Byram's "Interim" "Government"

Originally posted by James Broadwater at http://www.onlinebyram.com on Sept. 18, 2006.

Byram's "interim government" is neither interim nor is it a government.

The Mississippi Code of 1972, As Amended, says that a mayor and councilmen (or, in this case, aldermen) are to be qualified electors of the city (Mississippi Code, 21-8-21). But since Byram is not a city, then how can it have a city government? The members of the so-called government say that they were elected, but where is there a record of any election, and where is the record of the results of that election? They certainly cannot be found on the official Hinds County website, nor do they appear on the Mississippi Secretary of State's official website, both places where official election results for Hinds County are posted and made available for public viewing. Why didn't Byram's "government" have to run for re-election in 2005, as is required by law? I'm sure that many REAL elected officials would love the chance to avoid elections and just keep their offices. And has Nick Tremonte been sworn in by the Governor of Mississippi, as is required by law of every REAL mayor? Well, I can only say, I can find no record of that, either.

The answer can only be that they are an illegitimate government. And isn't it against the law to pose as an elected official?

You can tell that I'm angry about this imposition of a non-elected, self-appointed, pretend government on all of us. We should also ask ourselves, "Why would they want to call themselves a government when what they actually are is a committee of people who want to re-incorporate Byram?" Each one claims to NOT want to be elected to real office if Byram incorporates. But is that really true? It looks to me like they are positioning themselves to have an advantage should Byram be granted incorporation by Judge Singletary, and should Jackson drop its bid to annex us. I'm not surprised by the behavior of any one of them, except for State Senator Richard White, who should know better.

And what about them calling themselves "interim"? Doesn't the word "interim" mean "in between," as in when a church has an interim pastor, or as when Iraq had an interim government between the regime of Saddam Hussein and the new, elected government? Byram hasn't been an incorporated town since the 1930s. Are we to believe that these people have been serving since then, waiting for Byram to incorporate again?

No, things are going on here that just aren't right. And judging by the way they've treated us at some of their weekly meetings, like the one held in the Trinity Wesleyan Church parking lot not long ago, I say that we should never trust a single one of them with our God-given vote.

Speaking of those weekly meetings, I've attended several of them, and I've been disappointed, and occasionally appalled, by what I've seen. The meetings only last about 20 minutes on average, and the only business that they conduct is related to raising money for the incorporation effort, which only underscores my point that they're not a legitimate government, and that they have no real authority to do anything. At one meeting I attended, "Interim Councilwoman" Amy Douglas showed up late and actually admitted to giving the "interim government's" checkbook to a total stranger to deliver to the meeting ahead of her when she had a flat tire. Good thing he turned out to be an honest person. But it sure doesn't say much in the way of our pretend government's officials taking their responsibilities seriously.

You may want to contact them and ask them exactly some point-blank questions. Some sample questions include: "Why are you calling yourselves elected officials?" "Where are the official election results posted to prove that you were ever actually elected?" And, "Don't you actually want to be elected if and when Byram incorporates?" Their telephone numbers, as published in The Byram Banner, are as follows:

Nick Tremonte, Interim Mayor: 601-371-2578. Interim Aldermen: Kent Alday: 601-372-0279. Amy Douglas: 601-372-3176. Danny Ford: 601-373-9896. Theresa Marble: 601-209-5026. Richard White: 601-373-2827.