Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard’s first term as an elected Starkville representative will be his last.
Maynard, a Republican who ran unopposed in 2013, confirmed he will not seek re-election in next year’s municipal election cycle.
“I had originally said, even when I was campaigning, I’d probably only run for one term. I’m going to focus on my job at Mississippi State University and remain an active citizen,” he said.
Maynard, the MSU Career Center director and one of four new aldermen elected in 2013, replaced first-term Alderman Jeremiah Dumas after Dumas decided not to seek re-election.
Maynard and his fellow board members tended to numerous controversial issues this term — multiple department heads and key city employees were either relieved of their duties or resigned, the board voted not to fly the state flag, and it both extended and rescinded health insurance coverage for employees’ same-sex partners — and inherited a significant boon of new construction and economic growth.
“Even in the face of controversy, we’ve managed to get a lot done. It was sometimes not pretty, but we tended to always get the job accomplished,” Maynard said. “I think the other interesting thing about this board is that most boards will break into voting blocs — these three or four aldermen will vote one way or another. That’s not the case typically with our board. There have been different groups supportive or against different issues for different reasons.
“Sometimes, as a board, we’ve made things harder than they should have been, and that’s due to the fact there were four rookies, including myself, initially learning their way,” Maynard added.
Giving Starkville Police Department a permanent home and the influx of new business into town, Maynard said, are the city’s biggest accomplishments this term, while completion of the Russell Street project is the biggest remaining item on the outgoing alderman’s to-do list.
“As much new construction as we’ve had, there’s that much more on the backburner that’s getting scheduled to be done,” he said. “The Walmart Neighborhood Market, for example, will bring a grocery store into an underserved area of town. Things like that have been great additions for Starkville.”
While Maynard said he won’t miss the long meeting nights, he said he’ll miss the comradery between aldermen and interacting with city employees, who all “work hard and do a good job” for Starkville.
Maynard also gave advice for whomever assumes his seat July 1: Learn that progress takes time.
“You come in very eager to get things done and to get going immediately. You then quickly realize that ‘immediately’ isn’t in the dictionary of city government,” he said. “You have to be patient and let things work out.”
Although Maynard will bow out from his elected position at the end of the term, Starkville voters will see many familiar names on the primary and general election ballots.
Others to seek re-election
Five elected officials — Mayor Parker Wiseman, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver, Ward 3 Alderman David Little, Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker and Perkins –confirmed they will seek re-election next year.
Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn said she was not ready to issue a statement regarding her future candidacy but alluded at a past board meeting to running for office again.
Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn is expected to run for his third term next year, but he was unavailable Wednesday to confirm.
Qualification for Starkville’s municipal election cycle begins in January.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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