Martin and Garrett bid farewell to Board posts
By Randy Bell
The two retiring members of the Clinton Board of Aldermen were allowed to have the last words at their final meeting June 17. Ward 2’s Jim Martin and Alderwoman at Large Ricki Garrett didn’t seek reelection. As the meeting wrapped up, Mayor Phil Fisher called on Martin and Garrett for some farewell comments.
Ricki Garrett
Garrett said it’s been a “great honor” to serve on the Board for the past eight years. “It’s bittersweet, of course, to leave something you really care about.”
After thanking the mayor, her fellow Board members, City employees, department heads and citizens for all of their help and support, Garrett called Clinton “a wonderful city with enormous potential” and indicated confidence in the new leadership, offering Mayor-Elect Will Purdie and the newly elected Board members best wishes for a successful term in office.
“I really encourage the incoming Board, both the existing Board members and the new Board members, to really reach out and get to know the constituents of your ward or the city and really engage with the citizens and find out what their interests and needs are. And I really hope too that the citizens will be engaged with the Board and let the Board know how they feel about the issues and provide the Board with a lot of support and a lot of guidance as they make the decisions that are very important to our city.”
Garrett concluded, “I know it’s going to be a wonderful four years coming up.”
Jim Martin
Martin is retiring after twenty-four years in City government, including thirteen years on the Planning and Zoning Board and eleven years as alderman.
“I love the city of Clinton, and it’s been my privilege to give some of my time and effort back to the city,” Martin said at the meeting.
He noted that sometimes the Board of Aldermen agendas can be rather “dry,” but stressed that important work is being done.
“That’s what makes the city great is that we’ve got good infrastructure, and we take care of things we have [and] we take care of people we have. And, if we do that, then the other things will come.”
As efforts are being made to grow the city, Martin urged the newly-elected leaders not to lose sight of the people who already call Clinton home.
“It’s always nice to see new families move to Clinton,” said Martin. “It’s nice to see new businesses move to Clinton. But taking care of the people and the businesses that we have now should be our top priority.”
Even though he’s leaving the Board, Martin says he’ll “still be around,” continuing with his law practice in Clinton and participating in community activities.
“I’m looking forward to staying involved in the City of Clinton, just in a different role.”
