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American Morning
When Duty Calls
Aired October 02, 2003 - 08:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Folks in the tiny town of Bradford, Arkansas, hope that winning the peace in Iraq doesn't jeopardize keeping the peace in their neck of the woods. You see, the town's mayor and police chief are military Reservists, and both were called to active duty in Iraq. They expect to be overseas for 18 months.
Mayor Paul Bunn and police Chief Joshua Chambliss join us from Bradford, Arkansas this morning. Good morning to the both of you gentlemen. Thanks for being here.
Just want to ask you, Mayor Bunn, who's going to take over when you guys leave?
MYR. PAUL BUNN, BRADFORD, ARKANSAS: Arkansas state law says that when a mayor is not able to be at his office that the recorded treasurer will take over.
COLLINS: Are you comfortable with that?
BUNN: Say it again?
COLLINS: Are you comfortable with that?
BUNN: Oh, yes. Ms. Greva (ph) is our recorded treasurer. She's been in that office for 20 years. She has taken over quite a few times whenever mayors have resigned or a death or something like that. So she is very capable of taking over.
COLLINS: Great. I know the two of you have a pretty special relationship, have worked together for quite some time.
I also know that you have been working very hard in your town to combat drug use. You've even sort of posed as school crossing guards to greet the children as they're going into school each morning.
Are you worried your work in this town might sort of be pushed aside while you're gone? Police Chief Chambliss, tell us a little bit about that.
JOSHUA CHAMBLISS, BRADFORD, ARKANSAS POLICE CHIEF: No, I'm not. My assistant chief, Michael Ray, will be assuming my duties. I have full faith and confidence in his ability as a police officer, and he is a very special part of this town, so he will be able to fill my shoes quite well.
COLLINS: All right, guys, so who outranks who? When you go to Iraq, I know one of you has served longer time than the other. How are you going to deal with that? Any ego involved here?
BUNN: Yes, I've been in the military for 14 years, I think Josh about 10 years, and he outranks me in the military. So in the office, I'm the mayor, but when we get over there, he's the boss, and I do what he tells me to.
CHAMBLISS: We have been together for quite some time, almost 10 years, and we work quite well together. We know how each other operates, and everything is going to be good. It'll work out great.
COLLINS: And I know I want to talk for just a moment about the war memorial behind you. You guys are standing right in front of something that was built for veterans that died in the military. And I know that you came up with the idea to have this built. It is, obviously, a touching reminder of the dangers of military service.
Are either one of you nervous about this assignment?
BUNN: Yes, Heidi, I am. I served in Panama, as well as Saudi Arabia, and was in the last Gulf War, and I'm nervous about this one, going over there. But the people that we're with in the 2nd Battalion -- and we're trained. We're going to do the best job we can. But any time you go into a conflict like this, you're going to be nervous. There's excitement, but there's also, you know, nervousness.
CHAMBLISS: I just put my trust in god and do it for him and my family and my country, and whatever happens, I put it in his hands.
COLLINS: Well, I know The country thanks you for the time that you will be serving out there very much. I know Mayor Bunn that you have four children, and both of you are married. We hope that your families will do just fine while you are away. Thanks so much once again to the both of you, Mayor Paul Bunn and police chief Joshua Chambliss, from Bradford, Arkansas. Thanks gentlemen.
CHAMBLISS: Thank you, Heidi.
BUNN: Thank you, Heidi.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 2, 2003 - 08:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Folks in the tiny town of Bradford, Arkansas, hope that winning the peace in Iraq doesn't jeopardize keeping the peace in their neck of the woods. You see, the town's mayor and police chief are military Reservists, and both were called to active duty in Iraq. They expect to be overseas for 18 months.
Mayor Paul Bunn and police Chief Joshua Chambliss join us from Bradford, Arkansas this morning. Good morning to the both of you gentlemen. Thanks for being here.
Just want to ask you, Mayor Bunn, who's going to take over when you guys leave?
MYR. PAUL BUNN, BRADFORD, ARKANSAS: Arkansas state law says that when a mayor is not able to be at his office that the recorded treasurer will take over.
COLLINS: Are you comfortable with that?
BUNN: Say it again?
COLLINS: Are you comfortable with that?
BUNN: Oh, yes. Ms. Greva (ph) is our recorded treasurer. She's been in that office for 20 years. She has taken over quite a few times whenever mayors have resigned or a death or something like that. So she is very capable of taking over.
COLLINS: Great. I know the two of you have a pretty special relationship, have worked together for quite some time.
I also know that you have been working very hard in your town to combat drug use. You've even sort of posed as school crossing guards to greet the children as they're going into school each morning.
Are you worried your work in this town might sort of be pushed aside while you're gone? Police Chief Chambliss, tell us a little bit about that.
JOSHUA CHAMBLISS, BRADFORD, ARKANSAS POLICE CHIEF: No, I'm not. My assistant chief, Michael Ray, will be assuming my duties. I have full faith and confidence in his ability as a police officer, and he is a very special part of this town, so he will be able to fill my shoes quite well.
COLLINS: All right, guys, so who outranks who? When you go to Iraq, I know one of you has served longer time than the other. How are you going to deal with that? Any ego involved here?
BUNN: Yes, I've been in the military for 14 years, I think Josh about 10 years, and he outranks me in the military. So in the office, I'm the mayor, but when we get over there, he's the boss, and I do what he tells me to.
CHAMBLISS: We have been together for quite some time, almost 10 years, and we work quite well together. We know how each other operates, and everything is going to be good. It'll work out great.
COLLINS: And I know I want to talk for just a moment about the war memorial behind you. You guys are standing right in front of something that was built for veterans that died in the military. And I know that you came up with the idea to have this built. It is, obviously, a touching reminder of the dangers of military service.
Are either one of you nervous about this assignment?
BUNN: Yes, Heidi, I am. I served in Panama, as well as Saudi Arabia, and was in the last Gulf War, and I'm nervous about this one, going over there. But the people that we're with in the 2nd Battalion -- and we're trained. We're going to do the best job we can. But any time you go into a conflict like this, you're going to be nervous. There's excitement, but there's also, you know, nervousness.
CHAMBLISS: I just put my trust in god and do it for him and my family and my country, and whatever happens, I put it in his hands.
COLLINS: Well, I know The country thanks you for the time that you will be serving out there very much. I know Mayor Bunn that you have four children, and both of you are married. We hope that your families will do just fine while you are away. Thanks so much once again to the both of you, Mayor Paul Bunn and police chief Joshua Chambliss, from Bradford, Arkansas. Thanks gentlemen.
CHAMBLISS: Thank you, Heidi.
BUNN: Thank you, Heidi.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
