Politics 101 says disregard comments by a former mayor about his successor. This should be the case with Cedric Glover’s recent column on Shreveport crime.
Glover has never been shy in trumping his accomplishments as Shreveport’s first black mayor.
And the former two-term mayor rarely lets facts hinder his oratory of self-adulation.
Presumably, Glover believes that his administration, especially in the area of crime prevention, was a success. Without debating his conclusions, the relevance of what was then, versus now, is very questionable.
Many of the factors attributed to crime like unemployment and urban blight existed during Glover’s terms in city hall. His administration did little, if anything, to address these issues.
If Glover’s goal was to put himself in the public eye, then his column may have achieved that purpose. He is now a state representative.
If it was to pander to local law enforcement, then his results were mixed. Many ranks and file police officers do not share his opinion of former police chiefs Henry Whitehorn and Willie Shaw.
Maybe Glover wanted to set the table for a mayoral campaign by his protégé and former mayoral assistant, Steven Jackson. Both Jackson and Glover have been constant critics of the Tyler administration. Tyler did not keep Jackson in city hall after taking office.
Hopefully, Shreveport crime will be an issue all mayoral candidates address. Until such time as Glover becomes a candidate, his pronouncements on crime are at best a detraction. If Jackson jumps in the race, presumably he will speak for himself.
Glover offered no solutions, and in fact painted a message of despair for Shreveport. Thankfully, most citizens are focusing on the current mayoral election and looking to the future. Glover would do well to put the past behind him just like most voters will do so in November.