Wiseman: ‘Something big is about to happen’ Judge Michael Mills reads the oath of office Thursday to incoming Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman in front of City Hall while Wiseman’s wife, Lindsey, holds the Bible. Watching in the background, from left, are Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey, Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker, Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins. / Tim Pratt
It was Thursday morning, just after 10:30, and Lindsey Wiseman had that look on her face again. She looked like something big was about to happen.
Wiseman smiled, her eyes wide with excitement. She clenched her hands in her lap as she sat in a chair in front of City Hall. In front of her stood her husband, Parker, the incoming mayor of Starkville.
Parker Wiseman and the new seven-member Board of Aldermen were sworn in Thursday morning during the ceremony, and when the city's next mayor addressed the crowd gathered before him, his gaze eventually fell back on Lindsey, just as it did six months ago when he announced his candidacy for mayor from the same location.
"Lindsey has that look on her face again," Parker Wiseman said with a smile. "Indeed, she's right. Something big is about to happen."
Wiseman and the new board officially take office July 6 at 12:01 a.m. Their first meeting is July 7 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.
Wiseman will be joined by Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver, Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker, Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey, Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas, Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn Sr. Corey and Perkins are the only two returning aldermen.
"Here we are, after months of dreaming and debating about the future of the city of Starkville, and the hour is almost upon us," Parker Wiseman said.
"There will be differences along the way, but rest assured that we should all have the utmost confidence that each person who took the oath of office here today has nothing but the best interest for the city of Starkville in mind," Wiseman said later. "From time to time visions and opinions about what is actually best for the city of Starkville may differ. That is OK. That is OK as long as we trust one another and we never lose respect for each other as people; we never lose sight of the fact that each of us shares the desire for Starkville to succeed. If we do that, the product the city of Starkville gets in its government leaders will be a good one -- one that we can be proud of."
Perkins, who is about to begin his fifth term on the board, is the most experienced returning alderman. Corey is set to begin his second term.
"The mayor-elect and the five new board members seem to be very promising," Perkins said. "The jury is still out, but if they give the best of service, then I think we'll have a job well done. We'll have a bright future and accomplish a lot of great things for Starkville. It's all about what's best for Starkville and hopefully that will be their goal, not only at the honeymoon stage, but we want it to be their goal at the end of the term."
Among the many people who showed up at City Hall to witness the ceremony was Marty Wiseman, Parker's father. Marty Wiseman also works as a professor of political science at Mississippi State University and said he was glad his son didn't mention him once in his speech.
"(Parker) has a mind of his own," Marty Wiseman said. "People say, 'Oh, well, you trained him,' all that. But this is Parker."
Lindsey Wiseman, who had a smile on her face throughout the morning, said she does have a feeling "something big" is about to happen in the city.
"We're just looking forward to this opportunity," Lindsey Wiseman said. "We're just really truly thankful for all the people who gave us this opportunity and put the new board and mayor in office. It's very exciting."
Something big sure is about to happen in Starkville... the first ever Cancer Center is about to open at the Premier Health Complex. This is a exciting time for Starkville and area communities to have this kind of health care offered to them locally.
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