CITY BEAT: MAYOR’S RACE ALREADY INTERESTING , ALSO COUNCILMAN McDANIEL RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION
Paul Osborne
Editor/Publisher
• MAYOR’S RACE — Last week’s announcement by Councilman David Horn that he is a candidate for Deca-tur Mayor in the April 6th, 2027 election came too late for me to include in last week’s edition, but the full news release is on page 7 of this edition.
The news that David Horn is running for mayor is not surprising. It has been known “unofficially” for quite some time.
Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe announced the previous week that she is running for re-election so this should make for an interesting mayoral race for Decatur voters.
Hopefully, since there are many months between now and election day next April, it will give citizens the opportunity to learn more about what Julie Moore Wolfe and David Horn see as the path forward for our community.
It is certainly a race that I intend to cover extensively because I believe a lot is at stake in the next city election, which not only includes the mayor’s position up for election, but the positions of three council members.
• SINCE last we met on this page, City Councilman Patrick McDaniel, has announced that he is running for re-election in the April 7, 2027, election. (His announcement is on page 12 of the print and online editions.)
I’ve known Pat for many years and he was one of my opponents in the primary election when I ran for my first term as mayor in 2003.
Councilman
Patrick McDaniel
After the primary election, Pat joined my campaign and later covered the city council and other city-related news for this newspaper during my years as mayor — and beyond.
His news coverage for this newspaper ended when he was elected to his first term on the city council.
The other two seats that are up for election in April of 2027 are presently held by Dennis Cooper and Lisa Gregory.
As we are going to press for this edition, they have not made an announcement of their plans.
• GOOD MAN — I was sorry to learn that former Decatur City Councilman and Macon County Board member William Oliver Jr. passed away last week at the age of 89.
He was the first black man elected to the Decatur City Council and served the public for many years.
Decades ago, Bill came to my office at the Tribune to announce that he was going to run for Decatur City Council.
Until then, no black man or woman had ever been elected to the city council.
Bill not only won but, without checking, he may have served longer than any other council member in the city’s history.
After retiring from the city council he then served many terms on the Macon County Board.
When Oliver met with me before his run at city council he made the commitment that he would designate a time on a frequent basis where anyone could come and talk with him about any concerns or issues they had and he would listen.
He kept his word.
After I was elected mayor, Bill brought me some materials that he thought would be helpful to me in the decision-making process — because they had been helpful to him when he served on council.
He also sent me some encouraging notes over the years.
William Oliver Jr. served his community effectively for many decades and certainly opened the door for other minority candidates to walk through to local elected offices.
He is missed — not only as a public servant, but a good man.
• SPEEDERS BEWARE! — I have complained about many drivers speeding their vehicles through downtown Decatur for a long time and it was refreshing to see, on my last two trips to the downtown post office, Decatur police officers, with their vehicles’ red lights flashing after pulling over drivers, apparently for speeding — or at least some driving infraction.
The speed limit through downtown on Franklin Street in front of the post office (actually from Wood St on north) is 25 mph. I’ve seen drivers blowing through downtown at least twice that speed!
I sometimes walk to the post office but when I drive, I always park my car on a side street near the post office because, when I park in front of the post office, it is almost impossible to get out of my car and onto the sidewalk in time to avoid speeding cars blowing by a few feet from me on Franklin at speeds way over the limit!
There may not be a car in sight when someone finishes parking in front of the post office, but speeders often appear suddenly at high rates of speed!
Hopefully, the sight of police pulling over reckless drivers will send a message to others about driving within the speed limit.
I have worked downtown for many decades and I have never seen more clueless driving habits than I’ve witnessed the past few years!
There is no excuse for driving with such a disregard for speed limits, traffic lights and human life.
Stay safe out there!
• I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co. most Thursday mornings at 7:00.
I always enjoy our conversations about what’s happening in our city.
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