Episode 34 Fred “Chic” Cody

I’ve been alive for 32 years. Much of that time has been spent along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I can still remember times spent in Biloxi getting cut up on Slippery Sam’s. I remember watching the Lady Luck dragon come out of her cave at 8pm during the crab leg buffets my dad would always take me to. I can even remember the time spent at Kid’s Quest in the elaborate Grand Casino in Biloxi, with its glamourous lighted tipping gold-filled cauldron; the signage of a casino setting the standard for casinos in Biloxi.

In Ocean Springs it was far less bustling, and less robust and developed than it is today. The downtown area did not exist in the atmosphere it does today. Lovelace Drugs was still open. Fort Maurepas was still a wooden fort. The AT&T building was a Walmart, and Rickey Authement was the manager of the Delchamps/Jitney Jungle next door. Rouses was Sav-A-Center, the thrift store was a K-Mart, and the intersection of 90 and Ocean Springs Road was far less sophisticated. Virtually no developments existed east of that intersection except for sunbelt rentals.

Perhaps El-Saltillos is the staple that transcends time in that area. Well, El-Saltillos and Chic Cody.

Fred “Chic” Cody, is running as a mayor for Ocean Springs. He’s been a faithful servant to this city for about a quarter century. He’s served alongside like-minded peers and mayors and those not-so like-minded. He was part of the administration which converted the downtown area into the tourist draw that has been award winning and inviting to so many people. He’s been a part of the community wishing to proliferate the arts and culture scene. Chic is a republican, but his forward thinking perspective is anything but conservative (in the a-political sense).

Chic has vision for Ocean Springs which seeks to capitalize on current and future growth. He seeks to bring clean industry here which will benefit the entire coast. He has ideas to promote free enterprise in East Ocean Springs as well as downtown.

That’s the benefit of a man who has served for so long. He has experience across the continuum of time. He’s seen good policy and bad policy. Those are vectors towards the right policies—policies grounded in relevance and predictability of outcomes.

I enjoyed sitting down with Chic. He’s a wonderful guy with a great perspective on this city and her future. Everyone, please welcome, Fred “Chic” Cody.