Mayoral re-election invite I almost missed

 Glover and wife, Veronica Glover, at the April re-election event.

Just when I thought Mayor Cedric Glover forgot to invite me to his official re-election party, which is Thursday, I got an e-mailed press release this afternoon. Granted, that's about a week after at least one other reporter received this (nicely designed, I might add) mailed invitation.

The "Jazz & Jambalaya" event is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Barnwell Garden & Arts Center downtown. Shreveporters are invited, according to the news release, for free food and drinks. And that'll be paid for by the Cedric B. Glover Campaign Committee. Parking, also at no charge, is available at the city garage across Clyde Fant Parkway from Barnwell and next to Sci-Port: Louisiana's Discovery Center. The campaign also will pay for shuttle service.

Burnadine Anderson, who put in quite a few years talking to the media for Caddo schools, is Glover's campaign coordinator. (She's retired.) Anderson's also sitting as a "citizen" on the mayor's airport task force.

Michael Corbin, director at Barnwell, is running for City Council District D. He also sells life insurance. Barnwell has had a Thursday night jazz concert series this summer.

If you'll remember, Glover already announced his campaign back in April. That meeting was billed as a big announcement for Mardi Gras, but what was offered was a vague promise to keep Carnival celebrations in Shreveport. No other local politicians are really pushing to send the parades back to Bossier City. That was one of many highlights he listed among accomplishments since winning an office on Government Plaza's second floor.

So we'll see what tomorrow and the rest of election season brings. Candidates qualify (i.e. officially register) to run next week. That's when we see who's serious.

Outtakes on last trash truck meeting, and looking forward

Worker Kevin Colins, works in the 6100 block of Ambleside Drive on June 21st.
Jim Hudelson/The Times

I got a little tied up last week, so please forgive the time away from blogging. (See my oil spill story for part of the distraction.)

So the Shreveport City Council's new committee on solid waste meets again tomorrow. On the agenda: financing the $2.4 million purchase of 15 garbage packers, plus the timeline in which Shreveport can get that done. (That's at 2 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at Government Plaza.)

Council chair Joyce Bowman has pledged to get workers in newer vehicles (with air conditioning) by next month.

Beyond trash collection logistics and employee issues, the most intriguing parts of last week's dialogue

According to Councilman Monty Walford, though, the city can't continue that way much longer. With a minimal monthly fee of $2.50 to the 60,000 or customers, Shreveport could replace about 12 trucks a year. The vehicles in use now are at least five years old. And they're worn out, officials and workers say.

Walford knows, though, that adding a fee is a tough political fight. Councilman Joe Shyne put that in perspective in asking Walford thinks the fee should start.

"Bryan is running for mayor," Shyne said. "I'm running for re-election. I'm just trying to be practical." (Bryan is Councilman Wooley, of course.)

Interestingly, Bossier City uses Shreveport's trash services and charges a lot more, comparatively. That city receives $16 a month, via water bills.

So what are your thoughts?

Announced mayoral candidate promotes Libertarian meeting

In case you missed it, here is announced Shreveport mayoral candidate Parker Ward's most recent letter to the editor.

Essentially, Ward says, the Caddo Parish Libertarian party is organizing. It will meet at 6 p.m. June 28 at El Chico on Greenwood Road.

Previously, Ward has written about the U.S. being a republic vs. a democracy and given some observations on local politics, for instance: "Our leaders are elected to serve everyone and not just those who voted for them. I am one who believes they should listen to the majority public opinion of the people in their district."

Ward also expressed his support in 2008 for Chester T. "Catfish" Kelley in the Congressional race against now-Rep. John Fleming. Kelley, owner of Catfish Landing restaurant, provided Ward with free food and a venue for his candidacy announcement. That's something Kelley said he offers once to any local political candidate.

Staffer quits Mayor Cedric Glover's office

I'm back on the job in Shreveport after spending most of last week reporting on the  Gulf oil spill.  Honestly, it feels in many ways like I never left. This blog entry details one of the dozen or so City Hall-related phone calls or texts I fielded while in south Louisiana.

