District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard said he will add a public discussion on the future of the Mississippi state flag to Tuesday’s agenda.
This month, supervisors deadlocked on an unplanned motion to lower the state flag from county-owned properties after Howard abstained from the vote.
Howard said he skipped the Jan. 4 vote because supervisors did not allow enough time for residents to come and voice their opinion on the divisive topic. District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams motioned for the flag to come down at that meeting after local NAACP Chairman Chris Taylor made the request during public comments.
Neither the flag-lowering resolution, nor public comments specific to the issue, were listed as action items on that day’s agenda.
Howard confirmed Thursday he has asked County Administrator Emily Garrard to set public discussions for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse.
“I want the public to feel like they at least have an opportunity to voice their opinions on this issue,” Howard said. “I want to be able to give everyone the opportunity to feel like they are truly part of the process, regardless of what side of the issue they stand on.”
Howard, who was re-elected to District 3’s seat in November in a tight race against Republican Denny Daniels, is the key vote to the flag’s future in Oktibbeha County.
The 2-2 vote earlier this month followed racial lines, as it was supported by District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer and Williams, two of the board’s three African-American representatives, and opposed by District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery and District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller, its two white members.
Howard did not say how he would vote on the issue.
“I’m prepared to vote on the issue,” he said. “Whichever way I vote, it will be because it’s well thought out and well researched.”
Williams’ motion came after he made multiple calls last year to lower the flag.
“The state flag is something that separates us. And if there’s one thing that we need in Mississippi and the United States, it’s unity,” Williams said Jan. 4 before introducing his resolution. “What that state flag stands for is division. We might as well admit it – it stands for racism. It has served its purpose, but it’s good (for the flag) … to be placed in a museum. We all value the history behind it, because we have learned from our mistakes. I think both races can always learn from the mistakes that the flag has created.”
Taylor took issue with Howard’s abstention, saying he obliged supervisors’ request to wait and ask for official action once November’s general election passed.
“You five board members have the power right now to (send a signal to state lawmakers), and I think you should. They look at us like we’re divided. Oktibbeha County is afraid, but the city of Starkville wasn’t afraid,” he said referencing the start of the year’s legislative session. “From now on, I’m not waiting on anything else, no matter who asks. Facts are facts. You see what the results were (in November). You know why the decision wasn’t made (before the general election). Someone was afraid.”
Starkville joined other municipalities and counties – including Columbus – across the state by lowering the state flag from its property in July.
Similar actions were taken by the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. In September, Mississippi State University’s student government group called for the adoption of a new state flag.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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