Caddo Commissioner Victor Thomas has been named the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce (SBAACC).
Thomas's record while serving on the Caddo Commission will follow him as he takes on the SBAACC executive director role. This could be both beneficial and detrimental, and it will certainly affect his effectiveness as executive director.
Consider the following:
1. Thomas is a major supporter of fellow commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts in her mayoral campaign
2. As a commissioner Thomas voted for the Bernie Sanders resolution AFTER it was presented to Sanders
3. As a commissioner Thomas voted for the data centers
4. Thomas introduced the controversial, divisive June Pride Month commission resolution that failed
5. As a commissioner Thomas voted for the resolution condemning the Louisiana legislature’s redistricting mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court
6. Thomas testified at the MPC hearing against expansion of The Providence House on Crockett Street
As executive director Thomas will be the face and mouthpiece of the SBAACC and his political track record will follow him in that role.
The SBAACC has received $148,000 in state grants sponsored by state senator Sam Jenkis and state representative Steven Jackson which should substantially underwrite his undisclosed salary and operating expenses of the SBAACC.
Future grants to the SBAAC from the Community Foundation, the Shreveport City Council, the Caddo Commission and sponsorships/funding from Progressive Bank, Amazon, Carter Federal Credit Union, SWEPCO, AT&T, CenterPoint Energy, Ochsner/LSU Health will be influenced by the state grants as well Thomas as executive director.
Thomas spends many hours attending commission committee meetings, work sessions, regular meetings, and special meetings and he travels regularly on overnight out-of-town commission soirées paid for with taxpayer dollars that will certainly reduce his working hours for the SBAACC.
As commission vice president Thomas is in line to be named commission president in January which will substantially increase his commission meeting workload.
Future commission votes by Thomas will be scrutinized from the perspective of his two constituents--his Commission district and his executive director job.
How all these factors translate into the success of the SBAACC and Thomas as its executive director is an open question.
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.