Port Arthur mayoral candidate Derrick Freeman has receive the endorsement of Janice Milo, who is urging her supporters to vote for the man she believes will best move the city forward.

On Friday Milo issued a statement to those who supported her during her candidacy.

“You believed in me and you’ve trusted me thus far, and I ask you to continue to move forward with me to move this city forward as I pass the baton and endorse Mr. Derrick Freeman for mayor,” Milo said in the statement.

Milo came in third in a close race among the three candidates running for Port Arthur Mayor a week ago.

After the votes were tallied on Election Day May 7, Harold Doucet garnered the most votes, with 1,168 or 39.97 percent of the city’s 31,403 registered voters. Freeman came in a close second with 1,071 votes or 33.90 percent while Janice Milo, during her first political race, made a good showing with 920, or 29.12 percent of the votes.

As the top two vote getters, Doucet and Freeman will face each other in a runoff election scheduled for June 25.

Milo said both candidates called her after the election, but it was Freeman who won her over.

“Both called me but it was only Mr. Freeman that had the humility to ask for my endorsement and my support,” she said. “I feel he is humble enough to listen, humble enough to ask and does not feel like he knows it all. He will not only listen to others, but will work with others.”

She characterized Freeman as a people person.

“This job is not just about politics, but is also about the people in the community I feel he will do a great job,” Milo said.

While on the campaign trail, Milo said she made a point to not become involved in anything negative, and does not plan to start now.

“I will not be involved in destructive criticism with the intention to damage, delegate and destroy another person. In fact, that followed Mr. Doucet’s campaign. It is destructive and it has been hurting the city.”

Freeman praised Milo for her clean campaign.

“She ran a clean and honorable race. We gladly welcome her and her team to move the city forward, “ Freeman said while noting he and Milo shared the same vision for the city.

“She ran an honorable campaign and that is what makes it easier to link arms now,” he said. “We are just excited to have another opportunity with a bigger team now.”

He urged voters to go to the polls and decide the city’s next mayor, and in the process, the direction the city will take.

Only 3,260 of the city’s 31,404 voters, or 10.38 percent, went to the polls to cast their ballots on May 7.

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