John Settle
A major earthquake upset Bossier City politics when Tommy Chandler beat incumbent Mayor Lo Walker on March 20.
Although Chandler does not take office until July 1, his election has upset many apple carts with the old guard in Bossier.
Chandler has announced he will nominate his friend Shane Cheatham to be the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to replace Pam Glorioso.
Cheatham defeated long-time south Bossier councilman Scott Irwin in the March election. Thus, the Bossier council must name a replacement for that seat until the next election. Both Cheatham and Chandler will be instrumental in this selection.
Long-time Bossier City Attorney Jimmy Hall announced his pending retirement after the Chandler victory.
Chandler has announced he will nominate 26th Judicial Court Judge Charles Jacob as his city attorney. And Bossier Parish Assistant District Attorney Richard Wray will be nominated as assistant city attorney to replace Gordon Mosely.
Chandler opposed a five-year extension of the Manchac Consulting contract with the city of Bossier, saying that an extension lasting the entirety of his term would prejudicial to this leadership.
The Bossier City Council will most likely approve a three-year extension of the Manchac agreement on Tuesday, May 18.
Chandler and Cheatham have been active meeting with the Bossier delegation in Baton Rouge, and they have had two trips to the state capitol, meeting with Governor John Bel Edwards on the first visit.
The Bossier City Council meetings have long been snoozers, with little to no controversy with a Sunday school atmosphere.
This suddenly changed with Chandler’s election.
Council president David Montgomery was a Lo Walker supporter, and his handling of council meetings reflects a negative bias against Chandler and his supporters.
The aftershocks of the Chandler earthquake continue, many behind the scenes and others at the Council meetings. And it’s still a long time until July 1 when Chandler takes office.
Stay tuned.
THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN THE May 14 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.