David West makes case to voters for re-election as Leakesville mayor
David West
Special to the Herald
As someone raised right here in Leakesville, off Annex Road, this town isn’t just where I live, it’s a part of who I am. The values of our community, the spirit of our people – these are things I’ve known my whole life.
My commitment to service extends beyond our town lines. After graduating, I proudly served seven years in the Army, including deployments overseas where I learned the importance of teamwork and dedication to a mission. Upon returning home, I continued that service in the National Guard. For ten years, I also had the rewarding experience of coaching our local Dixie Youth Baseball. Guiding those young athletes, instilling in them the values of sportsmanship and perseverance, was a privilege.
For nearly five decades, I have lived and worked in Leakesville. This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our small businesses and the hard work that drives our community. Building on that foundation, I stepped into public service, first as Alderman for four years, and then as your Mayor for the past four years.
Together with the Board, we’ve navigated some significant hurdles, particularly the complexities of the post-pandemic era. I’m proud that we’ve been able to do so while being mindful of your wallets. We made tough decisions, but we did it without raising your taxes, implementing only necessary adjustments to water and sewer fees to ensure the long-term health and functionality of these vital services.
A major priority has been investing in Leakesville’s future. That’s why I’ve been actively pursuing grants to improve our infrastructure – our roads, our utilities – and to enhance our recreational spaces for our families.
My team and I are committed to looking ahead, anticipating challenges, and finding proactive solutions. It’s gratifying to see that our approach has resonated, with other towns even looking to Leakesville as an example. Transparency and collaboration are key to our efforts. We’ve established monthly workshops to provide a direct line of communication between the Aldermen and the public, fostering open dialogue about the issues we face. To further enhance accessibility, we’ve also begun live-streaming our Board meetings on Facebook and are exploring the development of a podcast to keep everyone informed and engaged.
I believe in being upfront and honest with you. If I make a mistake, I’ll own it. And I won’t shy away from making the difficult decisions necessary for our town’s progress. Whether I’m in a suit at a meeting or working on a car or truck body, my focus remains on serving Leakesville. While the job of Mayor is classified as part-time, I dedicate myself to it fully.
Working alongside our Aldermen, we’ve made significant strides in connecting Leakesville with our state and federal representatives. While the recent improvements to Highway 57 and 63 are the result of many years of effort, I can assure you that we’ve been persistent in making sure Leakesville’s voice is heard and that we’re no longer overlooked. This means making the trips to Jackson, Hattiesburg, the Coast – wherever I need to be to engage directly with decision-makers and advocate for our community.
David West
