A mayor does not run the business of the city.
Keeping the trains running on time is the job of those persons selected by the mayor to fill major positions.
Adrian Perkins had not spent any meaningful time as an adult in the city other than the year he ran for mayor. His institutional knowledge of Shreveport city government, local officials and individuals was limited.
His selections for key positions in his administration were not the best, to say the least.
Most observers questioned many of his job hires from day one and continued to do so during his years as mayor.
Here is a scorecard for the mayor on his key personnel selections:
1. Hired a personal legal advisor that purchased major city insurance policy without proper authority.
2. Promoted interim chief administrative officer (CAO) from Tyler administration to permanent CAO despite the lack of department operational experience as required by the city charter.
3. Then created a new position of chief financial officer (CFO) and named the CAO as the CFO.
4. Then hired a CAO who had no institutional knowledge of city government.
5. After the new CFO resigned, he named an interim CFO who is not a certified public accountant and who has a criminal background.
6. Hired a new Shreveport police chief that was not the first choice of his selection committee.
7. Later fired this police chief and then named the individual initially recommended by his selection committee as the police chief.
8. Hired an economic development director who had no economic development experience.
9. After this economic development director resigned, then hired an individual as economic development director who was later fired over alleged misconduct actions.
10. Hired a city attorney from the Caddo District Attorney's Office who had no knowledge of municipal law and little managerial experience.
11. After this city attorney resigned, then hired a part-time city attorney who is romantically involved with a council member and who is a board member of the Red River Waterway Commission.
12. Hired an information technology officer who lacked managerial experience and who blocked access to city email addresses without proper authority.
13. Fired the city comptroller over a whistleblower travel expense allegation that was confirmed by legislative auditor.
Of course, Perkins has had some good hires. These include the directors of DOWUS, Public Works and Property Standards. along with several key assistant directors.
Both mayoral election run-off candidates have stated they intend to hire seasoned, well-qualified professionals as CAO, CFO and city attorney. They also have said the new city attorney will be a full-time position.