In Tuesday’s voting, Terri Waterman-Baylor is facing off against Devante Johnson in the McComb Ward 3 Democratic primary. The winner will become the new selectman of Ward 3, as there are no other candidates in the race.
Each has run unsuccessfully before. Johnson ran against Pike County District 1 Supervisor Tazwell Bowsky in 2015, and Baylor ran in the 2016 Ward 3 special election against Albert Eubanks and Tracey Felder.
Terri Waterman-Baylor
Baylor is a technology teacher at the South Pike Career & Technical Center. Previously, she worked as a mental health counselor.
“I wanted to run because I saw the need for change,” Waterman-Baylor said. “It was always in me to run again.”
She said she also wants to help combat crime by building a better relationship with McComb police.
“I think we can eliminate a lot if people would just speak up and say more,” she said.
Baylor said she wants to promote and bring back unity to the boardroom.
“I want to rebuild unity in the community and regain the trust of the citizens,” she said.
Baylor said there seems to be some disdain between the current board members. A majority of the time, votes are split down the middle by race.
“We don’t have to agree on everything,” she said. “I don’t have to like you, you don’t have to like me but we can come together and work together to better the city.”
Baylor said it boils down to respect and being able to sit across the table from each other and respect the other person’s opinion without always combatting it.
She said she also wants to help provide a safe and resourceful place for children.
“I can’t promise that I’ll get everything but I’ll do my best to get what I can for my ward,” she said.
Baylor said working as a counselor and as a teacher helps because she understands the needs of the community. “I’ve seen it all, I know what we need.”
Devante Johnson
Johnson, 22, is the project manager for the Afrotown Redevelopment Association.
Johnson has been vocal about his opinions in several city board meetings.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 10,” Johnson said.
He’s worked with many candidates, including current state Sen. Tammy Witherspoon.
“When this seat became available and I saw that Mr. Eubanks was running for mayor, I thought to myself ‘Devante, this is your time,’ ” he said. “I ran in 2015 and I was unsuccessful but I didn’t leave the ball and go home. I stayed and I’ve fought and my constituents have seen me out in the community.”
He said he has more experience in the political arena than his opponent and believes he is the better choice.
“A person who has been in the field is important to me,” he said. “My work speaks for itself and my constituents know my work speaks for itself.”
Johnson said he wants to see more community policing and more patrolmen getting out of their patrol cruisers.
“Our citizens don’t need to be afraid of the police; they need to know that they’re here to help,” he siad.
He said being a resident of East McComb, he hears the gunshots at night while at home.
“Crime is high on my side of town,” he said.
Another one of his goals is to work with the McComb School District tohelp achieve its goal of becoming a world-class district.
“We need to find out what they need from us and what we, as a board, can do to help them,” Johnson said.
He said for residents in his ward, there’s only one choice and that choice is him.
“My work speaks for itself. I’ve been out in the community, I’ve been working for the people,” he said.
