As always, the KEEL Morning Show with Mike and McCarty has high profile guests that have important messages to share with their listeners.
Today, July 3, Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator had an extended dialogue with Mike Martindale and guest co-host Scott Hughes was filling in for Erin McCarty who was taking a day off.
Here is a summary of Sheriff Prator's comments:
1. He again repeated his message that his health is fine. Before the stint and medical procedures, he had 80% heart blockage. Now he has none.
2. Prator is confident that he would have won re-election by a minimum of a 60-40 margin and more than likely by a 70-30 margin that he has enjoyed in all of his six sheriff elections.
3. He raised $300 thousand this year for his campaign and all of these funds have been returned to his donors.
4.Prator reiterated that he will still be sheriff until June 30 of next year and he intends to aggressively complete his term of office, being more outspoken than he has in the past.
5. He announced that Don Hathaway Jr. will most likely not seek the seat.
6. Prator said that the other declared candidate Henry Whitehorn may be joined by Eric Hatfield in the race. (Hatfield was defeated by Prator in the last election.)
7. He said that the voters should ask those two candidates what they want to change about the sheriff’s office. He said his record speaks for itself during his 23 years as sheriff:
a. there have been no scandals
b. crime in the parish outside the city has decreased every year he was in office with the exception of one year when the crime stats equaled a prior year
c. that his office which includes running Caddo Correctional Center and the parish tax collector which been run efficiently.
d. his office has a $60 million fund balance.
8. Prator said that if a voter wants the sheriff’s office to be run differently, vote for Whitehorn or Hatfield (assuming he runs), but if not "hold on to your money."
9. He reminded voters that there is a one-year residency requirement in the parish before the qualifying that has eliminated at least two potential good candidates.
10. He said that he had heard former Shreveport Police Chief Jim Roberts was looking at entering the election.
11. Prator said that Shreveport attorney Craig Smith, who had previously run against Prator was seriously considering the race. Prator said he had a good relationship with Smith who was a conservative Democrat and hinted that Smith would be worthy of his endorsement.
12. Prator wants a citizen review. perhaps organized by LSUS or SUSLA, to look at local crime from all aspects to determine what can be done to make Caddo citizens safer. Such an effort must be citizen driven with the backing and support of local organizations such as the Chamber and the Committee of 100, but not by elected officials who would tend to politicize the process. He noted that New Orleans has such a commission, although he was uncertain as to how successful its efforts have been to date.
13. When his term ends next year, he plans on maintaining a high profile working to help make the parish a safer place.
14.He wants the next sheriff to take the sheriff's department to an even higher level of efficiency and productivity in all its responsibilities.
If anyone knows Steve Prator, his comments are from his heart, and as he said, Steve will not be sitting on his porch in a rocking chair every day after this term ends next year.
There is no doubt that if a candidate Prator believes is worthy of being the next Caddo Sheriff, then Prator will endorse that candidate. That endorsement will bring instant credibility to that campaign and substantial contributions from those that donated to Steve.