When Vaiden native Melvin Hawthorne ran for political office more than six months ago, he didn’t set out to make history. But that’s exactly what he’s done.
Elected this June as the mayor of Vaiden in Carroll County, Hawthorne became the first African-American to ever hold that position. But Hawthorne said when he moved back to his hometown, in 2005, it wasn’t his intention to get involved in politics or the inner workings of the town. But at that time, “coming home” for him, was all about family.
“I originally left Vaiden and joined the Air Force,” Hawthorne said. “And then I moved to New York and I retired from A.C. Nielsen where I worked for 20 years as a computer programmer. And when I did return to Vaiden, it was to take care of my mother who was ill at the time.”
Some time later, Hawthorne invested in the town of Vaiden by opening an income tax office, and eventually a strip mall with a barbershop and a flea market. But it was at the prodding of his fellow residents that Hawthorne decided to pursue higher political goals.
“The residents kept twisting my arm to run for office,” he said. “It wasn’t my dream to run for mayor and I have no idea of what they saw in me. But it was a situation where the people felt like I could help them and I couldn’t walk away from that.”
Hawthorne said he continued to ponder over the idea, and at one point, he admits that doubt nearly overcame him. But it was another public servant that helped him decide what needed to be done.
“I was pushing away from the idea,” Hawthorne said. “And then, I met a superintendent and I told him that I was wrestling with this idea of running for mayor. My dilemma was that the constituents wanted me to run, but I didn’t know how I could make a difference or what kind of impact I could make on the town. And he told me to forget about me and think about the impact I could make on a black kid from the community. And when I came back to Vaiden, I threw my hat in the ring for the position.”
Although he had the full support of the community, including an uncle, Lemon Cunningham, that had served on the town board for years, Hawthorne said he still didn’t have a political strategy, and therefore didn’t know what he could offer his fellow residents.
“I told them that I was not a politician,” Hawthorne recalls. “So the only thing I could offer them was communication. I couldn’t promise them anything until I understood what the status of the city was. I didn’t even promise jobs. But what I did promise was feedback, communication from me to them on what was happening within the city.”
It was that kind of humility and honesty that won Hawthorne the election. And true to his word, one of his first accomplishments as mayor, was the creation of a newsletter informing the community of what was going on.
And now that Hawthorne has become more familiar with what the town needs to further progress, he’s set more defined long term goals for himself, and the town, including pot hole repairs and attracting more Interstate revenue since Vaiden literally sits on top of Interstate 55.
“People leaving Memphis going to Jackson don’t really stop here anymore,” he said. “I’m trying to bring Vaiden up to speed by making it a training center for one. I’d like to bring DUI classes here to Vaiden, and an EWIN access point. We could set those training programs up at city hall, and that would boost our sales tax by those same people eating at Mr. T’s Sandwich Shoppe and buying gas at our local stations. I would like to make Vaiden a training base for those type of functions.”
Hawthorne has already started his educational based goals by initiating regular driver’s education classes for the residents. And he’s working to bring computer labs to the town so residents can learn “at home,” rather than traveling to Holmes Community College (HCC).
Hawthorne also hopes to repave all the city streets, and bring more artistic and entertainment venues to the town.
“The old Vaiden High School auditorium has been renovated and we’re having concerts there for the community,” Hawthorne said. “We’re also talking with Mallory Clinic who wants to partner with us for some kind of activity center.”
Hawthorne is also working with the Census Bureau for 2010 in an effort to bring more federal dollars to the town of Vaiden.
So, nearly six months into his position, Vaiden’s first black mayor says his constituents seem pleased with the decision’s he’s made thus far, but again he admits, he has a long way to go.
“So far, they think I’m doing a good job,” Hawthorne said, “based on what they’ve seen. And I’m still trying to accomplish small things that won’t bust the budget, until we get more federal funding because the people really have confidence in me. So I’m not really concerned with making history, I’m more concerned with making a difference.”
Be the first to comment