By Rupert Howell
While local elections are over for awhile, one person is actively seeking Panola County Executive Committee chairmanship in the party that has dominated local elections for decades.
Tony Benson held a “Meet and Greet” at Batesville’s Public Library Tuesday where he fed anyone who attended while “bending their ears” concerning chanages he would like to see or goals he would like to set if he were to be selected to the party’s chairmanship.
Benson told one group who arrived early at the reception around noon in the library’s small meeting room that he was concerned about the organization’s by-laws as well as showing concern about the fact that there are two separate committees for the city of Batesville and Panola County Democrats.
“By-laws are very, very important to an organization,” Benson said and the fact that two organizations existed stated, “That creates two pots.”
Benson, a former mayor of Lambert who is presently employed at Pride Hyundai in Batesville, told those listening that he wanted to make sure the committee treats, “Everyone fairly and everybody knows what’s going on,” and that meetings are announced to everyone well in advance.
Benson also said he thought it important that party nominees get full support of the party.
Three incumbent Democrat supervisor candidates were criticized for action taken prior to the August 3, 2015 primary by a committee member.
Benson said he wanted to be nominated for the chairmanship at the February 13 meeting to be held at the Sardis Courthouse.
“I want to help take the Democratic Party to the next level,” Benson said. “I don’t see a lot of young people there,” he noted, stating one of his goals was to get younger voters interested in the party organization.