NEWS RELEASE

O’KEEFE FOR MAYOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2024

Kinchen “Bubba” O’Keefe announces his candidacy for Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi.

In announcing his candidacy, Mr. O’Keefe decried the city’s current leadership. “Clarksdale is facing a crisis”, Mr. Okeefe said. “We have a murder rate higher than the state capital, Jackson, which many analysts cite as the ‘murder capital of America’.” He goes on, “In fact, it is twenty-five time safer to be in New York City than in Clarksdale. Our leaders have abandoned us.” Our police for is now sixty percent smaller than it was just eight years ago.

But as O’Keefe notes, city leaders have also failed to address problems with the city’s infrastructure – roads, sidewalks, drainage, lighting. Our streets are filled with potholes. Our sidewalks are an invitation to lawsuits. Some of our neighborhoods are continually flooding. And many of our neighborhoods are so dark, criminals have free reign to deal drugs and commit murder. Our schools are struggling. Our economy is barely surviving. Even though Mississippi’s economy is improving ever so slowly, the number of businesses in Clarksdale has substantially declined over the last eight years. Our unemployment rate is nearly double that of the entire state of Mississippi.

Mr. O’Keefe is entering this campaign declaring that “Enough is Enough!”

Mr. O’Keefe brings to his candidacy a successful career in both the public and private sectors. In 1980, he began an urban restoration initiative that expanded housing for Clarksdale residents by turning dilapidated houses into rental properties. Beginning in 1999, at great financial risk, he undertook a number of development projects that took empty or financially failing properties and turned them into the properties that are used today by Cathead, Stone Pony, Hambone, Yazoo Pass, and the Traveler’s Hotel. Bubba was co-founder of Clarksdale’s Juke Joint Festival.

In 2019, Bubba assumed the position of Executive Director for Coahoma County Tourism. His initiatives have put Clarksdale on the map, where tourists come from every state of the United States and from around the world. For twelve years, he served on the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission, guiding Clarksdale development programs. He also serves on the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Board.

Bubba was born and raised in Clarksdale. He has been married to his wife, Melissa, for more than forty years. They have raised four daughters here in Clarksdale.

Bubba’s cry that “Enough is Enough!” is also a declaration that he believes in Clarksdale, believes in the people of Clarksdale, and believes that together we can turn this crisis around. Hope for Clarksdale!

NEWS RELEASE

O’KEEFE FOR MAYOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 23, 2025

Kinchen “Bubba” O’Keefe is holding a “meet and greet” at the Ebony Event Center at 225 Yazoo Ave, Clarksdale MS 38614 at 6:00 PM. Every resident of Clarksdale is invited to come and meet Bubba, to hear what his plans for Clarksdale are, and how we can turn our city around. Light refreshments and drinks will be available.

NEWS RELEASE

O’KEEFE FOR MAYOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 18, 2025

Kinchen “Bubba” O’Keefe will be appearing at the “Meet the Candidates Forum” sponsored by the Coahoma County Democrat Party. All of the candidates running on the Democrat ticket for Mayor and Ward Commissioner have been invited to speak.