Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

I am Ashley T. Harris, and I am pleased to announce my interest in seeking the office of Mayor for the Town of Richwood, with the goal of confidently obtaining this position to exhibit my leadership skills by building and strengthening the community. This announcement comes as I prepare for the upcoming Municipal Primary election for the Town of Richwood in Ouachita Parish, LA, scheduled for March 2024. I am a mother of four beautiful children and have been a resident of the Town of Richwood for over 25 years. I was born in Monroe, LA, and raised predominantly across the United States and Europe during my father's 28 years of service to the United States Army. This exposure has provided me with insights into different cultures and norms, business and financial practices, proficiency in multiple languages, and the ability to understand different dialects.

Recently, I obtained my Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University and also hold a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I am a proud member of The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., NAACP, National Black MBA Association, and The National Society of Leadership & Success. Additionally, I have obtained leadership certifications and served as a member and volunteer of AmeriCorps Vista and a mentor and instructor for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School Program.

The Town of Richwood, near sacred indigenous grounds, was incorporated on December 31, 1974, by Ms. Verdiace Hampton-Goston, the founder of Richwood. She dedicated herself to improving living conditions in underdeveloped communities economically and socially. However, in almost 50 years, there has been a regression, and change is necessary. The town council has shown a lack of compassion, concern for citizens, redundancy, and a significant lack of order, power, and leadership. Restructuring is vital for positive change and the overall success of the town.

As Mayor, I plan to exercise every municipality's power to perform necessary functions for the management of affairs, not denied by law per the Lawrarson Act. This includes restructuring the municipal organizational chart, developing a unified purpose, mission statement, and a culture that encompasses the required staff positions needed to effectively operate the Town of Richwood.

I am a highly motivated individual with strong analytical and research skills, a visionary, innovative, determined, persistent, and most importantly, selfless with a genuine passion for helping and serving people. I am committed to creating, developing, and implementing a Municipal Development Plan focused on the citizens of Richwood, children, and our future to build a vibrant, unified, and strong business community.

My plan includes developing an initiative to rebrand the town, starting with the website, print, and radio presence mobile, and email communication with citizens and tourists. I will adopt an urban conservation mindset to actively manage and build our town and utilize government funding, grants, and cooperative agreements to connect the 'Heart of Richwood.'

2 Chronicles 14:7(NIV) reads; "Let us build up these towns," he said to Judah, "and put walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So, they built and PROSPERED.

I believe it is time to bring in new faces, new ideas, new energy, progressive thinking, and most importantly, progressive action, to the Town of Richwood. With cooperation from the community, outside programs and resources, government funding, and grants, we can create and ensure an economically viable and sustainable future for our community.

I am confident that my experience, knowledge, wisdom, academic background, qualifications, faith, persistence, and determination for success will prove to be mutually beneficial for the Town of Richwood. I look forward to supporting and representing on behalf of my people.