Mark it down.
Pencil it on your calendar.
Get your "IT'S A NEW DAY IN BOSSIER CITY" tee shirt out.
On Tuesday, July 1, Bossier City's elected government will start a new chapter. The old guard of David Montgomery, Jeff Darby, Bon Bubba Williams and Jeff Free will no longer be on the council.
At a 10 a.m. ceremony, Mayor Tommy Chandler and councilmen Chris Smith, Brian Hammon and Vince Maggio will be sworn into office for their second term. Newcomers Craton Cochran, Debra Ross, Cliff Smith, and Joel Girouard will also take their oaths of office.
The new council will have its first meeting at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Chris Smith is expected to be named council president and Brian Hammons vice president.
Those that regularly attend Bossier Council meetings should notice remarkable differences, such as:
1. No more shouting by David Montgomery
2. Active discussion of agenda items by council members
3. Courtesy treatment of citizens who address the Council
4. Respectful responses to comments by Mayor Chandler.
Yes, it should be a great place to take your church group, scouts, and students without worries of witnessing a loud, embarrassing circus orchestrated by several council members. And fears of being tossed out of the chamber for just a facial grimace or frown should be eliminated.
The big unknown is an unfortunate one.
How Bossier City attorney Charles Jacobs conducts himself at the council meeting will be a big question mark. Jacobs has a history of making terse comments directed at citizen comments. He also has a habit of being demonstrative, in a bad way, in rendering his legal opinions on questions asked by some on the dais as well as citizens in attendance.
All in all, Tuesday will be the start of a new chapter in Bossier City government. Almost all politics are rejoicing in the changes in the council composition. They also expect an era of open and transparent progressive government. As many say, it’s about time!