Caddo Commissioner Stormy Gage-Wats qualified for Shreveport mayor this morning.
Her home/primary residence where she has lived for many years with her family is OUTSIDE the city limits.
Gage-Watts listed her mother-in-law’s address at 5517 Ellison Street on her qualification paperwork. This address is IN the city limits.
The Shreveport City Charter only requires a “residence” in the Shreveport city limits on the day of qualifying.
The charter does NOT require a domicile in the city limits.
Gage-Watts can sleep TONIGHT on a cot at the Ellison address or in a sleeping bag in the back yard to satisfy the charter requirements.
Many believed she would use her car wash business address on Greenwood Road to qualify, but obviously she wants to have the comforts of home tonight.
Despite announcing her candidacy in January of this year, Stormy’s campaign has failed to gain traction, and it is rumored that her minister Theron Jackson has backtracked on his implied endorsement.
Her main supporter/water toter fellow Commissioner Victor Thomas has most likely backed off her campaign after being named the executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce.
Many believe Stormy qualified only to stabilize her sagging public image and to gain some political points if she withdraws, which is quite likely.
Her mayoral candidacy obviously hurts the leading African American candidate state representative Tammy Phelps and no doubt black politicos will welcome her withdrawal and have likely begin pushing for it behind the scenes.
Gage-Watts has one more year on the Commission before she is termed out which will give her plenty of time to evaluate her next political move. If she lives in Phelps House district, she could be a candidate for that seat if Phelps goes to city hall as mayor.
Stormy rarely makes public comments, including those at Commission meetings, without reading from her IPAD, just as she did at the Commission’s Economic Development Committee meeting today that she chairs.
She did not participate in the State of Black Shreveport Symposium Forum in February of this year.
Gage-Watts' mayoral campaign has been dead on arrival since the night she announced and it is likely she has accepted that reality and will withdraw from the 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.