Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Billy Redd running for Madison County Supervisor

Madison County resident Billy Redd is running for the position of District 2 Supervisor in that county. The seat is currently held by Tim Johnson, who announced he will not run for re-election. Mr. Redd is currently the chairman of Boys & Girls Club of Mississippi. JJ interviewed him last week.

JJ: What is your background?
Redd: "I was born in Starkville and moved to the Madison-Ridgeland area in 1975. I had a well-traveled childhood as mom was a missionary. I graduated from the old Madison-Ridgeland High School that is now home to Tulane and went to Mississippi State. I put myself through school by moonlighting as an auto mechanic while a student. I married, had two daughters, divorced, and remarried three years ago. My two girls are twelve and seventeen. The youngest currently attends First Presbyterian and will enroll at Madison Middle School next year. The oldest attends the School of Arts in Brookhaven.

After college I worked for the family at Redd Pest Control. I worked at the company and did literally everything: sales, pest control jobs, mechanic work, and managing. I left Redd in 1994 and went back to school at Millsaps for my MBA (awarded in 1996). I joined Boys & Girls Club as a board member and later became Chairman in 1997. Our chapter has an operating budget of $2.6 million and 130 employees. My salary is $78,000.

2. What prompted you to run for Supervisor?
'I first became interested around fifteen years ago. We need more good qualified folks to run for office. I'm a conservative. I started seriously looking at running six months ago. We need to go in there committed to good, fiscally conservative practices and open government. There is a great deal of frustration with our government right now. I would like to see the meeting times changed to one that is more convenient and webcast them as well. I was a volunteer firefighter for the City of Madison for fifteen years."

3. What do you think of the Board of Supervisors agreeing to reduce lot sizes and minimum square footage for homes? What should the county do, if anything, to help developers ride out the storm?
"The developer should know going in what the guidelines are. I lean alot more towards "we had an agreement first". This recession is going to be over in a year or two but the mistakes we make on this issue can stay with us for thirty years."

4. Would you vote to keep Rudy Warnock as County Engineer?
"I think we should put it out for bid with the right qualifications. I'm a big believer in third-party integrity and have no problem with third parties coming in and reviewing work."

5. Do you think professional services contracts such as attorneys, engineers, and bond work should be bid out or just given to the best qualified, which all too often, comes down to the contractors with the best connections, not the best deal for the taxpayers?
Yes, we ought to take bids, but on a strict list of criteria so the services are equal so we aren't taking what appears to be the lowest bid when in reality it isn't."

6. Do you think Madison County should put contracts online for review by the public? " I don't see any problem with that." Vendor payments? "No harm in doing that at all."

7. What should be some of Madison County's goals for the next five years?
"short term: restore confidence in county government. Need to improve tourism and economic development projects in the long term."

8. What is your relationship with Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler?
"I've known Mary for a long time. I like what our city has been able to do. We've had a very good relationship. I've let her know that I'm running. See no problems working with her. Could easily work with Gene (Mayor of Ridgeland) as well."

9. What do you think should be done with the bond issue that was passed for the Reunion interchange and other projects?
"Lets go back and look at how the bond issue is appropriated and see if anything needs correcting if its still possible to do so. Lets look at everyting we are doing: contracts, agreements. We need to make certain we clear any perception of favoritism in our government."

Resume

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

#4 was a non-answer. It was a yes-no question.

Now, pulling out my magic 8 ball and reading between the lines, it looks like it could be "no". But don't quote me.

Anonymous said...

#8 what a laugh.

this guy already has a ring in his nose.

Anonymous said...

New to the area, live in Madison. Netural on Mother Mary.
I don't get how she is so powerful that she can put a ring in everbody's nose?
She, to hear some tell it walks on water and turns water to wine. Don't forget its because she owns a brick factory that everthing in Madison has to be brick, honest that what I was told.
I don't believe any of it.
I think she is human but has a very big ego.
Is it time for new blood, yes.

Anonymous said...

Mary has done great things for Madison. I admire her. She is a great mayor. Maybe I am a bit biased because she is also my cousin.

Anonymous said...

Believe me. Ole Mary has quite a reputation that goes a long way back.

As far as Billy Redd running for supervisor, at least he is willing to serve and appears to not be an idiot. I don't know him personally, but I know people who do. They say he's a great, hard working guy. I can't believe anyone would imply he would be a bad supervisor based on this one interview. Why not look at all the people running first before saying he could not help Madison County?

Cindy Cobb said...

Madison would be very lucky to have Billy repesenting them in any capacity. I also think that unless you are helping mow the future of Madison, you should stay in your own back yard....These candidates should be judged on their accomplishments and abilities, not if the ring in the nose fits. He is well liked by everyone that I know....because he is a class act guy. He has Madison's best interest at heart just like he does the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi--- He will make a superb supervisor for Madison.

Susan Marquez said...

I don't know the guy, and have no opinion one way or the other. He states he went to the old Madison-Ridgeland H.S., where Tulane is now. The old M-R H.S. has been the Madison Square Center for the Arts for about 18 years or so. Tulane is in the old Madison Station Elementary School. Just clarifying. Big difference, and important to get it right before running for public office. I'm just sayin'...

Kingfish said...

I had MR in my notes and added HS to it so blame me.

Cindy Cobb said...

That's what I like about JJ....Thanks for clarifying that KF!

Anonymous said...

At least this guy doesn't have big shoes to fill. Good luck in the election.

Anonymous said...

Billy Redd is a class act. Why don't you "anonymous bloggers" constantly criticizing, do something with your empty lives, DO SOMETHING, and run yourselves. STEP UP!

Anonymous said...

6:18 Exactly. I don't know Billy personally, but I am hearing some very nice things about him from a couple people who known him a long time. Good guy.

Anonymous said...

6:18 Mr. Redd sounds like a fine man & just about anyone would be an improvement over what we now have. However, I do take exception to your criticism of "anonymous bloggers". My life is quite full thank you & I don't see your name attached.

Anonymous said...

I do know Billy Redd. I attend church with him regularly. He would make a fine supervisor. I find him to be respectful and helpful in anyway possible. Clearly, he demonstrates an ability to bring people together. Just look at the 140K donation made by Mr. Nutt to keep the Boys & Girls Club open in Canton, Ms. You don't suppose this was a magic trick. Billy is a winner in life.

Anonymous said...

I do know Billy personally. After all, he is my father. I am doing a research project for school at Madison Middle school and came across this page. In full understanding that I am terribly late at posting this, I would still like to share my comment.
My father would make an excellent supervisor. Although he had to drop out due to the redistricting, he will be running in some type of political race in the near future. Whatever it is he will be running for, I can guarantee he would do a wonderful job. He has lectured me on politics many times and is always able to answer any questions of mine whether they are about politics, a question from homework, or because I'm 14 and curious as a monkey. He is extremely intelligent, a wonderful Christian man, and would be the best choice for any race for our county, town, or state.
Thank you for your time.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.