A rose to Garland Ward for being chosen by the Columbus City Council to replace Joseph Daughtry as the city’s police chief. Daughtry resigned Monday to become police chief in Yazoo City. About 48 hours later, the council chose Assistant Chief Ward for the job during a work session. The speed with which the council made its choice indicates a great deal of confidence in Ward’s ability to lead the department. Ward becomes the city’s ninth police chief since 2000. His three years as assistant police chief have equipped him with the knowledge of the community and police department personnel needed to move the department forward. While we have typically advocated for broad searches for department heads, there is something to say for hiring from within, particularly qualified candidates are already on board and succession has been anticipated. We congratulate Ward as he begins his new role in the city.
A rose to Takes A Village founder Ricky J. Harris and the nonprofit’s volunteers for their efforts to make back-to-school preparations a little less costly. The accounting firm Deloitte estimates that parents spend an average of $586 on back-to-school supplies for a K-12 student. For the sixth year, Takes A Village has provided backpacks containing school supplies. During Sunday’s Back2School Bash at the Columbus Fairgrounds, the nonprofit distributed more than 500 backpacks. For many, these supplies help parents avoid difficult choices when family finances are limited. We thank Takes A Village for helping these families start the school year on a positive note.
A rose to Tim Hudson, who announced his retirement as Lowndes County attorney during Wednesday’s supervisors meeting. Hudson has served as the county attorney for 26 years, serving multiple boards of supervisors. His steady demeanor and cooperative nature have served the county well. For more than a quarter century, the board of supervisors has had a trusted attorney to handle the county’s legal matters. We commend Hudson on a job well done and wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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