Little Rock, Arkansas – Representative Vivian Flowers of Arkansas declared on Monday that she will be leaving the state legislature to compete for Pine Bluff mayor.
Flowers, a Democrat who has lived in Pine Bluff her entire life, said she has consistently represented the city’s residents in the legislature by speaking out on matters like voting rights, healthcare, education, criminal and social justice, and the growth of historical tourism.
My public service background didn’t begin at the Clinton School; it is rooted in Pine Bluff, my birthplace and my home,” Flowers said in a news release announcing her candidacy for mayor. “I love Pine Bluff and was proud to serve on the Pine Bluff Historic District Commission for many years, where I learned so much about why our historic structures and our local history are so integrally tied to development, to housing, and to tourism.”
Apart from championing equitable housing, education, health, and historic preservation policies for the southeast Arkansas region, Flowers said her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives has been marked by her commitment to an open and responsible government.
I have worked hard to really serve the people of Pine Bluff as a state legislator, and I will keep working the same way as mayor by continuing to be accessible and listen to the people, by working with the business community to streamline red tape and optimize customer service throughout our city departments, to seek out and reward dedicated city workers from the bottom up, and by seeking the most efficient solutions to our challenges,” she said.
Samuel Glover, the former head of the city’s parks and recreation department, declared his candidacy the day before Flowers made his declaration.
We must look to the future with vision during this critical time,” Glover said while announcing his bid on Facebook. “The future is shaped by those who boldly believe in its importance. There is a hope that we can never be ashamed of, for it will not disappoint.”
The first female African-American mayor of Pine Bluff, Shirley Washington, announced her candidacy for reelection on Monday. In 2016, she was initially elected. Regarding the choice to seek a third term, Washington issued out a statement.
“Seven years ago, I faced a choice. As a person of faith, an educator, and a lifelong citizen of Pine Bluff, I saw our community heading down the wrong path. Main Street was blocked by 2 fallen buildings. The futures of the young people I worked with in Pine Bluff schools felt uncertain. And our community was more divided than ever. Because of my sincere beliefs in our community, I decided to do something I had never done before-run for public office.
I thought that we still had the best days in Pine Bluff. I had faith in Pine Bluff residents and our boundless unrealized potential. I thought that united, we are stronger as one Pine Bluff.
Seven years later, as Mayor of Pine Bluff, my conviction has only grown stronger because of this community’s bravery, faith, and resiliency. Never before have I felt more optimistic about Pine Bluff’s future than I do now.
Where highways were obstructed by the debris of collapsed buildings, a 21st-century library and learning center stands. We remodeled the Pine Bluff community center, opened the Aquatics Center, and increased summer youth employment in areas where youth options were lacking. In the midst of conflict and division, we have responded by forming alliances to give back to our neighborhood and strive toward a Pine Bluff where nobody is left behind.
Progress does not always come in a straight line. It can be messy. It can be contentious. It can create challenges that make us lose hope. Hebrews 10:38 says, ” Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Pine Bluff, we cannot lose faith in each other or in our community. We cannot turn back now after we have come so far and when so much is at stake.
After much prayer and reflection, today I filed for re-election as Mayor because we have so much more work to do.”