McNeal to try again for mayor's post

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Former city councilman Joe McNeal will try one more time to become mayor of Mountain Home.

McNeal will challenge incumbent Dave Jett, who has indicated he will seek re-election, this fall.

McNeal first ran for mayor against Jett's predecessor, the hugely popular Don Etter. After Etter retired from public life McNeal ran again and he and Jett wound up facing each other in a run-off election decided by a razor-slim margin in Jett's favor.

McNeal, one of the leaders of the local African-American community not only in MountainHome but throughout the state, noted his extensive experience in government at the local, state and even the national level, where he represents Idaho on several national boards.

"I think I can do a great job as mayor of Mountain Home," he said. "I live here, I work with the people here.

"I'm a people person. I think I communicate well with people," he said, indicating he hoped to make city hall more "user friendly" for citizens.

"Communication is a two-way street," he said. "You have to listen, and I think I'm a great listener.

"I want to be the people's mayor."

He noted that his learning curve for the job would be less than normal because of his experience as a two-term councilman for the city. "I understand the relationship between the council and the mayor and how it works -- or should work."

He also pointed out that some of the issues he faced as a councilman are now returning. McNeal said that he was "on the ground floor" when the city's comprehensive growth development plan was first created, and that plan is now coming up for its annual 10-year review, again.

He also said he felt he could help improve the local economy as mayor, an issue he feels should have the highest priority.

"The big challenge is in our business community. You look downtown at the places that have closed and it's pretty obvious the way we've been going is not the way to go. There has to be another way and I'm willing to seek another way to do it."

He said maximizing the efficiency of local government, and listening to local business, could help turn the local economic situation around.

City elections have rarely had major issues on which to focus, but this year McNeal sees the city re-addressing effort and the proposed curbside recycling program (and the fee increase that goes with it), as issues that need to be addressed.

McNeal refused to offer any direct criticism of Mayor Jett, saying simply that the incumbent "must run on his record." But, he said he felt that the city had not done a good job trying to sell the re-addressing or recycling programs to the public.

In terms of the re-addressing project, McNeal noted that "there's a comfort zone. For some people, changing their address is like making a move, and that can be traumatic to people.

"This was first raised when I was on the council. The reasons for and against it are still there, and there are legitimate arguments on both sides. But I think it will take some leadership and compromise to get it done so people don't feel like it is being forced on them."

He said the biggest problem was the city didn't seem to be listening to citizens. "They want to be heard, sometimes they just want to vent, but it is important that you take a plan like this to the people, make sure they understand what you're proposing, and then make the necessary changes based on what you hear from them.

"I don't think the city has done a good job of selling it, but that's part of (the mayor's) job, making people comfortable with it.

"It's like recycling. They haven't sold it. But they're pushing ahead with it.

"Based on the phone calls I've been receiving, only about 10 percent of the people want recycling.

"There are good reasons for recycling, but what type do we want?

"The way they send out notices it's like the city doesn't already have a (voluntary) recycling program."

McNeal stressed the need for two-way communication between city hall and the citizens.

"One thing I find offensive is that once some people get elected they don't feel a need to go back to the citizens and get their input, to find out how they really feel and what they want.

"People need to feel like they're being heard, and I think I can do that.

"A lot of times, you can learn a lot from people that complain. It tells you your ideas are not supreme."

McNeal said he was announcing earlier than normal because "some people have been concerned about my health, which is fine," and because he hopes to discourage some other candidates from challenging Jett, as well. The run-off election in which he lost to Jett "was expensive for the voters and dragged things out too long. If we don't have to do that again, it would be good for everyone."

McNeal said he would have a web site up by next month that would allow people to ask him questions, offer ideas, and to find out where he stands. He noted that his campaign committee will be forming soon and anyone who would like to serve on the committee should contact him at 587-3227.

McNeal was born Nov. 4, 1936 in Ossining, N.Y. He was educated in Schenectady, New York and graduated for Nott Terrace High School.

He came to Mountain Home AFB with the United States Air Force in August 1975. A Vietnam veteran, he was honorably retired as a Senior NCO after 26 years of service and elected to stay in Mountain Home.

He attended college studying business management, physiology, and rehabilitation practices of persons with retardation. McNeal is a graduate of the school of military principles, AFC NCO Academy, Technical Instructor School, Traffic Management, Air Trans- portation School and the Senior NCO Academy

After the Air Force Joe and his wife of 44 years, Mildred, owned and operated "Joe-B-Q world famous restaurant." After the restaurant he was the executive director of High Reaches Employment and Training, Inc. He was instrumental in putting together a merger of High Reaches and The ARC, a national organization, serving people with mental or physical disability in Idaho. He current serves as the Director of Community Affairs for the ARC in Boise.

In 1987 Joe was the first Black American to be elected to the Mountain Home City Council and re-elected in 1991. He is also the first Black American to serve in the Idaho State Senate and House of Representative. His first legislative act was to cast a veto on HB47 to eliminate a double taxation standard in sales tax transfers.

Joe was elected President of the Boise, Ada/Elmore Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was re-elected in 1999.

In April 1997, Joe was appointed by then Gov. Phillip E. Batt to serve on the Governors Affordable Housing Advisory Task Force to develop an affordable housing policy for the state Idaho.

In 1990 Joe was appointed as Idaho's coordinator for the National Juneteenth Foundation. In 2001 he wrote the bill that was presented to the Idaho State Senate and House of Representative. Senate current resolution of SRC 101 was passed, making Idaho the 5th state in the nation to recognize Juneteenth Day as a state holiday.

He has served on the board of the Treasure Valley Red Cross, Idaho State Black History Museum, and Blacks in Government. He also is a member of the Military Affairs Committee, Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post #26, and is the advisor and a charter member of The Mountain Home Community Black History Committee.

He also is the founder of the Zem Zem Shrine Club and King Solomon Royal Arch Chapter #12 (PHA). He is a Past Master, Past Potentate, Past High Priest and a 33 degree Mason, Prince Hall Affiliated.

On August 17, 1998 Joe was inducted into the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South American and Its Jurisdiction, Inc. Legion of Honor at the Imperial Council session held in New Orleans, La., by the Imperial Potentate Ivory Buck for his many years of "unselfish, devoted services, and his outstanding contribution to promote and expanding Shrine programs."