MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Jimmy Copeland, an Independent candidate for Mayor of Meridian, held a campaign rally tonight at the Copeland Center in Downtown Meridian. The event, which began at 5:15 pm, featured Copeland discussing key issues he plans to address if elected.
In the first part of his speech, Copeland provided background on his life and career, before diving into his three main focus areas: crime, economic development, and leadership.
(for more information on Copeland’s background, click here)
Here are some of the key points he discussed:
Crime
-Proposing salary increases for police officers
-Introducing a reserve police department to assist with non-patrol duties like community events
-Advocating for an upgraded camera system across the city
-Suggesting random checkpoints within city limits to increase public safety
Economic Development
-Explaining more about the development of a new data center
-Creating more developed land to attract new industries
-Exploring ways to boost tourism in Meridian to enhance the city’s economy
Leadership
-Developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the city
Utilizing in-house resources instead of relying on outside contractors
-Looking for a new location for the city jail, away from center of downtown
-Hosting a job fair to fill vacant, funded city positions
Copeland also explained why he is running as an Independent candidate and shared his perspective on the current Jimmie Smith administration.
He further addressed the idea of allowing city council members to have input on which roads are prioritized for paving in their respective wards.
The video below highlights the key moments from his speech:
Watch key moments:
Crime: 0:25
Economic Development: 4:32
Leadership: 9:42
Running as an Independent: 13:15
Comments on the Smith Administration: 15:24
