Caddo Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts was named a defendant, along with the other six Democrat commissioners, in litigation filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. The basis of the litigation is the presentation of a commission recognition resolution to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. This resolution was not approved by a vote of the Commission before its presentation.
This litigation is still pending. Gage-Watts and the other six Democrat commissioners are being represented at the parish expense by Shreveport attorney Jerald Harper. Stormy’s announcement that she will run for Shreveport mayor next may fire up the AG’s interest in aggressively pursuing this case.
The AG litigation gave Gage-Watts more publicity, locally and state-wide, than she had received in toto since her election to the Commission in 2015. A Caddo judge’s ruling will give her another PR spectacle now that she has announced her intention to run for Shreveport mayor. No matter is she “wins” or “loses” this case, Gage-Watts will get plenty of political spin from a court decision, both good and bad.
Stormy has made many public statements about her involvement in the Sanders resolution caper. Those, along with some very heated comments and gavel banging in Commission meetings, may come back to haunt her on the campaign trail. No doubt a review of these statements and actions will be undertaken by political pundits and her campaign opponents.
In her quest to become the city’s second black female mayor, comparisons will no doubt be made between Shreveport’s first black female mayor Ollice Tyler and Stormy. Other than their race and sex, Tyler and Gage-Watts have little in common when it comes to public service, temperament, and political persona.
How Gage-Watts will fare under the intense political spotlight of a mayoral campaign is an open question. In her capacity as a female commissioner she gets public adoration that will not necessarily be enjoyed as a mayoral candidate.
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.