so small. So, you can look in the rearview mirror and have the past remind you of who you were and the windshield is so big because it’s full of opportunity. Everybody can change.”
That runoff election is July 9th.