As posted on my Twitter feed, Chloe Haygood, assistant to Mayor Cedric Glover, has quit. Her last day was June 18. She is getting married in August and plans to move to New Orleans, where her fiance lives, after her wedding.

Haygood said in a phone call that she still believes in Glover's mission and abilities. She campaigned for him in 2006, so she's put in a good four years. She said she needs the next few months to focus on getting her new life in order.

Much of Haygood's official work focused on community groups and events. She oversaw Glover's summer internship programs, for instance. I use "official" because duties often overlap in the mayor's office.

More background on Haygood:

• Ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 electiStaffer quits Mayor Cedric Glover's officeon against incumbent Willie Burton for the seat in Caddo School Board District 3.
• Daughter of Carolyn Jones, among the first black students to integrate Shreveport's white public schools. Granddaughter of the Rev. E.E. Jones, a civil rights leader and pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.
• In 2008 – the most recent year I’ve got information at my fingertips – her salary was about $78,000.

And follow this link to watch a video about the role of Haygood's family in the Civil Rights Movement.

Former Shreveport Fire Chief Cochran to leave federal post

Caught this Atlanta Journal Constitution article on Shreveport native and former Fire Chief recently. Kelvin Cochran left that city's top fire post for the nations pinnacle in firefighting.

But he'll be returning to Atlanta soon. We don't have many more details besides that. It'll be interesting to see those.

Glover's full comments on firing of airports director

I'll be heading to the Gulf Coast soon to cover the oil spill, so the blog will be pretty quiet this week. (Check Twitter for updates, though: www.twitter.com/akcausey.)

Since Mayor Cedric Glover's news release came in late in the production day Friday (he didn't respond to interview requests), I thought I'd post all of it here. It's his response to Council Chairowman (and mayor pro tem while Glover is out of state) Joyce Bowman firing Shreveport airports director Roy Miller.

MAYOR GLOVER COMMENTS ON MAYOR PRO TEM’S TERMINATION OF AIRPORT DIRECTOR

From the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mayor Cedric B. Glover issues the following statement:

“I have been advised by the Mayor Pro Tem of the termination of the City’s Airport Director Roy Miller.  In accordance with the City Charter she was certainly within her rights and authority and was empowered to do so as Mayor Pro Tem. She was not required to and did not consult with me before taking this action.  Although I am not fully aware of her reasons, as of today Mr. Miller’s termination is legitimate and he has been relieved of all duties.    

While I have long advocated for change in our airport operations based upon the challenges of limited options and high air fares, this change must extend beyond the mere replacement of the airport director.  Obviously, there are those who are dissatisfied with Mr. Miller’s performance, however the Airport Director is nominated by the Airport Authority and it is this same Authority that just two months ago gave Mr. Miller a unanimous vote of confidence.  And they have not given me any indication of a change in their position. 

With Mr. Miller’s termination, the City’s Code of Ordinances requires that the Airport Authority nominate a director to the Mayor.  In order to truly effect change even at the director level, it may be necessary now to recognize that change must be made at the  Authority level.

Although I previously sought to make changes in the composition of the Authority, I am encouraged that with this action the Council Chair and the Council may be open to sitting down and discussing the need to make adjustments in the composition of the board.   

I look forward to meeting with the Council Chair and members of the Council upon my return as well as discussions with the Airport Authority itself in reviewing this situation and making a determination on how we go forward.   

The current operations at the airport are in need of much improvement.  We will continue the work of the Northwest Louisiana Air Service Task Force as they seek ways to enhance, and improve our operations and service.  I am encouraged by the work they have done so far and I look forward to their recommendations on how we can improve the operations and levels of service at Shreveport Regional Airport.” 

Oil spill: What does the Shreveport (and Bossier City) area need to know?

If you missed the online update, The Times is reaching out to northwest Louisiana and trying to talk with folks who have a connection to the oil spill in the gulf. I'll be heading down there soon for some dispatches.

So obviously, if any of you have a story to tell, let me know.

But even if you don't, let me know what you think may have been missed in the state and national coverage. What have you heard that you'd like explained better? And what has gone untold that you think deserves some light?

