Dollars do not vote, but dollars influence votes.
Dollars are not endorsements, but dollars influence endorsements.
Dollars are not campaign strategies, but dollars fund campaign plans.
Because of these political factors, State Representative Tammy Phelps faces a gigantic mountain to climb to become competitive from a campaign financing perspective.
Consider the following:
1. Consider $517,281, which is the campaign fund difference between incumbent Mayor Tom Arceneuax and Phelps as of December 31, 2025.
2. Phelps must be in Baton Rouge for the Legislative Session which began this past Monday until the session ends on June 1.
3. Phelps is precluded by Louisiana law from any campaign fund raising while the Louisiana Legislature is in session.
4. Fellow Democrat Caddo DA James Stewart will be raising funds for his reelection campaign against state Senator Alan Seabaugh.
The adage that “money is the mother’s milk of politics” is as much a reality today as when the phrase was coined by California Democrat Jesse Unruh in the 1960s.
Despite Phelps being a Black female Democrat, her limited campaign dollars and opportunies for fundraising are major handicaps in her goal to unseat Mayor Tom in this year’s mayoral race.
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.