Ward residency played a key role in who city councilmen chose to fill the final vacancy on the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees.
Councilmen voted 3-2 Tuesday to appoint Telisa Clay Young from among a field of seven applicants.
Young, a federal social insurance specialist with the Social Security Administration, will fill Currie Fisher’s unexpired term that runs through March 2020. Fisher resigned from the board in February citing personal reasons.
“I’m very excited to be a part of this,” Young told the council after her selection. “I have a child in the district, and I believe I can be an asset. I look forward to helping our community as well as our children.”
Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, along with Fred Jackson of Ward 4 and Stephen Jones of Ward 5, supported Young. But councilmen Charlie Box and Bill Gavin, of wards 3 and 6, respectively, supported Johnny Judson, a Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle registered nurse.
Gene Taylor, who represents Ward 1, recused himself from both the discussion and vote because he is a brother-in-law to one of the other applicants, James E. Samuel Sr.
Gavin originally moved to appoint Judson with Box offering the second. Mickens, however, entered a substitute motion for Young — with a second from Jackson — that carried by the narrow margin.
Mickens, speaking to The Dispatch after the vote, said he had “heard nothing but good things” about Judson, who lives in Gavin’s ward. He instead opted for Young, in part, because he felt Ward 6 was overrepresented on the CMSD board.
Board members Jason Spears and Yvonne Cox both live in Ward 6, and Judson’s appointment would have made the majority of the five-member board Gavin’s constituents.
Young, however, lives in Ward 1.
“I’ve been on the record saying we needed a man in this position, but when I looked at the applicants, I had to go with the best person,” Mickens said. “When you look at (Young’s) record, I think she can be an asset. Plus, there are already several people on that board from Ward 6. … I would like to see Mr. Judson apply again in the future, and if he does, he’ll have my support.”
Gavin admitted he supported Judson because “he lives in Ward 6 and I’ve known him a long time.”
He said he disagrees with Mickens on considering ward residency when selecting school board members. Instead, he said the council should choose the best candidate regardless of where they live in the city or separate school district.
However, Gavin added he is confident in Young’s qualifications.
“(Judson) is a good man, and I felt like he could do a good job, but the young lady who the council selected I’m sure will do a good job,” Gavin said. “Any time you recommend someone and they aren’t selected, it’s disappointing. But we had a good selection of candidates to choose from and that’s the main thing. It was good to see so many put their name in the hat.”
Other applicants included retired educator June Leigh, local pastor Willie Petty Sr., auto sales manager Eric Thomas and Navistar Defense employee Cedrick Vance.
Applicant reactions
Young, 45, previously served as an adjunct instructor at East Mississippi Community College, on the Staff Advisory Council at Mississippi State University and as director of housing at Mississippi University for Women.
She holds bachelors’ degrees in accounting and marketing, as well as a master’s in instructional technology and workforce development — an area for which she is now seeking a doctorate.
As a parent of a Fairview Elementary student, Young volunteers with the school’s parent-teacher organization.
She told The Dispatch on Tuesday she hopes to help promote school safety and academic excellence to the point CMSD is considered a “premier district” in both categories.
“I’m ready to step in and be a team player,” she said, adding she wasn’t discouraged by the council’s split vote. “I think my first step is finding out exactly what the district’s needs are and pushing forward.”
Judson, 60, also attended Tuesday’s council meeting. After the vote, he graciously congratulated Young and wished her luck.
“As long as they made a good choice, I’m fine with it,” Judson told The Dispatch. “Ms. Young appears to have a lot of qualifications, so I’m happy with the decision.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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