The candidates for Shreveport mayor address the top issues of 2018
Nick WootenEight of the the 10 people who initially filed to run for Shreveport mayor remain in the race.
Incumbent Ollie Tyler, the first black woman elected mayor of Shreveport, is seeking a second term.
Also running are some other familiar faces, including Caddo Parish Commissioner Steven Jackson; Jim Taliaferro, a former police officer and the recently retired civilian leader of the Shreveport/Caddo Parish Crime Stoppers program; and Lee O. Savage, a long-time businessman.
Newer faces include Adrian Perkins, a Shreveport native who has returned after stints in the Army and at Harvard Law School. Perkins, like Jackson, Taliafero and Savage, has already begun advertising and campaigning visibly.
More:Here's who has qualified for Bossier, Caddo election 2018
More:Election advice for Caddo citizens: We must help
One other familiar face is Anna Marie Arpino, who has run unsuccessfully before.
Still other candidates are completely new: Tremecius Dixon, Jeron Rogers and John- Paul Young, none of whom has so far mounted visible campaigns.
Shreveport has traditionally elected Democratic mayors, like Tyler. The city has had only seven Republicans as mayor in its history.
The last mayor of Shreveport to serve a single term was Robert W. Williams, from 1994 to 1998. He also was the city's last Republican mayor.
The Times presented the same five questions to each of the 10 people to qualify to run for Shreveport mayor in 2018 and asked the candidates to limit each answer to 50 words. Their answers have been lightly edited for style and clarity and occasionally to get them closer to 50 words.
Here are the responses from the candidates who remain in the race.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing Shreveport?
Anna Marie Arpino, 60, Independent
The most important issue, in my opinion, is a lack of leadership.
There are a lot of problems, but the one which has the greatest overall impact is the lack of good-paying jobs in recent years. No mayor has affirmatively gone out and sought industry and jobs. I am the man who will do so. I will use my own vehicle and seek out every industry and job I can find to bring to Shreveport jobs will create economic stimulus which, in turn will remedy a lot of the city’s problems.
Steven Jackson, 32, Democrat
There is no one single issue that we have built our campaign around. As mayor, we must create a vision and implement a plan focused on smarter economic development, holistic crime fighting strategies, and invest in safe and clean neighborhoods.
Adrian Perkins, 32, Democrat
Crime. Decreasing crime starts at the top with strong leadership, beginning with the mayor. As mayor, I will ask our current police chief to resign. Our economy is directly tied to our crime problem and is a critical part of the issue. More jobs with livable wages will give our citizens positive alternatives to crime.
Jeron Rogers, 64, Democrat
The most important issue is the lack of economic opportunity for all people. More entrepreneurial activities are needed. The lack of economic opportunity; the sense of no hope spurs a lot of the crime in Shreveport.
Lee O. Savage Jr., 64, Republican
Crime, our current administration wants us to think crime is down. During the last 12 months, we have had 45 homicides, 147 rapes, 1,711 violent crimes and 10,303 property crimes. 9,800 people have moved out of Shreveport during the last five years. Nobody feels safe here. Businesses won’t move here. We will be the next Detroit if we don’t make a change now.
Jim Taliaferro, 65, Republican
The most important issue facing Shreveport is reducing crime and upholding the most basic function of government — protecting the lives and property of our citizens using proven methods and resources.
Mayor Ollie Tyler, 73, Democrat
- The spike in Crime – June 2016 through August 2017, with a trend showing a decrease in most crime categories, beginning in August 2017.
- Crumbling, ailing and neglected infrastructure.
- Underemployment and unemployment.
- Lack of pride and unity in our city.
What measures will you take to address crime in Shreveport?
Arpino
Crime must be handled in Shreveport the way that it is in large cities by the nine-point plan. I have the details of this nine-point plan but I am space limited per the newspaper. I will release details of this plan at a later date.
Dixon
We need new police leadership. We need a police chief who will create community and neighborhood police representatives who the people can contact or go to with their concerns. We need to end the duplication of policing efforts and need to coordinate our efforts with the Sheriff in order to reduce costs.
