It’s extremely, extremely rare.
It’s virtually impossible to track down the last time, if ever, it has happened.
It was most likely history setting.
In yesterday’s Caddo Commission work session, a resolution to forward John-Paul Young’s request to fund $2.8 million to purchase 70 police cars for the Shreveport Police Department to a Commission committee failed on a 6-6 vote. Its was a non-partisan vote.
Democrats Stormy Gage-Watts, Greg Young and Ron Cothran joined Republicans Grace Ann Blake, Ed Lazus and Chris Kracman with “no” votes to kill the request.
Here is the back story on the three Democrat votes.
Gage-Watts will oppose John-Paul in the Nov. mayor’s race.
Commission president Greg has encouraged the Commission to be non-political this year.
Cothran chairs the committee that should have first considered the police car funding.
Not surprisingly Republican commissioner John Atkins voted to forward the request. Although an avowed fiscal conservative, Atkins is a Public Service Commission candidate this year which most likely explains his vote.
Notwithstanding any hidden agenda for the votes, it was a welcome albeit shocking non-partisan vote that could possibly lead to future good government Commission votes on controversial issues.
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.