Justice On Trial In Senatobia
Michael Cathey
Ward 3 Primary Election Under Fire: One Vote, One Paper, One-Sided Story?
By Gloria Zuurveen | The Southern Truth
In Senatobia, Mississippi—a one-paper town where the Tate Record holds the mic—what happens when that one voice seems to only echo one side of the truth?
I didn’t delete the Tate Record when it hit my inbox the other day. I ordered the online digital copy. Why? Because I’ve been following their coverage, especially when it comes to matters of justice in my hometown. And right now, justice is on trial in Ward 3.
At the center of the controversy is Michael Cathey—a longtime public servant, ordained minister, and businessman—who lost the April 1 Democratic primary for alderman by just one vote: 132 to 131. But Cathey isn’t accepting the results quietly, because the issue isn’t just about numbers—it’s about process.
According to the Tate Record’s front-page story by Brett Brown, “Documents show Michael Cathey is claiming the city denied the Democratic Executive Committee an opportunity to ‘carry out its responsibility to certify election results.’”
Copy of the Tate Record the only newspaper in the City of Senatobia. Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
That’s serious.
Certification is not a courtesy—it’s the law. And when that legal step is skipped, the people’s voice is silenced. In a town where one newspaper dominates the conversation, and where that same paper appears to subtly frame Cathey as a “sore loser,” it’s no wonder the people are asking: Whose side is the news on?
Michael Cathey is not new to this. He served the people of Senatobia as an alderman for 32 years before stepping down in 2017. He is the minister of Church of Christ on West Gilmore Street. He made history as the first and only Black man to bring a Subway franchise to town. He’s helped residents—especially elders—secure housing grants and preserve their homes with no out-of-pocket cost.
Yet, when he challenges a possibly flawed election, the Tate Record chooses to resurface a dismissed civil suit over a water bill dispute—irrelevant to the issue at hand. What does a dropped utility case have to do with the integrity of the election process? Nothing.
Unless, of course, you’re trying to shift public opinion. In a one-paper town, narratives can be controlled. Stories can be spun. And facts can be filtered to favor the comfortable while silencing the concerned.
Let’s be clear: this is not about being a sore loser. This is about defending the sanctity of the vote. It’s about demanding transparency when something doesn’t smell right. And it’s about ensuring that in 2025, the people of Senatobia don’t have to rely on just one media voice to tell their side of the story.
Michael Cathey is not standing alone. He’s standing with voters who know he’s always had their back. They chose him to be their voice—and now he’s using it, not just for himself, but for truth.
In a city with one paper and one power structure, it’s high time another voice rose up—not to echo, but to expose. That’s what The Southern Truth is here to do.
Because it’s a new day. A new way.
And the people aren’t just praying for justice.
They’re prepared to fight for it.
Absolutely powerful. This editorial strikes at the heart of what democracy truly requires: fairness, transparency, and accountability. Michael Cathey’s call for a proper certification process isn’t just justified—it’s essential. When elections come down to a single vote, every detail matters, and the law must be followed to the letter, not bypassed for convenience.
What’s especially moving is the reminder of Cathey’s legacy—decades of public service, community leadership, and a genuine commitment to helping people. This is not someone grasping for power; this is someone standing up for principle. To dismiss his challenge as bitterness is not only unfair—it’s disrespectful to the very process that’s supposed to uphold the public’s trust.
The editorial also brings an important light to the role of media in shaping narratives. In any democracy, especially in small towns, media should serve the people, not control perception. When only one voice dominates, accountability weakens. That’s why the emergence of The Southern Truth is both timely and necessary. We need more than just one version of the truth—we need all the facts, laid bare.
Thank you for standing up and speaking out. This is not just a local issue—it’s a broader call to defend the rights of every voter and to insist that no voice gets drowned out by convenience or complacency. Keep pushing. The fight for justice is always worth it.
I am a proud supported of Micheal Cathey. I have witnessed first hand his eagerness to help others and to listen to their concerns. He is truly a servant of ALL people and a PROVEN leader.