Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
In June, on a Monday evening, Anderson Land commenced the Jasper City Council meeting by leading a prayer and offering a recurring reminder that would soon become a well-known refrain. Land stated, as if he possessed the power to bring about good behavior, “Council meetings shall be conducted in a professional and orderly manner. Both council members and audience participants are expected to refrain from any disruptive outbursts.”
Despite the 69-year-old Land’s advice, the council members disregarded it for the next 35 minutes, frequently interrupting each other and neglecting the meeting regulations. Land, who assumed the position of mayor in May for the 7,400-strong community in East Texas, became progressively more impatient and irritable. He informed the council, consisting of five members, that they must only speak when summoned. Occasionally, he abruptly interrupted council members in the middle of their sentences.
Rodney Norsworthy, a local pastor and longtime resident of Jasper, compared the meeting to a “circus” and declared his decision to no longer attend such gatherings from the audience.
He stated, “I refuse to return for such foolishness.”
Mamie Horn Aplon, the daughter of R.C. Horn, Jasper’s inaugural Black mayor, expressed her incredulity by shaking her head.
“This is embarrassing,” she said.
In a low-turnout election, Land, a pragmatic real estate agent with deep roots in Jasper, won the mayoral race by a significant margin of 30 percentage points. His campaign focused on delivering lower utility rates for customers, fostering transparency within local government, and revitalizing the job market in town. This resonated with the voters, propelling him to victory and unseating the incumbent Randy Sayers.
Four months into his term, Land finds himself confronted with considerable animosity from council members who hold conflicting views on how to allocate the city’s constrained budget. Land’s priority lies in investing in infrastructure enhancements and providing rebates on customers’ utility bills, while others advocate for introducing entertainment options for the youth. They argue that Land’s actions have hindered the execution of their plans.
37-year-old Rashad Lewis, an at-large council member known for his frequent disagreements with Land, expressed, “Land is the one who opposes the idea of constructing a park and even a splash pad.”
Land has developed a reputation for overseeing unproductive meetings characterized by constant arguments. This unfortunate circumstance hampers the town’s ongoing efforts to redefine itself following a heinous murder 25 years ago, which stained its reputation and propelled Jasper into an undesirable spotlight.
In 1998, James Byrd Jr., a 49-year-old Black man, was murdered at the hands of three white men, two of whom were self-proclaimed white supremacists. Byrd was chained to the back of a pickup truck and dragged for nearly three miles down an isolated, wooded road just outside Jasper. The incident sparked national outrage and led to the passage of state and federal hate crime laws.
According to residents of Jasper during that time, R.C. Horn entered office with intentions to stimulate economic growth. Unfortunately, his plans were mostly eclipsed by the tragic murder of Byrd. Horn’s main priority during his two terms became maintaining law and order, as both the Ku Klux Klan and Black Panther Party attempted to disturb the peace and instill fear within the community.
Since Byrd’s murder has become less prominent, Land, the town’s second African American mayor, has been hindered from aiding the town’s progress due to a different form of division and chaos.
***
Born in 1954, Land originated from Jasper but departed the town upon completing high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, bravely serving in Vietnam, before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Unfortunately, Land’s time in the oil and gas industry in Houston was abruptly terminated due to an economic downturn. Determined to make a fresh start, he relocated to Connecticut and took charge of a successful commercial cleaning business.
Land didn’t go back to his hometown for a family reunion until 2014. When he finally returned, he was disheartened by the sight of a barren town with limited employment opportunities and little potential for development.
“Jasper has changed completely from the town I grew up in,” Land, a person with thick, black-rimmed glasses and a heavy gait, lamented. “Once a thriving place, Jasper is now unrecognizable.”
Businesses, such as drug stores and the local movie theater, had closed down, just like Dickerson Memorial Hospital. Downtown appeared significantly more deserted than Land’s recollection.
According to census data, Jasper witnessed a 17% decrease in its population from 2000 to 2020. This decline can be attributed to white flight, as the town experienced a 31% decrease in its white population, accompanied by a proportional increase in the Black population.
The demographic shift corresponded to rising racial animosity. While Black residents were slowly gaining political power in a part of the state known for its racist history, there was unrest — often linked to Byrd’s death. In 2004, Byrd’s gravesite was desecrated. A few years later, a website popped up where a small bag of dirt from Byrd’s gravesite was posted for sale, along with a piece of the road where the murder occurred. Byrd’s relatives were furious.
Then, In 2012, the town’s first Black police chief, Rodney Pearson, was fired by a majority white city council, who said Pearson was not qualified to hold the job. His firing resulted in a federal discrimination lawsuit that the city ultimately settled for $831,000.
In 2017, Jasper came back to his hometown with the intention of retiring. However, his plans took a different turn when he decided to pursue a career as a real estate agent. Additionally, Jasper entered the city council race in District 1, which predominantly represents the Black community, and ran unopposed.
