The state and soundness of our city, the future of Augusta, economic and business development and the future plans – were all part of the menu when I met with the mayor this weekend. Surprisingly no phone calls, no interruptions and, most of all, no questions were off limits. As much as I would like to give you quotes – I will do the best I can with that. The most important thing is for you to understand the spirit of the conversation.
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My First question: Why, as mayor of this city prior to today, have you refused to speak with The Augusta Press. I stated that I read where they had reached out to you, and you canceled the meetings. He said: “I’m speaking with The Augusta Press now,” and we both kind of chuckled. Everyone reading this already knows the mayor, and they also know the mayor has a lot of extra words. In his oral dissertation of sorts, he basically stated – there is no need to speak with “them.” He has basically concluded that, for the most part, “The Press” has made up its mind, and the paper’s leaders will continue to put out stories that are no more than smoking guns. I believe he even use the term “gas lighting.” Be that as it may, the mayor has denounced the articles, columns or pieces about him as no more than rubbish.
Before I could ask him another question about his enduring love for our paper, he asked me how things at my church were. We went into deep discussion about religion and people returning to places of worship. I must admit the mayor was very helpful when I first became aware that I may be getting a pastoral position. He gave me advice about things to look for, things to ask about and he always assured me he would be praying for me. There was always a level of comfort based on that – which was probably the reason he was not hesitant at all about meeting.
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Sorry about the digression, but I am a pastor. I thought I would remind you of that. I just thought it would allow a level of clarity to the overall conversation. Now back to the interview. The interesting stuff everyone is waiting to know about. My dad (Mr. Henry Ingram) would say, “Mike, there was a show that used to come on called ‘Dragnet,’ and the detective on there would say – ‘Just the facts.'” So basically, he would say – get on to it now. I was just trying to have my Sylvia Cooper moment.
Overall, the mayor feels the city is in great shape. He has been mayor in what many considered the hardest times in recent memory. A pandemic that took a significant number of lives, a potential and real recession that could have crushed our local economy and an election that was the most heated and divisive in years. The mayor was very proud of the work that locals did in ensuring Richmond County stayed a Democratic stronghold. However, I got a sense that the judicial breakup was not what he expected. All in all, I gathered that he feels the city is in great shape and ready to reopen soon, but with some levels of precautions.
When I asked about his potential successor, his quick response was, “As I have stated before, can’t but one person sit in this seat at a time, and as of right now it is mine.” He also was very confident in the fact that anyone and everyone running should be happy that he could not run for another term. I went through the slew of potential candidates who have thrown their names in or that I heard about. Steven, Sean, Dennis, Marion, Deke, Brad to name a few, and he kindly reminded me again: only one person can sit in the seat at a time.
So, on to what’s next for you, Mr. Mayor. He gave me that wink and basically told me that we have to wait and see. I went into the possibility of running for governor or something on the state level, which I knew had been the talk. I can recount the conversations he and I have had about this very topic on different occasions.
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He assured me that a lot is on the table and this topic was still in very heavy consideration and when the time was right, he would let me know. I asked about the potential for Stacey Abrams running, which I had heard as recently as this past week…. that was very much still in the air; no definite answers whether she would or wouldn’t run. He did let me know with a very stern voice that he was sure that Vernon Jones would not be the Republican nominee. Blessings for that to be TRUE.
As our conversation was ending, one thing that I could tell really excited him was the work that was happening with University Hospital. The upcoming merger with Piedmont, and the potential for that being a billion-dollar project over the next 10 years. He was very proud of the part he played in that happening and the potential for Augusta to become an even larger hub for medical care.
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This is when the conversation went into the fire department and how there was some misinformation printed. I assured him that it was not intentional and that the paper reached out to the parties involved to resolve the issue. I also stated that I stood behind everything I ever said and that I work very hard to make sure that I provide the community with a good and accurate read every week. Like it or not – there is something to be said when people read what you say. More importantly – when they read it and may off a different look at things. We are here to inform.
Now to just figure out why Commissioner Bobby Williams told some commissioners they need to keep their mouth closed. Maybe that can be my column for next week. There I go again telling y’all about a future article. Oops.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com.
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