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Mike Tonos 5/25/09
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The candidates
Shelia Nabors, D
* CONTACT: (662) 680-9331 or nabors4citycouncil@yahoo.com
* DOB: 8-26-66
* FAMILY: Married, three children
* SCHOOL: Tupelo High School, associate degree in child development from Itawamba Community College, bachelor degree in social work University North Alabama
* WORK: License Social Worker with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners, Certified Parent Educator, Abstinence, and Healthy Marriage Educator
* CHURCH: Mount Sinai Baptist Church
* OTHER EXPERIENCE: Founder of For Kid's Sake, Lee County Jail Ministry volunteer, and Outreach Coordinator at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, and a former Sunday School teacher
Fred Pitts, R
* CONTACT: fred@fredfortupelo.com or www.fredfortupelo.com
* DOB: 12-13-42
* FAMILY: Married, two children
* SCHOOL: Mississippi College
* WORK: Owner, SafeStore of Tupelo
* CHURCH: Calvary Baptist Church
* OTHER EXPERIENCE: Community Development Foundation member, former Lee County Election commissioner, past president of the United Safeguard Distributor organization, past president of the Tupelo Kiwanis Club and past Kiwanis lieutenant governor, deacon and director of church-wide Sunday school at Calvary Baptist Church and served in the Mississippi Army National Guard
HED: Either way, Ward 2 will have a new council member
* Fred Pitts and Shelia Nabors will compete for the central Tupelo district.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series on the Tupelo City Council races. Wednesday's installment looks at Ward 3.
By Emily Le Coz
Daily Journal
TUPELO - After the ouster of incumbent Thomas Bonds in the Republican primary, Ward 2's City Council seat will now go to one of two newcomers.
Democrat Shelia Nabors and Republican Fred Pitts face off in the June 2 general election.
Nabors is a licensed social worker with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners, as well as a certified educator at the Family Resource Center of Northeast Mississippi. She said her background can help build unity and resolve conflict on the City Council.
"My heart is burdened by the division in our city," Nabors, 42, said in a previous interview. "I truly believe my reason for being here is to bring people together."
Although she has no political experience, Nabors has been active in the community through ministry outreach programs. If elected, she said she'll work to make city government more transparent, strive to promote neighborhoods and help implement the municipality's new comprehensive plan.
Her opponent, too, has been active in the community through his church and the Kiwanis Club. Pitts also once held political office when he served as election commissioner from 1976 to 1980.
The owner of Safestore of Tupelo and previous owner of Safeguard of Mississippi, Pitts said he's ready to immerse himself in municipal government and be a liaison between his ward and City Hall.
If elected, Pitts said he'll collaborate with the mayor and council, make sure city codes are relevant and enforced fairly to all residents, and help Tupelo attract and maintain new businesses.
"Tupelo has so much to be proud of, and we're not showing it as much as we could," said Pitts, 65, in a previous interview. "We need to work together and present a united front."
Ward 2 is located in central Tupelo and includes Willis Heights, Wilemon Acres, Joyner and the South Thomas Street areas. Landmarks include the Civil War Monument, City Park, the Link Centre and the Wal-Mart shopping district on West Main Street.
Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com.