Clay is a graduate of Blytheville High School, and holds a bachelor's degree from Lane College and a master's degree from Arkansas State University. He served as a teacher and coach at East Junior High from 1971 to 1973, as a teacher and coach at Blytheville High School from 1974 to 1977, and as Vice Principal at Blytheville High School from 1977 to 2012. He was licensed and ordained as a minister at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in 1983 and 1984, and attended Brewster Seminary and Fred E. Ray Expository Preaching in Memphis. In 1985, he began pastoring St. Paul at Barfield, which eventually became New St. Paul Missionary Baptist in Blytheville. He hosts a weekly radio broadcast on KLCN, has worked with New Life Prison ministries for 20 years, and started the Ladies and Gentlemen's club at local high schools. In June of 2012, he retired as Associate Pastor at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.
Concerning the city and county's financial situation, we should make sure that our expenditures are prioritized in terms of necessity. All available revenue should be collected and spent according to the need, under much scrutiny.
One of the things that hurts Blytheville and Mississippi County is perception. This perception is not how others see us, but how we see ourselves. The first thing we should do is look at all of Mississippi County as one big family, working together to make things better. If one part of the county has something good going on, why not share with the rest of the county? We can all work together to improve our education systems, and share the different strengths that we all have. Also, provide job training in the county to create a more employable workforce.
Crime and population loss go hand in hand. It takes a whole community to make the county safer. We all will have to work together. Neighborhood watch, community meetings, and whatever else is needed, but the bottom line is we all have a part to play.
As a Quorum Court Justice for District 6, I will work closely with the County Judge and other Quorum Court members and county community members. I understand that as a member of the Quorum Court I will be responsible for the upkeep of county roads and county improvement. Governed by a committee, I will work with the county mayors and their leadership to keep our county running smoothly, to get the best possible results for Mississippi County. Most importantly, we must listen to the voice and concerns of the people we serve.
My goals are to promote education and training - it can and will rebuild the county, to invest in the unemployed workforce - it will improve job training, to work on Mississippi County becoming a perfect place to raise a family - "Come and grow with us," and to work closely with the people in the district - to improve health, safety, and education.