Mayor Smith responds to media criticism
For a long time now, the (Columbus) Packet has attacked me for the job I do as mayor of Columbus.
I have tried to “turn the other cheek” and chalk it up to the decline in quality of the paper since Roger Larsen retired from the newspaper and sold The Packet to David Shelton’s son, Justin.
However, it appears to be more sinister than that. In its latest editorial, The Packet expresses heartburn that the city received a $1.5M grant from the state of Mississippi to renovate city hall, a 1903 historic landmark. The Packet has become more and more venomous in its personal assaults, and I now feel I must respond.
The referenced editorial attacks the city hall grant and states that there was some sort of extortion-like scheme hatched by me to control Rep. Jeff Smith and indicates Mr. Smith delivered the grant money for city hall out of fear I would get him fired as the board attorney for the Utilities Commission.
That is a false and fantastic lie.
I freely acknowledge that in my capacity as mayor I asked Rep. Smith for any and all help he could provide in securing the grant for the city hall renovation project as well as the Riverwalk and amphitheater projects.
We are extremely blessed and thankful that Columbus was fortunate to have Jeff’s full cooperation and support.
I never have threatened Jeff Smith, and I would hope Packet readers would not think Mr. Smith would respond favorably to that sort of intimidation or threat, as your editorial said.
Countless citizens have asked me what I have done to The Packet to cause it to constantly criticize me. I wonder too.
Could it be a case of “sour grapes” because the city council re-appointed an incumbent to the Columbus Light and Water Board instead of David Shelton, who everyone knows is the money behind The Packet and the domineering puppet master of its managing editor and reporting staff?
Or could it be that David Shelton is mad at me in particular because in June of this year I broke the tie in favor of reappointing the incumbent board member and effectively killed David’s extensive “lobbying” of members of the council so as to get back onto the Light and Water Board?
Or could it be that, in spite of David Shelton’s resources, he failed to get himself back onto the board and is now angry at me because I, in effect, voted against him?
One might easily connect the dots and see that The Packet attacks me like it has because David Shelton ordered it be done. If that is correct, it would be ironic indeed David would say that I am a controlling micromanager while at the same time he is doing to The Packet staff exactly what accuses me of.
Why would one conclude David’s attack on me is personal as stated? Well, consider that the Legislature, with the help of Rep. Smith, appropriated a whole lot of money to the Golden Triangle in the past few years.
There’s the $1.2M grant for the Horse Park. Then there is $18M for the Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence. The Town of Caledonia got a $150,000 small-town grant. EMCC received $3M. The Caledonia Natural Gas District received $150,000 — twice. Mississippi State University received $48M. Mississippi University for Women received $19M.
All that grant money came to this region and the Columbus Packet expressed not the slightest hint of disfavor. The only complaint is aimed at me and I happen to be the one that voted against David Shelton’s return to the CL&W Board.
Before The Packet goes on the offensive about what a great businessman David Shelton is and why he should have been appointed and not the incumbent board member, let’s not forget David Shelton has a history. Indeed, some of David Shelton’s history is not so good. From my observation, folks with knowledge of that history ought to be thanking me for reappointing the incumbent board member, who by the way has never been arrested or convicted of anything.
I hope this response to your constant attacks shines a light on what might be motivating The Packet (David Shelton) in continuing to attack me. If it doesn’t, I will be happy to give the readers a “history lesson.”
Robert E. Smith Sr., Mayor
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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