In the only contested race for the Longview City Council this year, two lifelong city residents are pitted in an election that actually has the student challenging the teacher.
Incumbent District 3 Council member Sidney Bell Willis, who retired after a 45-year career as a teacher, once instructed the Rev. Harvel Davis in music classes. Now, Davis is seeking the seat Willis has held since 2002.
Davis, co-owner of Bel's Diner in Longview and the pastor at a rural Rusk County church, said he has no reason to criticize the incumbent, but simply feels he can bring a "youth and energy ... and a younger mind" to the city council.
He said his key interest is in representing his district and working for the community that is his hometown. Much like Willis when she first ran six years ago, Davis said he is concerned about the condition of streets in District 3 and wants to work on drawing more jobs and businesses to the district.
Willis says she wants to continue in her role as a voice for District 3, standing up for its interests when it comes to allotting city resources and standing up for its residents when they have a particular issue that needs resolution.
As she seeks her third and final term on the council (the city charter now limits council members to three terms in office), Willis said she still wants to work on drainage concerns in her district, particularly in areas where children and families live. She cited as one of her concerns an area where school children face flooded ditches and possibly streets as they walk to and from Jodie McClure Elementary.
Willis said that although the city has made progress on drainage and flooding, there are still problems in her district and she wants to make sure city officials continue to clean out creeks and ditches where storm waters are often held back by trash and brush.
One of the issues that has kept Willis busy and very visible during her second term in office has been crime in her district. She has worked closely with police officials and key city executives in efforts to focus on the uptick in violent crimes experienced in the past two or three years.
In short, we believe that Willis, in her quiet way, has been an effective voice for District 3. She has learned the ropes of city government and local politics and knows how to make herself heard. Several years ago, the veteran councilwoman was sidelined and then slowed for several months due to major lung surgery. More recently, however, she has resumed her busy schedule representing her community and we believe that she stands more prepared than Davis to be returned to that position this election.
If the voters in District 3 agree and return Willis to the Council for a final three-year term, we hope that Davis will use that time to get more involved in city affairs and prepare himself to run the next time the seat is up for election. Candidates whose sincere goal is to represent and to serve their community are important and Davis, like many before him, might find that a second candidacy is the ticket to a council seat.
