City of Meridian

Dr. George M. Thomas

Councilman Ward 1

Council member since July 1985

Professor of Curriculum and Instruction/Counselor

Education at the Meridian branch of Mississippi State University

Mary A. B. Perry

Councilwoman Ward 2

Council member since December 1999

Retired teacher with Meridian Public Schools

Member: St. John Missionary Baptist Church; State Democratic Executive Committee; Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women; JSU Alumni Association; Vice-Chair of local Democratic Party Executive Committee; State and National Teachers Association; NAACP; NBC-LEO; Retired Teachers Association; MATH First; Business & Professional Women's Club; Phi Delta Kappa.

Instructor in the East Mississippi Baptist Association. Volunteers for various social and community organizations.

Barbara Henson

Councilwoman Ward 3

Council member since July 1989

Owner: Barbara Henson's Nursery School, Kindergarten & Swim Gym

Member: Northcrest Baptist Church; President of Mississippi Child Care Providers Association; President of Meridian Child Care Providers Association; President of Semmes Cemetery Association; National Child Care Association; Republican Election Advisory Board

Jesse E. Palmer, Sr.

Bobby R. Smith

Councilman Ward 5, President

Accomplishments while serving on the Meridian City Council:

• Development of 911 Board
• Placement of North Meridian Water Tank – allowing increased water flow to this rapidly growing area of Meridian
• Establishment of a new waste water treatment plant and lines providing sewer support to NAS Meridian – playing a crucial role in the preservation of the Naval Base in Meridian
• Opening of Bonita Lakes Mall – one of the largest economic developments in this area
• Negotiated for multiple new business establishment openings (Super Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, Outback and Red Lobster Restaurants)
• Repairs on Bonita Lakes Dam
• Established City and State Highway Litter Management Crews utilizing city inmates to provide labor (on a volunteer basis)
• Obtained vehicle and materials for the cleanup crews
• Secured $100,000 grant to clean up illegal dump sites within the city
• Development of a co-operative City-County agreement to demolish condemned buildings within the city
• Instrumental in the obtaining of funds leading to the development of a regional rail public safety training facility (key training for approximately 5000 people annually from southeastern United States)
• Improvements of 10th Ave. allowing for safer and quicker access to North Meridian
• Active with revitalization projects for downtown Meridian including the historical African American areas, Front Street with placement of era lighting and renovation of historic building into apartments, Fifth St. condominiums, and addition of Dumont Plaza
• Renovations of Grand Opera House and the Riley Performing Arts Center including construction of a 500-car parking garage
• Development of Union Station Multimodal Transportation Center
• Construction of modern, state-of-the-art Number 1 Fire Station
• Interstate improvements allowing construction of interchange for access to Industrial Park off I-20/59; development of water and sewer lines to the Industrial Park
• $6M bond for city street paving and improvements
• Lobbied for the development of the Southern Arts and Entertainment Center to be developed at Bonita Lakes (Meridian won as construction site over the cities of Vicksburg and Jackson)
• Placement of lighting on Highway 39

Pam McInnis