Interim mayor to Earle residents: Let elected officials work

Interim mayor to Earle residents: Let elected officials work

Malone asks for citizens to back off council, soon- to- be- elected new mayor

news@theeveningtimes.com Outgoing interim Mayor Robert Malone has some advice for the residents of Earle.

No matter who you vote for, let the next mayor do the job.

“I don’t care who you elect,” Malone said. “People need to stay out of the day-to-day operations because they don’t have a clue about what it is.”

Malone, a long-time city councilman who has been serving as mayor since the recall of Carolyn Jones, said residents need to stop nit picking the city council about every small complaint, and that council members, in turn, also need to stop interfering in the mayor’s job.

“It shouldn’t be that way,” Malone said.

“You should be able to do your job without someone harassing you all the time. Every time you turn around, somebody is trying to get you. You get sick of that. We are trying to enhance our town. We need a lot of stuff. But you aren’t helping.”

The last two years have been particularly difficult for the struggling city. Earle has lost population, it’s streets continue to crumble, and its finances have deteriorated.

Discord among the mayor and council seemed to reach an all-time high under Jones’s administration

of the city.

Malone said there is too much complaining and not enough citizen involvement.

“Right now we can’t do our job,” Malone said. “I don’t care who is in here next. You do your job. Let me do mine.”

Malone’s outburst was prompted, in part, after one councilman objected that mayoral candidate Sherman Smith was allowed to use the community center for a political rally.

The building has sat unused for several years and has been a source of contention.

Malone told critics that he made the decision to allow Smith to use the building, which Smith paid to use.

“Being the mayor, you can not wait,” Malone said.

“Sometimes you have to make a decision right then and there. People are waiting on you to provide a service.”

Malone urged the council to read their handbooks about what their job is and what the duties of the mayor are and stick to their job.

“Council, stay out of the day-to-day operations because you are going to mess it up,” Malone said.

“I will tell you because I have been on the inside.”

A runoff election between Judy Wiley and Sherman Smith will be held on April 4.

By Mark Randall