Shreveport.com

Shreveport.com (http://www.shreveport.com/forums/index.php)
-   Government & Politics (http://www.shreveport.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39)
-   -   I'm voting for _______ for Shreveport Mayor, and here's why: (http://www.shreveport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223)

Mudbug 09-03-2006 11:45 PM

I'm voting for _______ for Shreveport Mayor, and here's why:
 
Tell me why you're going to vote for a specific candidate over the others. There's got to be a better reason for voting for these people than "I like their advertising signs better" or "I think they're a better looking person" than the other candidates.

This is a perfect place to sound off on why you think a person should win the race, and for you to get your point across to a group of other interested people in Shreveport.

One thing I ask - if you make a point about a candidate's stance on something, please be prepared to back it up with statements by that candidate in regards to what you're talking about.

If you're voting strictly on race lines, take that somewhere else, because we're not interested in that here (regardless of which side of that line you're on).

Bob 09-04-2006 12:09 AM

Good topic
 
and to be honest, I haven't formed an opinion as of yet. Not sure where anyone stands.. WHEN IS THE FREAKIN' ELECTION anyway ? Ok. so I'm out of the loop a little bit here :-)


Mudbug 09-04-2006 12:12 AM

election is September 30 - so coming right up.

my bet is that nobody really knows much of anything about any of them, and are voting on gut instinct of what they look like, which yard signs look the best, or name recognition on when they get to the polls.

I don't have a candidate picked as of yet, since I personally know little or nothing about any of them, other than their party affiliation (and wouldn't bet on that either).

Al Swearengen 09-04-2006 12:23 AM

Im with you on this one Bob..no solid opinions yet...except one thing Im sure of is I dont think Liz Swain should be our next mayor. Over the years, Ive found myself standing in close proximity to her a few times, and Ive observed the way she comes across when dealing with the common citizen. I always came away with the impression that she's a bit egocentric. This was noticeable even back in the day when she was a local anchor/semi-celebrity at KTBS. She exudes an air of snobbery that I never cared much for. I like my civil servants to have a keen grasp of precisely that fact..that they work for you and I. They should know their place, and I dont think Swain has the right attitude for such a position, regardless of what she might claim to the contrary.

Mudbug 09-04-2006 12:26 AM

Al Swearengen - do you feel that Keith Hightower has a different disposition to the public, or follows the same feel as Swain?

LateNight 09-04-2006 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudbug
Al Swearengen - do you feel that Keith Hightower has a different disposition to the public, or follows the same feel as Swain?

Uh oh.. you may have just opened up a can of worms.. if ol Al replies to this one :-) I'll stand back and watch :-)

Mudbug 09-04-2006 12:35 AM

maybe so, but it will still give me at least someone's take on swain other than that she worked for hightower and was on tv once. Past that, she's just another name in the hat to me...

Al Swearengen 09-04-2006 12:50 AM

Well Mudbug, I would say that Hightower was marginally more personable/approachable than his erstwhile acolyte, but only JUST. If Swain wants the job, it would behoove her to adopt a more servile attitude than the one she seems to have always had, and I doubt she can/could/would. Hell, when ya get right down to it, Im highly suspicious of ANYONE that desires political office. But my instincts tell me that she couldnt care less about the citizens of Shreveport..unless they're contributing to her election campaign.

Mudbug 09-04-2006 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Swearengen
But my instincts tell me that she couldnt care less about the citizens of Shreveport..unless they're contributing to her election campaign.

I couldn't agree more. So I guess that's what I getting at with all this - why in the world should I actually cast my vote for any of these folks. There's 11 of them in all running, and other than their names and (for only a few) their prior business positions, I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about any of them. Nothing good, nothing bad, just plain nothing.

I drove down Youree yesterday on my way to the office and saw a smattering of signs for a bunch of them, and thought "I don't have a clue, and probably should." But what it comes down to is that I still don't have a clue who to vote for, and no good way of coming across a concise look at each of them that gives me their stances either way on the group of issues facing Shreveport.

