Meet the Perry Council Post 1 and 2 candidates – John Jack James

John Jack James says Perry residents should expect to be heard and well represented with him on council. The District 2 Post 2 candidate intends to bring more transparency to Perry Council through open communication with constituents.  

In the spring, James was part of a concerned group of residents from the Cheshire Place Subdivision that opposed the installation of a 72-unit multi-family development along Macon Road. James spoke out against the apartment complex and worked with the group to present a researched and sound argument to both the City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission. James says the concerns of Cheshire residents seemingly fell on deaf ears, as the council voted in favor of the development without any explanation as to why.

It’s his opinion that he and the other Cheshire residents were owed an explanation from their chosen representatives. He pinpointed this lack of communication as the reason for low civic engagement/attendance at council meetings. James suggests open dialogue would make residents feel like they’re being heard and taken seriously. “I think communication is talking to the people and being transparent as to why something has happened…that’s the kind of communication I think is important.”

Having lived in Perry 44 years, James attended his fair share of council meetings. He’s addressed the council on multiple occasions with concerns about various issues and says every time he brought forth a presentation or argument; he got no real answers. “They don’t respond when you ask a question or present a concern,” said James. Asked about Mayor Randall Walker’s proposed town hall meetings, James said again that residents must feel as though they’re being listened to at the forums if the city wants increased participation.

James says his biggest concern/goal, if elected, would be preserving Perry’s past while protecting its future. In a previous statement, he noted the importance of guarding the city’s historical heritage by following a concise growth plan. He mentioned short-term incentive programs that would attract newcomers to the mature parts of Perry and encourage housing revitalization in those areas. He recommends thinking outside of the box on this subject and used free trash pick-up, lowered property taxes and other persuasions as examples. James said this would bring in new residents and preserve the spaces that represent the true essence of Perry.

He also said he would raise questions about the city’s current growth management and it’s overall effect on the town. James implied that because there were residents of Perry living a great distance from the downtown area that were unaware of/ impartial to their residential status, the current growth Perry’s been experiencing hasn’t been all that beneficial. He said some of these individuals have expressed little desire to live in Perry and felt no closeness to the community. “Is that the way you want Perry to grow?” He said annexing subdivisions far from the downtown area wasn’t necessarily the best approach at managing Perry’s growth; he instead highlighted areas adjacent to the city as superior alternatives.

A longtime business owner, James has worked under many a budget, and says he has experience in identifying bloated budgets. He lists fiscal responsibility as a top priority and says the council should take a close look at the city’s yearly expenditures. He proposed zero-based budgeting, expenditure control, financial planning and more as ways to reduce/control costs and reduce the tax burden on residents.

James was born in Cleveland and raised in Rhode Island. He came to Perry during his career with Kellwood Company. Prior to that, he did a 10-year stint with General Electric as a general foreman. While in Perry, he met and married his wife, Barbara, and then raised his twin daughters who also live in Perry with his two grandchildren. After leaving Kellwood, he owned and operated the Perry Garden Center, a nursery and landscaping company, for 9 years. At 49 years old, James attended Mercer Law School and graduated with a law degree in 1991. He also holds a mechanical engineering degree from Lafayette College. He still operates as a practicing attorney, owning his own law firm, John K. James Law Firm, for the past 27. James is also a Vietnam War veteran. For 2 and half years, he served as an army lieutenant at Fort Riley Kansas and in Vietnam.