Thanks in advance for any insight shared. If you don't want to post publicly, you know the other ways to reach me: acausey@gannett.com or (318) 459-3249.

Shreveport mayor set for trip to OKC in natural gas-powered SUV

Mayor Cedric Glover is set for a road trip Thursday in a vehicle that can run on gasoline or compressed natural gas.

Glover will be boarding a Chesapeake Energy Corp. bifuel Chevrolet Tahoe on the way to a U.S. Conference of Mayors gathering in Oklahoma City. Company representatives will be along for the ride.

The crew will make the six-hour trip on CNG and switch to gasoline when necessary, according to a news release. They will refueling at a natural gas station near Dallas.

City council members, with Glover's support, approved a few natural gas-related (and Chesapeake) proposals today. Read about those here.

Shreveport City Council races now have two Jenkins

Today marked the arrival of a second Jenkins in Shreveport City Council races.

Sam Jenkins, currently a Caddo Commissioner, will seek the seat of outgoing Council Chariwoman Joyce Bowman. That'd be Queensborough and west Shreveport's District G.

Oliver Jenkins announced more than a month ago that he is running for District B, which includes Broadmoor and parts of South Highlands. Sitting Councilman Michael Long said he won't run again.

I haven't asked yet whether the two are kin, but it will be ting to have two people with the same last name on the council should their bids be successful.

Both also have received endorsements from the current council members representing those areas.

In other District B news, Jake Toloso plans officially to announce his plans to run for the seat on Tuesday.

Caddo Commission considers The Times as official journal

About this time last year I blogged about Shreveport picking its official journal, or the publication where announcements, requests for proposals, minutes, etc... are printed.

Well, the annual event has come around for the Caddo Commission, and there was some interesting action at today's meeting. For the past several years, the commission has gone with a partnership between The Caddo Citizen and Shreveport Sun.

But today, because of two absent commissioners, there was a 5-5 tie between the papers. So commissioners decided to put off (or continue, in government terms) the vote until June 17.

My boss, Times Publisher Pete Zanmiller, made his pitch today.

"Really, the issue is transparency and getting out to as many people as possible," Zanmiller said.

No, he did not ask me to write this. But I have to agree. Besides saving a few cents per line, there's no real public advantage in going with the other two papers. No disrespect intended. But when publications are weekly and go out to 4,000-5,000 people versus 40,000-plus most days and 50,000 or more on Sundays, there's no question. Sometimes the commission has to hold off on votes because of the timeframe it has to wait to notify the public because of a weekly's deadline.

So does the commission really want the public to be aware of what it's doing? We'll see how members show up and vote on the 17th.

Caddo commissioner planning run for Shreveport mayor

Here's another name to add to the hat for the Shreveport mayor's race.

Caddo Commissioner David Cox, who represents District 10 (much of southwest Shreveport including Southern Hills and nearby unincorporated areas in the parish), told me today that he will formally announce in the next week or so that he will make a run.

Money management, he said, will be his main focus in the campaign. Talking with folks over the last six months pushed him toward the decision.

"They need somebody who they can talk to, depend on and know that they come from the same side of the tracks they do: a working man," Cox said about his hopeful voters. He plans to change his registration from Republican to independent.

So that makes five contenders: Cox, Mayor Cedric Glover, City Councilman Bryan Wooley, State Rep. Roy Burrell and Shreveporter Parker Ward. They still all have to qualify.

Burrell's staff recently scheduled an sit-down interview with me, by the way. I'll keep y'all posted.

Caddo chimes in on Shreveport railroad closure plans

While Shreveport officials work on how to appease angry residents and please Union Pacific Railroad on planned crossing closures, their Government Plaza neighbors are talking about it.

In today's Caddo Commission work session, Commissioner Ken Epperson asked Parish Administrator Woody Wilson what was going on.

"It’s pretty much up in the air," Wilson said. "We think the city of Shreveport might be changing their mind about that contract.”

Maybe the city and parish can take up the issue Friday in a scheduled intergovernmental meeting. Until then, I hear Mayor Cedric Glover should meet soon with Union Pacific reps. And Shreveporters are calling the governor's office saying their local officials did not represent them.

Get the background here.