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).

Good topic
 

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).

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.

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 :-)

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...

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.

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.

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!

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. :)

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

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?

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)

LOL, that's funny, thing is, he looks like someone who would refer to himself in a third person "Jerry's runnin' for Mayor!"


Kansast

I Like Liz
 

Anyone who lives in Highland and uses the word FUNKY in their website is ok with me. She also is the one candidate that realizes that the Arts is important to our community as well as her position on the city's responsibility for supporting it are key as well as knowing that a vibrant art community is a great draw for enticing new business and industry to our area.

First off, I myself have lived in the Highland area, and while parts of it are very nice, the rest of it is a ghetto. I can assure you "Liz" does not live in the latter. Why is it our pool of political candidates always hail from the ranks of the phony intelligente? I'm disgusted with the whole damn thing.

LOL , what we need is a grassroots effort.. Get ol' "AL" here elected :)

I've become more and more disillusioned with the types of folks who appear to run for "office".

Al Swearengen for Mayor!
 

We need some old-fashioned common-sense early-American spirit in current day government! As long as we keep re-electing the "same ole same ole", the results will be the same.

Mayoral Forum Tonight LSUS
 

If you really want change, be vocal and let your voices be heard. Force your elected officials to perform to your standards and don't settle for less. Don't sit back and accept the same ol and don't be disillusioned. Call me an idealist, but I see that the voters can make a difference. By the way, be sure to vote and get your neighbors to vote as well. Apathy is the biggest asset of mediocrity.

Figured it out
 

I want to vote for Jerry Bradley.?.?.?

Seriously, my values will not allow me to vote for a democrat, but after listening to the latest forum, Ed Bradley says the most of what I like to hear. Crime enforcement and downtown development are two issues I thought he had great responses for. Too bad he's not conservative.

if the man represent the way you feel about things, what difference does it make what party his voter registration card says?

I think that's my biggest problem about our partisan system - many folks won't even look at the issues and how the candidates plan to address them. Instead, folks look at the (D) or (R) after their name and just blindly pick.

Politics give me a headache give me a drink and some head banging rock and we can rock n roll!!!

Two types of people in this world, those who drink too much, and those who drink to little.

Good music, good 'spirits' and good friends.. what else do ya need :cool:

I don't drink enough and I don't have enough RL friends.

I need more heh

With your outgoing and bubbly personality, somehow I doubt that. IMHO, the best friends are RL friends who keep in touch virtually. It's nice to know the face and voice behind the text. I have RL friends all over the country now, but we don't see each other often enough, usually at conventions and such.

what's an RL friend?

Real Life = RL
 

I have found that my virtual friends are easier to deal with.

Demo (crats) or (litionists)
 

For me, it goes way deeper than what their party is. Until democrats cease to support the ACLU, make a stand against illegal immigration, vote against increasing welfare and minority set asides, I will be forced to vote Republican or Independant. Even if I like Bradley's ideas, his root platform still involves these positions which I strongly disagree with. These values are most important to me personally. Others have different values.

I will stick my neck out and make a prediction. It will come down to 3 candidates; Jerry Jones, Liz Swaine, and Arlene Acree. This is purely based on all the yard signs I see around town. :)

Repu (blicans) or (lsive)
 

I say thank god for the ACLU! It sometimes seems like they are all that stand between me and the republicans with their liberty destroying "Acts of Patriotism".

So you support this:
1.) The ACLU actively supports affirmative action. School admissions programs that consider race along with other factors are often necessary to achieve the vast educational benefits that flow from a racially diverse student body and to remedy past discrimination.

2.)The ACLU filed suit against the State of Alaska after it passed a law earlier this year that would have re-criminalized adult use and possession of small amounts of marijuana within the home. http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/decri...s20060711.html

3.)The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland applauded today’s decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals unanimously ruling that the reckless endangerment statute does not apply to women who take drugs while pregnant.
http://www.aclu.org/privacy/medical/...s20060803.html

4.)Requiring patrol officers to use a bi-lingual written consent form whenever a search is requested during a traffic stop. Is it me or shouldn't everyone in America be forced to speak English at least a little bit?
http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/ra...s20060803.html

These are just a few I found in a hurry and notice these are from the ACLU website.

I will also mention that it is sickening to know the ACLU represented a part time father that did not want his daughter to hear a prayer in school because he didn't believe in God.

I will also mention that it is sickening that they sued to change the Pledge of Allegiance in order not to offend people of differing beliefs.

I will also mention that it is sickening that they strong armed the retail industry into saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Is this what you support. I'm not saying support the republican party, but for heaven's sakes why would you support the ACLU?

Am Curious to Learn more about yoU
 

So are you saying that the ACLU has done nothing that you can support?

Whatever they have done that I may find admirable, it is most assuredly outshadowed by what they have done against my desires.

Please vote for SBCmetroguy.

I'm a smooth talker who could make Jerry Jones sound like Stuttering John, I'm blacker than Ed Bradley, sexier than Liz Swaine ever thought of being, more knowledgeable than any of the no-name candidates (hint: Goeders, Ali, et al,) and I can relate to old people better than Vernon Adams. Anyone I'm leaving out? Arlena Acree... anyone? Well, obviously no one cares about her because no one spoke up.

And best of all, my striking good looks make Keith Hightower look like Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade.

The time has come, Shreveport. Rise up and vote for the only candidate who cares about you personally... SBCmetroguy.

Wow, I admit that you seem to have more appeal than most of the real candidates! Heck, I'll vote for you! (Since Al doesn't seem interested in the job)

Final question. Are you willing to pluck out your eyebrows and draw them back in with a pencil? If so, then you may very well be the super-candidate for mayor! Good Luck to you!