LITTLE ROCK, AR– November marks one year since Mayor Debe Hollingsworth took over as Mayor in Pine Bluff. FOX16 talks with her about her first year.
In November 2012, voters hired Hollingsworth, beating the city’s first black mayor, Carl Redus, by roughly 5,000 votes.
“This is not for me, this is a victory for our citizens,” Hollingsworth said at the time.
Her husband and campaign manager brought her the good news.
“I said, ‘This is not the time to be messing with me. You had better be telling me the truth on this’ because the numbers were just overwhelming,” Hollingsworth said.
Now, one year after getting the public’s trust, she gives her thoughts on the day-to-day responsibilities.
“Some days are good days. Some days are bad days,” said Hollingsworth jokingly.
But she says every day is a chance to move the city forward, which business owner David Maddox says he sees.
A Citizen’s Thoughts
Maddox owns Fathers and Sons Clothier with the job to keep people looking good.
He also wants to make sure his city is suited for greatness as well, adding the process starts with Hollingsworth.
He commends her town hall meetings held within her first six months.
“Because no matter where you sit or where you stand, you have a platform where you can come and voice your sentiments,” Maddox said.
Hollingsworth says the meetings were a top priority.
“We felt the frustration of people because they could not communicate with city government andt we thought, we have to change that and we did that by providing town hall meetings,” she said.
However, Maddox is not pleased with the city’s image related to crime.
In February, a Washington publisher ranked Pine Bluff one of the most dangerous cities in the country, second to Detroit.
Maddox says the mayor needs to do more to address the image problem.
“For a long time, Pine Bluff has gotten a bad rap as far as the crime. But since I’ve been here, a lot of the things that have gone out about the community, I found out it’s not true. Pine Bluff is a great community,” Maddox said.
New Ideas
The Mayor realizes the “City of Progress” doesn’t appear that way to outsiders and that’s why she targets community programs to improve crime fighting.
She also hopes to bring on a marketing firm next budget year.
“We do need an image makeover, that’s just a fact we do. So I think that is very important for our city to bring that about,” Hollingsworth said.
The mayor admits, she can’t get everything done in one year, and it will take some time. But she also realizes, there will be challenges.
Downtown
Right now, the mayor is working on a plan to revitalize downtown.
Once filled with businesses and excitement, now there is evidence the party is over.
“Revitalizing our downtown, that is going to he huge,” Hollingsworth said.
The Future
Maddox says any plan to bring back a vibrant Pine Bluff is appreciated and enourages the community to bring their ideas too.
“If we can work together, we can accomplish a lot more,” Maddox said.
The Mayor agrees.
“I believe timing is everything and I think the time is right for Pine Bluff now,” Hollingsworth said.
The mayor also says bringing jobs to Pine Bluff is also a major concern.
She tells FOX16 she is working with several companies with interest to open business in Pine Bluff, but because of confidentiality concerns, she can not say what companies yet.
In November 2012, voters hired Hollingsworth, beating the city’s first black mayor, Carl Redus, by roughly 5,000 votes.
“This is not for me, this is a victory for our citizens,” Hollingsworth said at the time.
Her husband and campaign manager brought her the good news.
“I said, ‘This is not the time to be messing with me. You had better be telling me the truth on this’ because the numbers were just overwhelming,” Hollingsworth said.
Now, one year after getting the public’s trust, she gives her thoughts on the day-to-day responsibilities.
“Some days are good days. Some days are bad days,” said Hollingsworth jokingly.
But she says every day is a chance to move the city forward, which business owner David Maddox says he sees.
A Citizen’s Thoughts
Maddox owns Fathers and Sons Clothier with the job to keep people looking good.
He also wants to make sure his city is suited for greatness as well, adding the process starts with Hollingsworth.
He commends her town hall meetings held within her first six months.
“Because no matter where you sit or where you stand, you have a platform where you can come and voice your sentiments,” Maddox said.
Hollingsworth says the meetings were a top priority.
“We felt the frustration of people because they could not communicate with city government andt we thought, we have to change that and we did that by providing town hall meetings,” she said.
However, Maddox is not pleased with the city’s image related to crime.
In February, a Washington publisher ranked Pine Bluff one of the most dangerous cities in the country, second to Detroit.
Maddox says the mayor needs to do more to address the image problem.
“For a long time, Pine Bluff has gotten a bad rap as far as the crime. But since I’ve been here, a lot of the things that have gone out about the community, I found out it’s not true. Pine Bluff is a great community,” Maddox said.
New Ideas
The Mayor realizes the “City of Progress” doesn’t appear that way to outsiders and that’s why she targets community programs to improve crime fighting.
She also hopes to bring on a marketing firm next budget year.
“We do need an image makeover, that’s just a fact we do. So I think that is very important for our city to bring that about,” Hollingsworth said.
The mayor admits, she can’t get everything done in one year, and it will take some time. But she also realizes, there will be challenges.
Downtown
Right now, the mayor is working on a plan to revitalize downtown.
Once filled with businesses and excitement, now there is evidence the party is over.
“Revitalizing our downtown, that is going to he huge,” Hollingsworth said.
The Future
Maddox says any plan to bring back a vibrant Pine Bluff is appreciated and enourages the community to bring their ideas too.
“If we can work together, we can accomplish a lot more,” Maddox said.
The Mayor agrees.
“I believe timing is everything and I think the time is right for Pine Bluff now,” Hollingsworth said.
The mayor also says bringing jobs to Pine Bluff is also a major concern.
She tells FOX16 she is working with several companies with interest to open business in Pine Bluff, but because of confidentiality concerns, she can not say what companies yet.
