It came as a shock, but not a total surprise, when I found out Monday morning that Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack was not seeking a second term in office. His health has been a topic of concern for a couple of years now.

Mayor Mack was one of the first people to welcome me to this community. Former LL-C publisher Crystal Dupre` and myself attended an event at Nora Davis Elementary School to accept an award on behalf of the newspaper. Afterwards, I was introduced to Mayor Mack. We had a very good conversation and I walked away very impressed by how welcoming he was to the new “newspaper man” in town.

Some may not agree with his policies or politics, but there is no denying that Mayor Mack’s legacy will be a tough one to follow for who ever takes his place. The first African American mayor in Laurel, just months after taking office he was faced with one of — if not the largest — natural disaster to hit this community when Hurricane Katrina struck. I was in Pearl River County covering the recovery after the storm, but from all accounts, Mayor Mack was instrumental in the recovery effort in the days and weeks following the hurricane.

Since that time, I have seen this city and community come together to pass a school bond issue that many felt would never be accomplished and I am not alone in my assertion that Mayor Mack was critical in its passage.

There’s no denying Laurel has several issues it must face in the weeks, months and years ahead that the next mayor must confront. I hope that person can do it with the same class Mayor Melvin Mack displayed.

I personally would like to wish Mayor Mack all the best as he recovers physically and thank him for his years of service to our community.

— Rob Sigler

Editor