Looks like Burrell is in for the Shreveport mayor's race

Burrell

An e-mail from state Rep. Roy Burrell's office this evening said the Shreveport legislator plans to formally announce his candidacy for mayor in the coming weeks. That comes more than a week after he publicly floated the idea.

When he makes it official, we'll publish the official brief we do for political candidates. Until then, check here for updates. A Facebook supporter group also should appear soon, the e-mail said.

“There is a growing concern among many citizens, businesses,and clergy regarding the lack of easy access to,and open communication and timely responses from City Hall. I will work to restore the confidence of the people that the mayor’s office should still be the people’s office," Burrell said. “I will continue to work with the city’s leaders to strengthen and revitalize the entire community from the inside out, making Shreveport a safer and more attractive place to live. To be great, Shreveport must become more than just another city … it must become a new destination.”

So far, Mayor Cedric Glover has indicated he will run for re-election, and City Councilman Bryan Wooley announced last week that he will seek the seat.

More from the Glover 'Mardi Gras' reception/campaign fundraiser

Peterson at Glover's fundraiser on Tuesday.

Here's what didn't make the article about Mayor Cedric Glover's soft launch Tuesday of his re-election campaign. I hear some in attendance received invitations that stated the event was a fundraiser. (Glover later told me it was.) But the one I saw never mentioned that. It said only that Glover would make a "major announcement" about Mardi Gras.

Former City Councilman Dee Peterson and chair of Glover's transition committee introduced the mayor. Peterson said he didn’t vote for Glover in 2006 but that he will this year. "He makes sure the trains run on time, and he has great vision," Peterson said.

Glover later returned the compliment, saying a former and long-time City Hall staffer credits Peterson as being Shreveport's best councilman. Glover – who was on the council before his time in the state Legislature and on the second floor at Government – is No. 2 to her. "I'm glad to have you on my side this time," Glover said to Peterson.

The mayor called his wife and "warrior princess" Veronica to his side for his speech. The accomplishments he noted include:

• Refinancing city debt that had fluctuating interest rates.

• Improving quality of life (Peterson mentioned Glover's property standards push, T.B.O.N.E., earlier).

And the promises:

• Mardi Gras parades will stay in Shreveport and in the Broadmoor and Captain Shreve neighborhoods along East Kings Highway.

• Shreveport will have a dog park.

State Rep. Roy Burrell, of Shreveport, considering a run for mayor

State Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport.

 

Late last week journalists and politicos circulated a press release from state Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport, that said he is thinking about running for mayor. It was not quite an announcement, hence the lack of play in a news article.

Burrell is testing the waters to see whether more businesses and residents will back him. Here's an excerpt:

"Whether you are the first or the last mayor, black notwithstanding, you must keep this city moving and progressing," Burrell said about Mayor Cedric Glover. "Shreveport already has the basic infrastructure in place to be more advanced, but the momentum has been delayed in the last four years. Many people in the city are of the same opinion, it is time to get someone in city hall who can move Shreveport to the next level, and effectuate visible and productive impact and change."

A decision will come soon, Burrell said. We already know City Councilman Bryan Wooley, a Republic who represents southeast Shreveport, also may challenge Glover. Word on Wooley's decision is expected this month. And unless he tells me otherwise, I think we can safely say Glover, a Democrat, plans to seek a second term.

The election is in October. We'll know who the real contenders are come July, when candidates must qualify, or officially sign up to run.