Shreveport City Council approves new chief technology officer, city attorney

Nick Wooten
Shreveport Times

The Shreveport City Council on Tuesday approved three mayoral appointments, including the city's first chief technology officer and smart cities director.

Mayor Adrian Perkins announced the nominations several weeks ago. Perkins tapped Keith Hanson, a former Shreveport software executive, to serve as chief technology officer and smart cities director.

Hanson formerly led Twin Engine Labs, a software development company that merged with another company to form Ruby Shore in December. Hanson ran unsuccessfully for the District D City Council seat in the November 2018 city elections.

Keith Hanson, president of Ruby Shore Software in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Hanson said he is beginning his work on three major areas: cost-cutting measures for the city, projects like universal broadband and transparency efforts that allow citizens to engage with city government such as the creation of a website that breaks down the city's budget.

"Everything that we can possibly release to the public that is public data — it's my intention in the next four years to have online (and) searchable," he said.

Perkins also selected Mekisha Creal, formerly of the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office, to serve as the new city attorney.

Before Perkins was elected mayor, he interned under Creal in early 2018. She had worked in the Caddo District Attorney's Office since 2012, most recently leading its human trafficking prosecutions.

Mekisha Smith Creal may be the new city attorney, per the district attorney's Facebook Page.

Creal said she'll work to close gaps left after the city attorney seat was left vacant for nearly a month.

"I'm honored that he considered me as someone for this position," she said.

Tracey C. Graham will serve as chief of the Bureau of Special Programs. She'll manage grants and oversee special programs, including the implementation of the Choice Neighborhood grant.

With nearly two decades of banking experience, she most recently served as a regional vice president for BancorpSouth for Louisiana and southeast Mississippi. She was not at Tuesday's meeting.

The council approved Graham and Creal's appointments 7-0. Hanson was approved 6-1 with Councilman James Flurry casting the lone "no."