Jackson
We must develop a holistic approach to crime with an emphasis on mental health, connecting individuals to employment and expanding vocational training. We must ensure that the people who protect our city have resources to reduce and prevent crime, and stop the bleeding on our streets. Technology such as gun detection sensors and cameras can deter and solve violent crime and drug activity. I will work with the city council to establish police command centers at SPAR facilities to increase neighborhood police presence. We must partner with mental health providers.
Perkins
Again, as mayor, I will ask the for SPD Chief’s resignation and increase positive police presence in our neighborhoods. Police substations and pragmatic policies could increase officer presence to levels that we’ve not seen under the current administration. Officers will attend every neighborhood association meeting to get input from residents and to address their concerns.
Rogers
I would assemble a team of experts to advise on reorganization of the police department. This may involve bringing in a new coach. I will address the root cause of crime before it becomes a police issue.
Savage
Replace the police chief. We need a strong leader, one who will allow our officers to do their job. We have over 500 officers employed but fewer than 175 on the street protecting us. We will reallocate officers and put an additional 100 on the street. Intensify the efforts of the Jump out Boys.
Taliaferro
As the only candidate with a law enforcement background, I have not only a unique perspective on addressing crime but also an understanding into the needs of our officers. I have released a detailed plan that involves hiring more officers, manpower allocation, fiscal oversight, researching substations in high-risk areas, improving community relations and providing the police department with the modern tools and technology that will help them succeed and restore safety to our communities.
Tyler
From June 2016 to August 2017 the spike in crime has been a major concern of mine. However, the trend of reducing crime is evident from a plan that is being executed by SPD and noted by the U.S. Department of Justice office. An extension of the original plan is called "Operation S.T.O. P.," for Strategic and Tactical Oriented Policing. Starting next week SPD will roll out this new phase and share the plan at weekly community meetings in targeted neighborhoods. This phase will also continue our partnerships with all law enforcement agencies.
What infrastructure projects would you undertake as mayor?
Arpino
Water, sewage, streets and bridges. My father built the master city water line through Cross Lake in 1955, and I, with a different company, laid most of the water and sewer lines in the 1970s. I know the ones that will be wearing out and how to fix just what is needed.
Dixon
Our water and sewer structure is crumbling and largely unmapped. Our Cross Lake Dam is failing. The mayor refuses to answer questions or seek long-term relief. Our people pay too much for too little. I will undertake a world-wide response from everyone as to how to fix this long-term problem.
Jackson
We must stay on track with meeting the deadlines of our consent decree. We must also do a better job with street repairs. Currently, the City of Shreveport is paying all of its cash dedicated from the SWEPCO franchise fee to do patchwork street projects and some asphalt overlay. This is causing the city to be strapped for cash with minimal end of the year fund balances.
Perkins
Shreveport, with our port, our interstates and our airport, should be a distribution hub for this region. I will work with the local elected officials to make our regional airport international. Additionally, I’ll pursue city-wide high-speed internet, which top companies require in areas they seek to relocate.
Rogers
That would take a review of our current infrastructure needs to determine what should be a priority. However, I believe the transportation network (roads and bridges) along with the water utility will be at the top of the list.
Savage
We would adopt a Managed Street Repair Program. Currently, money is divided into each council district. Projects never get completed because of cost overruns. We would divide the city up into eight sections, select the worst two and put our money into those the first year and keep moving until they are all complete. Still have crews to fill potholes and hazardous buckles in the streets.
Taliaferro
The main infrastructure projects of my administration will focus on improving the quality of life of our citizens, quality of our roads, water, sewer as well as being “hands on” regarding air, rail and public transportation.
Tyler
My administration has addressed infrastructure with a strategic plan that has completed more than 216 street projects and installed the city's first bike lanes. We have completed $180 million in water, sewer and drainage projects, completing 33. We will complete about 80 more streets during 2018 and will continue addressing many more and installing more bike lanes. We will meet the milestones dictated by EPA under the consent decree on our sewerage system.
