Lagniappe Mobile Blog

In this issue’s column, I tackle the apparent botched attempt by School Board President Fleet Belle to run a game on his opponent in the upcoming runoff election. It looks a lot like Fleet and his campaign engaged an elderly woman to file some complaints against Levon Manzie, and then possibly tried to get the school board’s attorneys involved, too boot.

Frankly, Belle just doesn’t seem to bring much to the table. With his tax problems, past use of the office to get family members sweet deals and poor judgment displayed while in office, Belle should be bounced.

I’ve already heard some blowback about this latest column from some saying it’s unfair, but it seems to me if you’re an elected officials, you ought to be willing to answer some tough questions from time to time. You also ought to be held to a higher standard, as you’re dealing with the public’s money.

In watching Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean for the past several weeks, it seems obvious to me he’s been trying to dangle the potential for fixing people’s muddy and potholed private roads with public funds, even though he knows he can’t do it. He’s been recorded saying as much twice, and during an interview with a news reporter, admitted it’s something he says to people because he doesn’t want to tell them no.

As for School Board President Fleet Belle, the man has had many federal tax liens, on himself and his church, not to mention other judgments against him and his church. It’s hard to understand why someone who can’t manage his own checkbook should be in charge of a budget that’s nearly three-quarters of a billion buckaroos.