Gladewater City Council candidates made a public pitch to voters Monday evening, answering questions in front of a packed house at the chamber of commerce.
(From Right) Place 5 incumbent Sonny Anderson and challenger Mark McGinnis
“I feel that Gladewater at this time is on an incline. It’s on its way back up,” said Sonny Anderson, Mayor Pro Tem and Place 5 incumbent. “We’ve had some tough times as a city. We’ve had some downfall, but I feel we’re on the rise.”
Place 5 challenger Mark McGinnis, a 13-year military veteran who moved home in recent years, said he made a promise to himself when he came back to the community: find ways to help.
“I do think Gladewater is going in the right direction, I just don’t think it’s moving fast enough,” he said. “I think we just need new energy on the board, and that’s what I’m coming to bring.”
Place 4 Incumbent Teddy Sorrells
Place 4 Challenger William Blackmon
Place 4 incumbent Teddy Sorrells is seeking a second full-term on the dais at City Hall.
“I work diligently to address our community’s needs, from enhancing public safety to improving our infrastructure and fostering economic growth,” he told the crowd. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved… I think that everybody that’s on our council now is looking out for the betterment of our city. We’ve worked really hard to get where we’re at.”
Sorrells’ challenger in the May 3 election is William Blackmon, a fellow Gladewater native who’s focused on bringing a younger perspective to the council.
“Gladewater is on the path of succeed, and it’d be amazing to be on that path with everyone,” Blackmon said. “I’m for the people. I’m a younger generation — great, new ideas to come forward to the board and hopefully have some great and successful opportunities in this community.”
Place 7 incumbent Kevin Clark could not attend the forum due to coaching a rainout ballgame. Milton Anderson is unchallenged in his bid for outgoing council member Rocky Hawkins’ Place 6 seat but attended Monday for a face to face with his soon-to-be constituents.
Incoming Place 6 Councilman Milton Anderson
“Yes, we’re on the rebound,” Anderson said, but there are plenty of challenges still ahead as City Hall attempts to take on aging infrastructure and other local issues with a limited budget. “I’m really happy to be on the city council as we’re starting to come out of the hole, per se — got nothing but a bright future ahead in Gladewater.”
The annual forum is moderated by the Gladewater Mirror and hosted courtesy of Gladewater Chamber of Commerce. It drew more than 40 audience members, including the candidates family members as well as local voters.
Early voting in the Spring 2025 election begins April 22.
Responding to a question from moderator Jim Bardwell, Mirror publisher, about the city’s water system and roads, Milton Anderson agreed they’re always going to be a hot topic and a top priority, not just in Gladewater.
“I’ve personally drive every road on the map in Gladewater. I’m glad I had a four-wheel drive on a couple of them,” he said, but city personnel are working steadily on repair and replacement. “It’s not going to happen overnight. The city has a budget. There’s always a first, and there’s always a last.”
The city needs to do a better job of communicating and marketing itself, McGinnis insisted.
“I believe in communication. I believe in everybody knowing where we stand. I’m going to make sure everybody in the city that talks to me knows where we stand as a town,” he said. “We need marketing more than ever to bring people in.
“Us as a community have got to get out and support the businesses in our community. We’ve got to use the things that are around us. Radio. Television. Social media.”
Sonny Anderson said he fields plenty of calls from residents about ongoing projects and plans.
“I’m not that much of a talker, I’m more about trying to get things done,” he said, pitching in his truck, lawn mower or his time when someone has a need. “I think that’s a great thing to do, is to help those who cannot help themselves by using our own resources.”
Crediting the current council for their ongoing efforts, Blackmon agreed current codes need to be enforced consistently, i.e. animal control.
“Maybe codes need to be posted more often. Not everyone knows that rules get updated and rules get changed,” he said. “If it is a problem, it needs to be addressed appropriately. We need to make sure that everyone is on the same page.”
Gladewater citizens are pitching in, he added, whether it’s through the local Backpack Program or volunteer efforts out of the Red Rock Community.
“It’s great that we have these people willing to step up and help out. It takes the whole community, though, to help out sometimes,” while a renewed effort to bring in public funds from outside Gladewater could speed efforts.
Sorrells praised specific Gladewater department heads and employees for ensuring the city is consistently tackling the community’s task-list, from code enforcement to animal control to upgrades at local amenities.
“We are working very hard to fix some things,” such as maintenance and upgrades at the Lake Park, Sorrells added. At the same time, city personnel and elected officials are working toward the future. He hopes a new bicycle trail and other amenities will help draw more taxpayers to Gladewater: “When people look at where they’re going to move, there are a few things that are prioritized — where they’re going to work, what their school looks, what the parks are like.
Meanwhile, “There’s a lot of things going on in Gladewater right now as far as economic development is concerned.”
After years outside Gladewater, Milton Anderson says he’s glad to be home and ready to jump in and go to work. That starts with taking care of what the community already has then adding to it.
‘What we’ve got right now is falling down around our ears,” Anderson said. “We’d like to get those things built back up to where they’re presentable, where they’re safe.” Addressing blighted buildings, “Things have gotten a lot, lot better. Still there’s a lot of room for improvement… The process is working. I’m not going to complain too much about that other than I think it goes to slow.
“That said, “We got a lot of worker bees out there, and it’s finally starting to pay some dividends. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”