Candidate profile: Johnny Butler

He is particularly proud that his commitment to serving earned him The Alliance’s prestigious Jack Hora Award for outstanding service in 2020.

If elected, he plans to devote his time to the task of serving the city as an alderman.

“I promise to be a full-time alderman,” said Butler, who wants to make Corinth the place to be.

Butler said he wants to explore how to address the pay scale for the city’s police and fire personnel without raising taxes. He believes that might involve grants, cutting back on spending and taking a look at how other cities are funding payroll for public safety employees.

Those who put their lives on the line need better pay, he said, but he also believes others also need a boost.

“I also want to see the guys at the street department that do a job that 99 percent of the people in Corinth wouldn’t do – I don’t want to leave them out,” he said.

As for street paving, Butler said he would immediately do an assessment of what has been paved and what needs paving in his ward and put forth a plan.

“We all know there are streets in every ward that need some attention,” he said.

As a father of four children, Butler said he shares people’s concerns about school safety.

“I look forward to working closely with the superintendent and the board and the principals at all of the schools and make those the safest possible place for our kids to go,” he said. “I want parents to feel comfortable when they drop their kid off to school.”

He hopes to work for growth that will help make it possible for his children and others to get a good job here, he said.

Butler also wants to continue the city’s work with beautification and cleaning up dilapidated properties. He said maintaining a balanced budget with no tax increases will be a priority.

A 1991 Corinth High School graduate and a Northeast Mississippi Community College graduate, Butler was working at his family’s lumber company when a friend, Lucky Briggs, told him he should consider becoming a fireman. Butler took the advice and joined Corinth F.D. at the youngest age possible – 21.

While attending a fire academy class several years ago, Butler met a constable from another county who sparked his interest in becoming a constable. While the position of constable is often associated with serving papers, Butler liked how the job allowed him to help people in the county and in the city.

Butler’s four children are Bailey, Ethan, Hudson and Audree. He is enjoying doing some camping now that he has a little more time on his hands.