The Mario Chavez campaign for Shreveport mayor has started like a rocket launch.
On March 9, Chavez announced his long-speculated bid to become Shreveport’s next mayor. On the same day, he launched a "votemariochavez" campaign website.
Soon thereafter, "Chavez Shreveport" digital billboards appeared along with scattered campaign yard signs.
As of the press deadline of 10 a.m. Thursday, March 31, his website reported $113,000-plus raised by campaign contributions.
Without a doubt, Chavez has the fastest campaign start of any mayoral candidate in Shreveport's history.
For those keeping track, the Nov. 8 primary is well over 200 days away.
A campaign headquarters is expected to be opened in April and, thereafter, town hall meetings in each council district.
The old-line politicos are still skeptical of Chavez's chances for victory. They cite many factors.
The first is the history of Shreveport African-American voters not supporting non-black candidates.
Chavez is a Hispanic, and, thus, classified as a "Latino" candidate. Shreveport has never had a Latino mayoral candidate.
Another consideration is that of party affiliation. Chavez has been elected to two terms on the Caddo Commission as a registered Republican.
Chavez is expected to run for mayor as a "No Party" or "Independent." To date, Shreveport voters have only elected registered Republicans or Democrats as mayor.