Do you support the $1 billion Cross Bayou Point development?
Arpino
Development is always good. But this property, I believe, was used for a different purpose in the past, and I am concerned that the soil may have been contaminated. I would need to do more research to see if the building/content would be toxic. Also research on how much of the revenues would remain in Shreveport.
Dixon
I do not. We do not have the money to spend on the water and sewer alone just to benefit the developers. The project is a boondoggle to build more low-income housing. I do not want Shreveport to be known as the next welfare city of the South.
Jackson
We must be diligent of any development that over commits public resources to support private development. This is why hiring a team of certified economic development professionals to vet ideas will be a priority. If public incentives are necessary, they must be tied to net job creation and meaningful performance metrics. We must develop Cross Bayou with citizen input and without cannibalizing existing downtown development.
Perkins
I support economic development and those that look to develop our city. However, I will need to know specific facts and gain private citizen and business input before I can support any development proposals.
Rogers
I support the development of Cross Bayou. The latest development plan is just one of several that have been undertaken over the years. I will support a viable plan that is supported by the taxpayers.
Savage
No! If we want to develop that property, we need to invest in the cleanup and then put it out for bid. Accept the best plan and the one that doesn’t ask for any taxpayer money. There’s a 20 percent developer fee attached to the Cross Point Bayou project. That’s $200 million. It would vanish faster than you can blink.
Taliaferro
I do not. Our city has a priority problem. Instead of proposing billion-dollar beautification projects like Cross Bayou or a sports complex expecting city dollars to help with the funding, we first have to prove to the citizens that through fiscal responsibility and forethought, we can provide for the basic services to enhance their quality of well-being.
Tyler
I support any solid project that brings economic development to our area. However, this project needs more detail and due diligence before the city can support the proposal.
What would you do as mayor to promote Shreveport's economy and bring jobs?
Arpino
I would need to contact logistics companies to come to our city. However, I would first need to get the crime rate fixed so that companies would want to come. Being a degreed accountant, I can fix tax incentives to lure companies here.
Dixon
Each person who is part of my administration will report to me on every Friday at 9 a.m. as to what efforts they have made to bring jobs to Shreveport. I personally will go anywhere, anytime to bring jobs and to promote our city. Ours and our children’s future depends on it.
Jackson
We will hire a team of team of non-political certified economic development professionals to recruit and retain businesses in advanced manufacturing, distribution, technology and water management. We must also look inward to spur job creation by investing in local entrepreneurs, by expanding the city's existing film tax-credit program for tech companies, encouraging business/food co-ops and strengthening relationship with Industrial Development Board and Minority Supplier Institute.
Perkins
I will go out and actively market Shreveport in national magazines and to international companies like I already have, rather than waiting for businesses to come to us. We must become attractive to companies like Amazon by upgrading our infrastructure. As mayor, those are two things I will pursue to increase jobs.
Rogers
I would fully staff an economic development department under the mayor's office. I would make policy changes within the MPC. The MPC needs to be more business friendly.
Savage
We first have to reduce crime, clean up our city, fix our streets and stop corruption. Then we will hire an economic development director to go after businesses around the world. We are soon to be a major transportation hub with I-49 and I-20. We will develop small businesses to supply the larger ones moving here.
Taliaferro
As the chief marketing officer for the city, I have released a plan to grow our economy, bring back business and increase the number of high-quality jobs for every neighborhood. This includes cutting taxes and wasteful spending, getting rid of red tape that hinders business, establishing an economic development advisory board and strengthening our workforce by encouraging apprenticeships and vocational training.
Tyler
Major employers have remained in Shreveport because of our low cost of doing business, low cost of living, excellent transportation network and great quality-of-life events. We will continue to market those assets and to increase awareness with citizens through job fairs, skills’ training, small business summits and Smart Cities Initiatives. New businesses locating here during 2017 showed growth in our economy (approximately 70 new businesses/entrepreneurs started and 30 expanded, and a decrease in the unemployment rate occurred). The changes with MPC will allow for a more business-friendly exchange.