New Parma mayor says skin color is not an issue

PARMA, Mo. -- Tyus Byrd says she never really intended to run for mayor of Parma, and she never was fully confident of a win.

"I didn't think along that level," she said. "I always just knew that God had my back. If He was for me, fine. If not, I knew He'd open another door for me."

As it turned out, the door that opened for Byrd was the one to the mayor's office in the small rural city of 675 residents in New Madrid County.

Before being sworn in to office April 14, however, the 40-year-old never could have imagined the national headlines she would grab as Parma's first black mayor.

Upon her taking office, several vital city employees -- including the chief of police and two full-time police officers -- reportedly resigned. All are white.

"I've never seen any letters of resignation," Byrd said.

Along with the chief and officers, also said to have resigned are Richard Learue, who leads the wastewater department for Parma, and an unnamed woman who held three titles -- city clerk, court clerk and city collector. She and Learue also are white.

Byrd confirmed none of these individuals has shown up for work since the day she took over as mayor.

"To my knowledge, they are no longer on the payroll," Byrd said Monday.

In spite of no official letters of resignation, Byrd said: "I do know that the police chief (Trish Cohen) and officer (Richard) Medley have resigned."

Two part-time officers have remained on the force and are patrolling the city.

Byrd had hoped to spend time with her opponent in the mayoral race, Randal Ramsey, as she transitioned into her new post.

"I saw (Ramsey) at the swearing in, and that's the last time I saw him," Byrd said. "There's been no transitioning period."

Byrd said Ramsey was escorted to the April 14 meeting by a police officer. The only explanation for that action came from a local television reporter, referring to a "fear" factor.

When asked whether she believed what is happening in Parma involves a racial issue, Byrd said: "No. I never encountered any black/white issues here."

Like many small towns in Southeast Missouri, Parma had a seldom-challenged, long-term mayor in place. Ramsey's tenure covered 37 years. But a group of people in Parma wanted to see some change for a city that since 2000 has seen a decrease in population of nearly 21 percent. Sixty-six percent of the city's residents are white. Almost 30 percent are black.

Byrd's campaign consisted of canvassing the city and handing out cards she had printed at her expense that asked for votes in the April 7 municipal election. She earned 122 votes, 38 more than the incumbent.