On July 1 Tommy Chandler will be sworn in as the new mayor of Bossier City.
Also taking office that day will be new city council members Shane Cheatham, Chris Smith and Vince Maggio. The newcomers join four returning council members.
At the Tuesday Bossier city council meeting three key agenda items were removed from the agenda on the motion of Don "Bubba" Williams that resulted in a 3-3 tie vote.
Removed from consideration were proposals to extend the contract of Manchac Consulting Group for five years,
designate Manchac employee Todd Thompson as head of the city's Public Works Department and appropriate $30 million to construct a recreation/senior citizen.
Chandler has urged the council to not take any actions that would roll over into his administration. Chandler says that is a deal is a good deal now, it will be on July 1.
Chandler's request is grounded in logic and good government principles.
Williams along with council members Jeffrey Darby and Thomas Harvey are to be commended for their "NO" votes that killed these resolutions.
Since Chandler's upset victory many Bossier citizens have expressed concerns that the "old guard" Council and administration would try to push through favored legislation in their last days in office. And their have been rumblings of possible legal action to prevent saddling the new team with political baggage.
Tuesday's vote was a positive step by Williams, Darby, and Harvey. Hopefully this will be last time they must erect a legislative road block to stop lame duck actions.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.