Community Heroes Series
From the March 2005 issue of Alabama Living magazine

Interview by Kay Marshall

KM for TEC: What are your goals for 2005?

Harper: “My main goal is to bring retail business into this area. We’re working hard to bring in additional retail business so our people won’t have to spend their money in Tupelo, Mississippi, or other cities outside of our county. In fact, one of our big pushes is to have retail outlets in our county.

Another important goal that we have is to clean up our city. This includes all abandoned houses, junky yards, junked cars, and anything that is an unsightly bother to the people in our neighborhoods.”

KM for TEC: What goals do you have for Marion County?

Harper: “For Marion County, we hope... and I say we hope because I’m looking at this as a team effort...to get a new industry or plant in the county. If a plant is established in any of these towns, our people and their people will be working in that facility. Of course, I was elected to work for Hamilton, but if I can help any other community in this county, then I certainly will. I fully believe that the other mayors feel the same as I do. My number one priority is Hamilton, but if we can collectively help each other, then I fully believe that we can and should do that.”

KM for TEC: What, in your opinion, is one of the obstacles that prohibits our area communities from working together towards a common goal?

Harper: “I think that our obstacle is a life-long idea that has been embedded in the minds of some people... probably due to sporting activities...that we must always compete with one another. But folks, this is not a sporting event, it is the livelihood of our people that we’re trying to salvage. We don’t need to be jealous and envious of our neighboring towns and cities. We need to be concerned with what we can do to make everything work better for the common goal, because we’re all in this together.
We’re sitting here with NTN Bower in Hamilton, 3M in Guin, Continental Conveyor in Winfield, and there is Hamilton people working Guin, and Winfield, and Guin and Winfield people working in Hamilton. That’s the way it’s got to be- that’s the way it SHOULD be! If a major auto industry came into Marion County tomorrow, they’d have to hire people from all over this county, not just one city.”

KM for TEC: What would be your solution for pulling the communities together to work towards the task of job creation?

Harper: “We need to promote Marion County as a whole. Again, I feel we have a group of mayors in this county that all see the vision that I’m talking about. None of us needs to fight about where industry comes, or compete with one another over where it resides... because all of our people will be able to work. Also, the county commission needs to be involved in this as well. I feel like it lies in the Mayor’s and the County Commissioners lap to pull our people together."

KM for TEC: What is Hamilton's greatest asset?

Harper: “I would say that the greatest asset we have is our workforce and our people. Also, our proximity is wonderful.. for example we’re sitting in the center of the automobile industry. The Nissan factory is in Ackerman, MS, Mercedes is in Vance, AL, Honda is in Talledega, and Toyota Engine and Navistar - a division of International Trucks, is in Huntsville. We’re sitting right in the center. We could be a supplier, for example. ”

KM for TEC: Any additional comments for our readers?

Harper: “I would like for the readers, and the people of Hamilton, to know that this mayor and council is going to work our hearts our for this county, and for this city. We are committed to doing a great job. We have the vision and commitment to make something happen.
Also, I’d like to say that I have five superb council people. I have people from very diverse backgrounds. I'm God blessed to have these people. They are very cooperative. We’re all on the same page, and we all have the same vision. I have their support, I have their devotion, and we are a team. There are some people who would like to stop prosperity in this town, but that’s not going to happen. I have a sign in my office that sums up my feelings. It reads ‘Do something. Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”

Kay Marshall is the Internet Projects Coordinator and Editor for TEC

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