FRANKLIN—Franklin native Kathy Davis has been out of work for a year, despite applying for at least five jobs a week.

Frustrated by what she believes is a lack of jobs in Franklin, Davis has invited the city’s three mayoral candidates to a community meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 5, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

Councilman Greg McLemore plans to attend. Councilwoman Raystine Johnson has another commitment. Eight-term Mayor Jim Councill could not be reached.

“Citizens can come together and voice their concerns,” said Davis, a former warehouse worker for Gwaltney in Suffolk.

The 56-year-old believes the biggest issue facing the city is jobs and wants the city to do more to attract companies to Franklin.

“We have space and property and an industrial park, and it’s not being used,” Davis said. “If people have jobs and start making money, a lot of things will change.”

McLemore, who lost to Councill in the 2010 mayoral election, is more than willing to attend the meeting.

“I will be anywhere, anytime that citizens want to know anything,” he said.

Johnson, manager of Wm. M. Johnson and Sons funeral home, will be out of town conducting a funeral.

She has reservations about the meeting, because to her knowledge, Councill wasn’t invited.

“If it’s a true meeting with the candidates, all the candidates should be involved and it should have more structure,” Johnson said.

Davis said all three were invited. The election for mayor is Tuesday, May 1.