Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn’s upcoming resolution to remove the state flag from flying on city property will pass or fail by a razor-thin margin.
Three Starkville aldermen — Ward 1’s Ben Carver, Ward 3’s David Little and Ward 5’s Scott Maynard — told The Dispatch they oppose Tuesday’s pending motion and would rather state lawmakers handle the issue outright for Mississippi as a whole.
Four votes are needed to approve the motion. If the vote ends in a deadlock due to an alderman’s absence or recusal, Mayor Parker Wiseman is expected to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of removing the flag.
Wiseman previously went on the record in support of Wynn’s resolution and said it is an opportunity to send “an appropriate message about” Starkville’s progressiveness.
Little and Maynard both said they understand how the flag is viewed as a racially divisive symbol, and Carver said Wynn’s motion “jumps the gun” before state lawmakers tackle the issue in Jackson.
“Until the flag is changed by the state Legislature or the general electorate, I will support allowing the state flag to fly at all of our public buildings,” Little said. “Our city is a municipality of the state of Mississippi, and so therefore Starkville is under the state and our state flag is representative of us.”
“My opinion is the state flag is the state flag until it is changed, and I think we should give the flag, not the symbolism on the flag, the respect it deserves,” Maynard added. “When there is an option to change — and there will be one soon — I will support the change. Until that time, I am for maintaining the status quo.”
With the early 1-3 margin, Wynn’s resolution is now in the hands of Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker, Ward 6 Alderman and Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn.
It is unknown how the trio will vote. Perkins and Walker did not return calls Thursday. A number for Vaughn was not immediately available.
The three aldermen opposing the motion are white. Walker is the fourth white board member. Perkins, Vaughn and Wynn are black.
“The removal of our flag, if embraced by our city, will not be a panacea, but it certainly can be a part of positive change for our city and state,” Wynn told The Dispatch earlier this week. “In October, our city will be the host city for the Mississippi Municipal League conference. Hundreds of municipal elected officials will visit our city, and I hope that we will have become one of the cities that has removed the state flag from its properties.
“I want to see our state with a flag that is inclusive to everyone and for everyone,” she added.
Columbus became the most-recent Mississippi city and the first in the Golden Triangle to lower the state flag after councilmen voted unanimously to remove it after about 10 minutes of discussion Tuesday.
West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson previously told The Dispatch his city has never flown the flag.
Five other Mississippi communities — Clarksdale, Grenada, Hattiesburg, Magnolia and Vicksburg — have passed similar resolutions.
“(Columbus’ unanimous vote) shows unity among the council,” Mayor Robert Smith said following Tuesday’s meeting.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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