Local Democrats have several Democratic choices for mayor and most are focusing on Representative Tammy Phelps and Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts.
They are both registered Democrats and both are African-American females. Other than that, the commonalities are next to none.
Here is a quick, and admittedly incomplete, list of their differences.
1. Phelps lives in the Shreveport city limits and Stormy does not.
2. Phelps' home is valued under $100,000 while Stormy’s is valued at $400,000.
3. Phelps has an undergraduate and a graduate degree; Stormy lacks a college degree.
4. Phelps won a wide-scale Representative contest while Stormy won a small Commission district race.
5. Phelps' house district includes a substantial portion of Shreveport while Gage-Watt’s commission district has very few Shreveport voters.
6. Phelps works as an education administer and Stormy runs a car wash/detail shop.
7. Phelps is endorsed by State Senator Sam Jones who also lives in the Shreveport City limits and Stormy is endorsed by Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn who like Stormy lives in the parish outside the city limits.
8. Phelps reported campaign funds on hand at the end of 2025 in the amount of $34,600; Gage-Watts has no campaign reports listed on the Louisiana Ethics Commission website.
There are, of course, many other differences between the ladies, some being important and others just social media chatter. All this and 10 bucks will buy one a great treat at Starbucks.
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.