Klein announces candidacy for Horn Lake mayor

Photo: Horn Lake Alderman-at-Large Danny Klein has announced his candidacy for Horn Lake Mayor. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Aug 7, 2024- The municipal elections in DeSoto County are not until June 3 of next year with the primary election set for April 1. 

But, candidates have started to voice their intentions to run for office and Danny Klein, Alderman-at-Large in Horn Lake, this week officially made public his intentions to run for that city’s mayoral position.  

In making the announcement, Klein said, “Over the past three years, we’ve made significant progress. However, there is still much work to be done.”

Klein is currently an Area Manager for DeSoto County Schools and is in charge of Walls Elementary School, all Lake Cormorant schools and all Hernando schools, including Oak Grove Central Elementary.  His career background includes years in logistics and as a business owner.

Klein has also served as a DeSoto County Election Commissioner, where he was Commission chairman for eight years, and was on the Horn Lake Planning Commission for 16 years, eight of which were as that Commission’s chairman.  

We sat down with Klein this week to find out more about his candidacy and why he’s running for mayor.  

Can you tell us about some of the reasons why you chose to run for mayor? 

“I’d really like to lead this city for the next four years and continue what we’ve started. One of the things I ran on for Alderman-at-Large was to strengthen our fire department and first responders; to strengthen that group and to get a better road system management system set up as a city. Basically we’ve done both of those things. I just want to see it continue. We’re in line at the fire department to go from a “4” to a “3” for our insurance rating and that should happen, hopefully by the end of the year. Then we’re looking at building a training facility there at Fire Station Three, which I’m hoping will move us to a “2.” That will help our businesses and homeowners as far as insurance. We’ve been able to get our police and fire departments competitive with other cities, but now it’s about keeping us there because the other cities have deeper pockets.  So those couple of things are kind of in the forefront of my mind. Crime is the thing that I will make sure that we stay on top of, by developing a strong relationship with the sheriff’s department and hopefully put some programs that we can work together on and have more presence in the retail area and more presence in the neighborhood.”

Crime is a big concern for everybody right now. Southaven has taken steps to try and cut off Memphis crime. Do you think there’s something similar that you could do, or are there other specific things that could work in Horn Lake to lower the crime rate? 

“Just showing a stronger presence would help tremendously. We’ve got a good police force and good leadership already. To me, as a leader you’re looking to make sure that department has all the tools that they need to succeed.”

You also mentioned road management? 

“They never had road management before. It was kind of like the squeaky wheel getting grease. It’s not economical to work like that. So one of the first things we did was we bought a system, software system, with a company that will come in and grade our roads, 1,2,3, and 4. One is your best and four is the worst  and then say which one is best for your work, and then we’ll put together a plan over a five year period on how to get them from poor condition to good condition, and then from good condition to excellent condition, doing it economically. We’ve got $3 million set aside every year and this program is even paid for the internet sales tax. 

Talk a little bit about economic development here. You have some business going on down here, on Goodman Road especially, but is there a way that you can help attract new business to the city? 

“We need to broaden our tax base. My background has been management and sales, so I want to make sure that our city is business friendly. When they come in and want to possibly do business, it should not be a complicated thing that they come in and it gets up pretty easy in maybe one or two trips to City Hall rather than three or four. I see great businesses coming in.”

So tell me a little bit about your background, you know, coming up to this point, where you’re at and what you’ve done.

“Right now, I’m an area manager with DeSoto County Schools. I have nine schools and I have managed the maintenance of those schools, from the grass cutting all the way to the roof. And so they’re nine budgets that I’m dealing with that I have to handle. So as nine different budgets. There’s a bid process and things of that nature. So what I’ve learned in the last four or five years in the school system is going to help me tremendously knowing how the process works, and budget items and things of that nature. So I feel real comfortable that I can be an asset, especially with public works and public utilities departments.”

What are some of the selling points as far as business and residents coming to Horn Lake?

“I think one of the main selling points would be family. I personally want to be remembered as a family man. I can’t think of a more honorable position than to be thought of as a family man, and I like to see that family atmosphere in our departments. We’re working together as a family.”

Klein is one of two Horn Lake aldermen who have announced their plans to run for mayor in the Republican primary, as Ward Four Alderman Dave Young has said he will be running.