Land expressed, “Upon my return, I noticed a clear need for enhancement. It was disheartening to witness the state this town had reached.”
Land, a dedicated council member, consistently prioritized the well-being of his constituents and remained steadfast in his principles, even if it meant opposing his fellow council members. Demonstrating his commitment, he opposed a costly broadband project and actively advocated for reduced utility rates. When his proposal faced rejection, Land took matters into his own hands. He composed a petition to amend the city’s charter and diligently gathered signatures from residents, ensuring the issue would be addressed in the May 2022 ballot. The outcome was resoundingly positive, as residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of the charter amendment. This amendment effectively restricted the city’s ability to charge more than 10% above the actual cost for power, significantly benefiting the community.
Now, Land holds the position of the second African American mayor, a notable achievement that has stirred enthusiasm among numerous Black citizens. They hope that Land’s leadership will contribute to enhancing race relations in the town, which are still affected by the unfortunate incident of Byrd’s murder. However, Land has chosen not to emphasize this title and instead prioritizes accomplishing tasks that benefit all members of the community.
Land stated that he does not place significant importance on race. He believes that emphasizing race only leads to division, and his goal is to unite the community instead.
During the June council meeting, a unique instance of harmony occurred when Land proclaimed June 7 as James Byrd Jr. Day. However, this brief moment received minimal attention as Land swiftly proceeded to the subsequent matters at hand.
The proclamation, according to Mamie Horn Aplon, did not receive the recognition or attention it deserved. The Byrd family requested Horn to accept the proclamation on their behalf, but unfortunately, she was never called upon to receive it.
Horn expressed, “Jasper is still overshadowed by a lingering darkness, and our efforts are focused on finding healing.”
Land chose not to provide a comment regarding his decision not to invite Horn to accept the proclamation, which left residents speculating whether he had forgotten or was attempting to steer the town towards a future detached from its distressing past.
In a previous interview with the Tribune in June, Land expressed his belief that Jasper should strive to put the murder behind them.
He stated that for Jasper to develop, we must proceed.
***
The ongoing tensions between the mayor and the city council are seen as a missed opportunity by numerous Black residents in the town, particularly because the majority of the council members are Black.
It remains uncertain whether Land will be able to establish mutual understanding with his council, particularly with the younger member, Lewis.
Land lodged a complaint with the Jasper County District Attorney’s office in July, accusing Lewis of falsely presenting himself as the town’s mayor on social media. Lewis defended himself by stating that he actually referred to himself as mayor pro tem, a role he had been elected to assume.
During that approximate period, a resident spearheaded an unsuccessful campaign to recall two council members, alleging their incompetence and misconduct while in office.
Land suggested that individuals have their own perspectives on how things should be handled and possess a sense of authority. “If you desire authority, you should have pursued the position of mayor,” he expressed.
In July, Land achieved a remarkable political triumph amidst the prevailing animosity. Successfully securing the passage of a proposal, Land allocated $1 million to alleviate electric rates during the extreme weather months of August and February. This funding was derived from an industrial wholesale initiative in collaboration with Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency, the entity responsible for supplying power to the city of Jasper.
Over the past ten years, the company has provided the city with over $45 million in distributions, leading to numerous disagreements among council members regarding its allocation. Specifically, the disputes revolve around whether the funds should be dedicated to entertainment or utilized to further decrease electric rates.
Lewis expressed his disappointment, stating, “In our town, there is a lack of family-friendly activities. When individuals search for Jasper online, they are bombarded with negative information, making it challenging for anyone interested in establishing their business here. Sadly, our reputation appears dysfunctional to outsiders.”
The council has declined to add Lewis’ proposal, which suggests utilizing hotel occupancy funds for a food truck event this autumn, to the agenda.
Land stated, “I am not inclined to be a mayor who promotes excessive spending. Likewise, I will not lead a government that indulges in a spend, spend, spend mentality.”
In a recent column, Land took issue with Lewis promoting a September food truck event as “presented by” the City of Jasper.
Land emphasized that the event was not backed by the city. He stated that any council member, city official, or city employee who wishes to organize an event must follow the established procedures, including submitting the necessary paperwork, paying the relevant fees, and obtaining the required permits, in the same manner as any other individual.
Land is optimistic about finding common ground with his fellow council members and is taking proactive steps to do so. He has requested the city attorney to arrange individual meetings with each council member, aiming to gain insight into the root causes of their animosity.
Land declared, “The time for play is done. I will not tolerate any further wasteful expenditure.”
As The Texas Tribune’s signature event of the year, The Texas Tribune Festival brings Texans closer to politics, policy and the day’s news from Texas and beyond. On Sept. 23, we wrapped our 2023 Festival — three lively days packed with 125+ sessions and events. Browse on-demand recordings and catch up on the biggest headlines from Festival events at the Tribune’s Festival news page.
