The current terms for Caddo commissioners end on Jan. 13. At noon that day the new 12-member commissioners will take office.
There will be five new faces in the group — actually, four plus an old face coming back.
Democrat Jerald Bowman will be replaced by Democrat Roy Burrell. Democrat Louis Johnson will be replaced by Democrat Ken Epperson.
Republican Matthew Linn is being replaced by Republican John Paul Young. Republican Mike Middleton will be replaced by Republican Jim Taliaferro. Republican Doug Dominick will be replaced by Republican Todd Hopkins. Republican Jim Smith will be replaced by Republican Ed Lazarus.
Only Ken Epperson has prior service as a commissioner. However, Todd Hopkins served as the Commission clerk for-10 years, so he is hardly a newcomer.
The racial and party balance will remain the same: six blacks, six whites, six Democrats and six Republicans.
The terms of the current commission officers also expire. The outgoing officers are Stormy Gage-Watts (president), Mario Chavez (vice-president) and Jerald Bowman (parliamentarian.)
The commission is expected to elect Mario Chavez as the next president, Lyndon Johnson as next vice-president and John Atkins as parliamentarian.
This Article was published in the January 10th issue of The Inquisitor.