Mark Coombs would like to bring some of the lessons learned while managing an industry to city government.
“I’ve been in the people management business for 40 years,” said Coombs. “I know how to manage things and I know how to manage people.”
He came to Corinth in 1994 to serve as plant manager for Corinthian Furniture.
After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he began working for Masonite Corp., which later became part of International Paper, in Laurel. He worked in several different roles, including manufacturing superintendent. From there, he came to Corinth.
Coombs said he had been thinking about running for alderman and received some encouragement.
“I feel like there’s some areas in the city that need attention – first the police and fire department – to make sure we are fully funded and they are taken care of,” he said. “I’m not promoting that we should be paying something like an Olive Branch or DeSoto County, but I feel like we need to be more competitive with other cities our size in this area.”
Based on his conversations, he believes the police situation is not a problem of working conditions but one of pay and benefits. He believes eliminating waste can help yield the funds needed to pay the public safety employees higher wages.
“I want to improve the efficiency of the city government without increasing taxes, which I think can be done fairly easy,” said Coombs. “Let’s prioritize the goals, which I think should start with police and fire. Then we can talk about what we can help with outside areas” such as Main Street Corinth and other groups that seek city funding each year.
He would also like to see the city use incentives to motivate street and sewer employees, whether with pay or other rewards.
Coombs would like to see a better connection between the local governments.
“We need more coordination and a better working relationship between the city and the county,” he said. “We shouldn’t be in competition.”
He believes pay for aldermen should be reevaluated. If elected, it is not a role he looks to serve long-term.
“I’m not going to be a career alderman,” Coombs said. “I’m not going to get in there to retire.”
He said he enjoys working around roadblocks and would welcome the challenge of bringing his ideas to city government.
A native of Tippah County, Coombs has served on The Alliance Board of Directors and volunteered many hours with Main Street Corinth.
With his wife, Jackie, he has one daughter. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting.
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