Its always sad when an elected official starts off with great promise and then becomes a political manipulator. Such is the case with Caddo Commission President Steven Jackson.
Jackson was first elected to the Commission in late 2016. He defeated, with the help of many good government stalwarts, incumbent Rose McCollough.
In one of his first 2017 votes as a commissioner, Jackson voted with the six white Commissioners to stop funding the retirement plan for Commissioners (CPERS). He was also the deciding vote to stop offering health insurance to commissioners at a subsidized rate.
Jackson became Commission president in January of this year. As president, he appointed the members of the various Commission committees along with the chairman of each.
As president, Jackson is an ex-officio voting member of all the Commission committees.
During recent months, Jackson has attempted to hijack committee meetings and votes. He has constantly interrupted committee chairmen and insisted that his opinions be followed.
He added Commissioner Lyndon B. Johnson to the Long Range Planning Committee shortly before the critical committee vote on the report of the Confederate Memorial subcommittee. Johnson’s vote to not accept the subcommittee’s recommendation was the deciding vote.
Jackson later removed Commissioner Louis Johnson and Mike Middleton from the Appropriations/NGO Committee after two meetings to decide how to dole out $950 grand of riverboat funds to local non-profit entities. The Committee had a final meeting after Johnson and Middleton were removed to determine
the final report for the Commission.
Jackson literally took over the three Appropriation/NGO meetings. And he pushed through funding for several organizations that had failed to properly apply for funds.
Jackson also removed Louis Johnson from the Economic Development Committee while it was considering nominations for the Industrial Development Board. Reportedly, Johnson was going to support an individual not approved by Jackson.
Now being referred to as “Hatchet Man”, Jackson is in the final months of his reign as president. His recent actions in manipulating committee membership, will be part of his legacy as Commission president.
Its unfortunate that Jackson has adopted a “my way or the highway mentality”. His future as a progressive leader has rapidly become tarnished.
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