Was he in hiding?
Was he ill?
Was he working at this “real job” 24/7?
Or was he just sulking?
Whatever the reason(s) , Caddo Commissioner Steven Jackson had been MIA—as in missing in action - - at Commission meeting for the last 2 months. These include work sessions and regular meetings.
As of Tuesday (December 4), Jackson has missed 11 of the 12 meetings of the Commission since September 6.
He last appeared at 500 Travis Street for a Commission gathering on October 4. He had missed 3 consecutive meetings before that. And since that date he is 0 for 7.
Jackson finally attended a commission budget meeting on Tuesday (Dec 4) at 3:30 p.m. He was late by about 20 minutes.
The Commission had its regular meeting on Thursday December 6. This was after the deadline for this column. Thus whether or not Jackson made this meeting can not be reported.
And yes, Virginia he was still drawing his monthly paycheck of $1600 plus bucks a month even though he was MIA.
As they say, not a bad gig if you can get it. Be paid while skipping work.
Jackson was on the mayoral ballot on November 6.
He finished a dismal fifth. He only garnered 11% of the vote.
Maybe that’s the reason for his disappearing act—both before and after the election.
Jackson’s mayoral campaign never really gained any traction. It was obvious that his ship was sinking by mid September.
Seemingly he could put on his big boy pants and come back to work as a highly paid Commissioner.
If he needs a role model he need look no further than to Shreveport council member Stephanie Lynch, -- as far as statesmanship and coming to a meeting after losing a political race.
Lynch lost to James Green in her effort to serve a second term on November 6.
She attended the next Council meeting on November 13 and congratulated Green. She also had him address the Council.
She also acknowledged Green’s presence at the next Council meeting on November 27. She again encouraged him to actively represent the district.
Stephanie had a habit of missing most council work sessions and often council meetings. Her absence from meetings in 2018 was far outpaced by Jackson.
Jackson has always been critical of fellow Commission members who did not vote with him.
He also was an autocrat as Commission president during the second half of his 2017 presidential term, removing members from committees.
Jackson has also been hyper critical of any media coverage not to his liking.
His petulant childish attitude on this elected body has earned him, and rightly so, the disrespect of an overwhelming number of fellow commissioners.
The Commission does not lose with Jackson’s absence. In fact the meetings are shorter without his long standing practice of attempting to have more “talk time” than any other commissioner, and often more than all the commissioners combined.
Now as far as his council district having an absentee representative, that is a totally different issue.
But most politicos are not surprised.
Jackson’s three years on the Commission have always appeared to be more about him than “them”—those that elected him.