DeSoto County Democrats made history in Tuesday’s municipal general elections. A record of 15 Democratic contenders ran for offices in the county’s five municipalities. Three won alderman seats, becoming the first African-American aldermen in Walls and Horn Lake.
Lashonda Johnson won the alderman seat for Horn Lake’s ward 5.
“This is a new venture and it’s time for a change.” Johnson refers to herself as a down to earth people person.
“I’m used to being known as somebody looking through rose-colored glasses, but if you never look for the good in something, then you always see the bad.”
Johnson is the first African-American woman to be elected a Horn Lake alderman. She ran four years ago, but this time, she was in it to win it.
“I think I did communicate with a lot more people. Touch base with a lot of people, and just really, just got to know a lot more about my city, and about the people, and just made a human connection, relationships,” says Johnson.
“What you’re gonna see now is people saying, ‘hey change can happen and it can happen here in DeSoto County. Positive change’,” says Harold Harris, president of the DeSoto County Democratic party.
Johnson has been a teacher for DeSoto County Schools for 17 years. She has a passion for people. It’s that passion, she says, that pushed her into politics.
“I am a community person, so stop me and say hi. I’m here for you guys. I’m here for the community. I love the kids. Love my babies. And I’m here to work,” says Johnson.
Two Walls aldermen are also making history as the first African-American men to ever run and win alderman seats there.
“I knew that we could do it. I wasn’t in it to lose. I’m homegrown Walls,” says Walls Alderman-Elect Calvin Farmer.
“You don’t get in these races to lose so I felt optimistic from day one. I knew we could do it,” says Walls Alderman-Elect Leslie Burl McLemore.
They were the first to run and the first to win. Walls aldermen Leslie Burl McLemore and Curtis Farmer were the first African American men to ever run for alderman seats in Walls and win. They’re not sure why they are the first.
“The town is actually 60% African American,” says McLemore.
“It’s not about a one person or another person or who’s in office. It’s what we’re doing while we’re in the office,” says Harris.
The new aldermen believe Walls has been stuck in a rut for years. And it’s past time for change.
“Everything is still the same. There’s nothing to do. Nothing educational for the kids to do, so we want to change that,” says Farmer.
McLemore and Farmer agree that Walls has a ways to go, and they have a plan.
“We need to attract businesses to the town. We need to provide some facilities for young people. We don’t have any recreational facilities,” says McLemore.
“We could get some community centers where they could play basketball. It’ll be great,” says Farmer.
