Who really knows?
Jackson is employed by the David Raines Community Health Centers. The website indicates that he is a the community development coordinator.
David Raines is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides health care to citizens without regard to insurance or income. It is funded with federal tax dollars.
The attorney for David Raines says it is a private corporation and is not subject to the Louisiana Public Records Act.
Jackson has also refused to answer any inquiries about his job.
Whether or not Jackson is allowed to campaign while ‘on the clock” and being paid with public dollars is an open question. Another question is if he is paid by David Raines while he performs his duties as a Caddo Commissioner.
It’s important for taxpayers to know what public employees are doing—or not doing—while on a public payroll. Levette Fuller, an employee of the Shreve Memorial Library, is required to take time off from her publicly funded job to campaign. Jackson should also be required to do so as well because his employer David Raines is also funded with public dollars.
The fact that a company funded with public dollars refuses to answer basic questions about an employee is an issue in and of itself. It certainly speaks to the transparency of David Raines and whether or not public funding should continue.
And for Jackson, who claims to be an ethical elected official, to not answer questions about campaigning while on the public time clock is even more galling. Actually it speaks to the integrity of someone who wants to be Shreveport’s next mayor and its not a good message.
Jackson previously worked for former Shreveport mayor Cedric Glover, and then for mayor Ollie Tyler for a few months before being terminated. From there, Jackson went to DRCHC. Reportedly Glover helped him get this job; Jackson is a self proclaimed protégé of Glover.
Jackson successfully ran for the Caddo Commission in the 2015 after being hired at David Raines. Whether or not he was allowed to campaign for this office while ‘on the clock” is another unanswered question.
Voters who are concerned about this issue—paying an individual with tax dollars while he campaigns for public office---could contact Jackson at spjcacks17.@gmail.com or sjackson@caddo.org.
In the alternative other members of the corporate staff may answer this question:
Willie C. White III, Chief Executive Officer Wwhite@davidraineschc.org
Myrtis Edwards, Chief Operating Officer Medwards@davidraineschc.org
Michael Fuselier, Chief Financial Officer Michael.Fuselier@davidraineschc.org
Ida Edwards, Chief Compliance Officer Iedwards@davidraineschc.org
Clydean W. Gilbert, Executive Assistant to CEO Cgilbert@davidraineschc.org
Cynthia Harris, Senior Accountant cynthia.harris@davidraineschc.org
Glenda Mayer, Revenue Cycle Manager Gmyers@davidraineschc.org
Michael Lawson, Information Technology Manager Mlawson@davidraineschc.org
Jo Noble, Human Relations Officer Jo.Noble@davidraineschc.org
And if no one on the corporate staff will provide any information, perhaps DRCHC board members will respond: Rev. Robert Green, Yolanda Coleman, Dr. Linda Hartwell, Jesse Scott, Shannon S. Warren, Kathy French, Dr. Raymond A. Hicks and/or Annie Pearl Wilson.
Jackson has touted in his mayoral campaign that he has “enacted stronger ethics and transparency on the Commission.” Seemingly his non disclosure stance is totally contrary to his campaign boasting.
Shreveport tax payers should not be paying a candidate to campaign for mayor on the taxpayer’s dime. Plain and simple.