There's lots of stuff to fix, lots of things to "throw money at" and lots of ways one idea could be seen as better than the other. I'm one of those folks that looks more on the lines of a candidate most closely representing my views instead of just following the party lines of things. I'd much rather vote for someone on the opposite side of the party fence from myself if their motives and actions show me they really have my best interest at heart, instead of just saying they'll do something to attract a specific segment of the votes. But in this case, I can't even find what they want to do about the problems, much less which one is closest to my own views on things.

Al Swearengen 09-04-2006 01:03 AM

Near as I can tell, theyre all just a bunch of phony elitist A-holes that are only concerned with gettin elected, and after that, re-elected. Show me a guy who DOESNT want to be mayor, and I'll show you our best choice!

LateNight 09-04-2006 01:03 AM

KSLA has a Candidate Bios & Platform page they've put online.

Anyone know if there is any kind of Televised debate to be held at any point ? Or is there so little a public interest, they don't take the time ?

Latenight.

Mudbug 09-04-2006 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateNight
KSLA has a Candidate Bios & Platform page they've put online.

Anyone know if there is any kind of Televised debate to be held at any point ? Or is there so little a public interest, they don't take the time ?

Latenight.

excellent - thanks. :)

Shreveopolis 09-04-2006 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudbug
excellent - thanks. :)

Ok MUDBUG we'll be waiting for the Readers' Digest version of that report :-) I tried to read it, but I lost interest :(

Mudbug 09-04-2006 03:05 AM

Reader's Digest Version
 
here's my take, one by one, by what I saw there (regardless of party affiliation, to be fair - just on what's written). Just keep in mind this is my take on KSLA's rundown - not necessarily correct.

Let's go on the assumption they all want better schools, police & fire departments. that's kinda a given...

Arlena Acree: Republican - doesn't have a concise plan for development, but thinks having shreveport make money is a good idea. Seems like she's got more ideas for increasing new business than helping existing business.

Vernon Adams:
Republican - wants to run the city like a business. Clock in, clock out, make money, go home, spend money, rinse, repeat. And raise the rent for your renters in the process.

Madjun Ali
- we know nothing - why is this person wasting his money and our time?

Ed Bradley - Democrat - seems well aware of the problems and shortcoming in Shreveport, but offers no suggestions on how he might change those things.

Cedric Glover - Democrat - is proud of his prior financial boons to the city (and should be, for that matter...) but offers no suggestions on how to carry on new development in the city.

Tim Goeders - Republican - past that, nothing - why is this person wasting their money and our time? (for the record, I saw this guy on KTBS sports during the Saints pregame show, and just so you know, he looks like Joe Haynes - that's all I got... sorry folks...)

Henry Hodge-Bey - we know nothing - why is this person wasting his money and our time?

Jerry Jones - Republican - reads like he has a "campaign strategist" writing all his stuff instead of what he really thinks. Unless he talks about himself in the 3rd person... which would really creep me out. Too "political" of answers that don't tell you anything you didn't already know from the picture.

Max Malone - Republican - we know nothing - why is this person wasting his money and our time?

Wilson McMullan - we know nothing - why is this person wasting his money and our time?

Liz Swaine - Democrat - sees problems all over the city - and offers pseudo-suggestions on how to change things.

does that help?

rhertz 09-04-2006 05:35 PM

I am not informed enough to make a decision yet, however regarding Bradley and Swaine, I'm curious about what seems to be a trend in "TV personalities" and "movie stars" involved in politics in general. Instead of actors and talking heads, how about some writers and producers jumping in! I think I would trust those groups more, even if they don't look as good. Maybe we would have more substance if that were the case.

This would be my vote for a favorite Shreveport mayor:
* Any direct relative of Capt Henry Shreve
* A famous H.S. football coach
* The producers of this website
* Who ever produced the Louisiana Boardwalk
* Jebb Bush (no save him for New Orleans mayor)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:53 AM.

Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
2008 Shreveport.com