As we approach the New Year we already know it holds change in Oxford in terms of city leadership.

We will have a new mayor mid-way through 2017 and the moment will serve as an opportunity for the city as it does each time we have a leadership change.

Work done under recent mayors Pat Lamar, Richard Howorth, and current mayor Pat Patterson, has been outstanding. Soon, it will be time for the next chapter.

As potential mayoral candidates make plans, some items that would be helpful on the agenda of a new Oxford mayor:

—Protecting and preserving the Square’s integrity as a quaint, safe retail and dining destination, at all hours of the day and night.

—Extending Oxford’s green footprint more quickly throughout the city so that we avoid sprawl characteristics.

—Continuing progress with Lafayette County so that our community continues to move forward as one.

—Aggressively working with MDOT to get more road infrastructure in place to meet fast-growth needs.

—Branding Oxford as an entrepreneur-friendly city , and deepening ties with Ole Miss and Lafayette County and the EDF to gain momentum.

—Forging a deeper partnership with our excellent schools.