Jeremy Alford and Mitch Rabalais / LaPolitics.com
Statistically speaking, if you’re reading this sentence in September 2018 then you probably live in a Louisiana municipality, which also means you likely reside in or near a village, town or city that’s hosting a mayoral election this fall.
While members of Congress will get the lion’s share of campaign donations and media attention, this fall will mark an important cycle for elected municipal-level jobs, particularly mayorships. In metro areas and small country settings, voters are preparing to fill the most intimate of elected positions.
From Harahan to Alexandria to Minden, the parochial contests are capturing the imaginations of voters in ways only local elections can. The developing races are being watched with general interest over at the Louisiana Municipal Association, where executive director John Gallagher and his staff are preparing for yet another transition in membership.
Such elections from local political layers typically fail to energize the masses. But that sentiment doesn’t factor in for LMA’s most human of resources, who have been observing the mayoral landscape from a distance since 1926, and then working with its winners on the administrative side of things.
“There seems to be slightly more incumbent mayors deciding not to run this cycle,” said Gallagher, adding that the broader trend involves the shrinking durations of service being posted by municipal leaders. “Just at LMA we’re losing two past presidents. So we’ve been focused on improving the services we provide to incoming mayors, and we’re looking to expand it into our online platforms.”
Over the summer, unexpected vacancies gripped politicos in Alexandria, Broussard, Crowley and Minden where the mayors had become institutions. There are another half dozen or so first-term mayors seeking re-employment on the fall ballot as well, along with a handful of interim mayors who have been living in the shadows of midterm resignations.
LaPolitics Weekly, a non-partisan trade publication for political professionals, reviewed the races for its subscribers in August and flagged an initial round of 15 mayoral matchups to keep tabs on.
The Loud One
In Shreveport, the race to replace the city’s first black woman mayor has reached an early boiling point. As unpredictable as she is controversial, Mayor Ollie Tyler is seeking re-election with nine opponents and no promises of a repeat of 2014.
If you’re just tuning into this election, then you’re late to the show. With signs planted around the city, commercials airing on television and public forums actually generating interest from reporters and voters, this mayoral race has quickly become one of Louisiana’s hottest elections — municipal or not.
Residents of the Red River city certainly knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. Last go around, voters were subjected to the details of Tyler’s involvement in her husband’s shooting death. They were pummeled with uncomfortable information about a challenger’s mental state and another candidate added mud to the Red’s political waters when he was accused of double billing legislative-related expenses.
Now Tyler is facing questions about the overcollection of taxes, mounting lawsuits and her management style.
“If something has been done wrong,” Tyler said during a recent candidate forum, “we’ll do the audit when I’m re-elected.”
Of the nine challengers, there are possible watch-me bids coming together for Caddo Parish Commissioner Steven Jackson; Jim Taliaferro, the former executive director of Shreveport Crime Stoppers; and Lee Savage, a prominent local businessman.
The election, however, took an unexpected, ugly turn this summer when Jackson allegedly became the subject of racially-charged death threats.
The Historic One
Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy surprised politicos across the state when he announced he wouldn’t seek a fourth term this fall. Roy, who had been fundraising and polling, is said to be exploring a possible statewide run in 2019.
Three candidates have qualified to fill the open seat, including state Rep. Jeff Hall, who finished second to Roy in 2014. Hall has a ready-made fundraising base in Baton Rouge, a tested campaign structure and the added motivation of wanting to exit the Legislature, whose members have been fleeing this term in the face of unprecedented pressure and uncertainty.
Hall’s profile is the largest, from the perspective of Baton Rouge, but local influencers are keeping watch on Kay Michiels, Roy’s former chief operating officer. She has qualified for the race alongside attorney Catherine Davidson.
Regardless of who’s successful in November, Alexandria will elect either its first minority mayor or its first female mayor.
The Ones That Are Over
Supplementing this wave of fresh municipal leadership statewide is a lack of candidate interest in a notable number of mayoral races. There were 10 opponent-free contenders this cycle who won in the easiest way possible — just by showing up.
Finishing before they even started, Louisiana’s elected or re-elected mayors and mayors-elect were Darla Istre of Mermentau, Don Popp of Esterwood, Johnny Thibodaux of Duson, Wayland Lafague of Kinder, Carroll Snyder of Krotz Springs, Kevin Colligan of Cankton, Tony Lamonte of Tickfaw, Patrick St. Pierre of Lutcher, Clarence Bebee of Hornbeck and Robert Maples of Ridgecrest.
The Other Ones
— In Minden, first-time candidates Terry Gardner and Winky Newer are vying to succeed retiring Mayor Tommy Davis.
— In Eunice, incumbent Scott Fontenot is seeking election to a full term as mayor after succeeding the late Rusty Moody in 2016. Fontenot, an independent, is being challenged by Democrat Tim Smith.
— Six candidates have qualified to challenge Opelousas Mayor Reggie Tatum’s second-term. Two of the candidates, Councilmen Julius Alsandor and Tyrone Glover, have often publicly feuded with the controversial mayor. Tatum, who was indicted in 2017 on 15 criminal charges by a St. Landry Parish grand jury, is awaiting trial.
— In Broussard, Mayor Charles Langlinais is retiring after seven terms in office. Councilman Ray Borque and another candidate, J.P. Morgan, are vying to succeed him.
— Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux will be facing one of his predecessors on the fall ballot. Tommy Angelle, who was the city’s mayor from 1978 to 2003, is looking to reclaim his old job. Charolette Stemmans Clavier, a former councilwoman and mayor pro-tem, also qualified.
— In Crowley, Greg Jones, the incumbent mayor, is stepping down after three terms in office. Five candidates, including four of the city’s current aldermen, are running for the top spot in city hall.
— In Rayne, GOP Mayor Chuck Robichaux is seeking a second term in the “Frog Capital.” His challengers are Democrat Brian Mouton and independent Morris Montgomery.
— Church Point Mayor Russell Stelly has drawn three challengers, most notably Alderman Gene Malbrough.
— New Roads Mayor Anthony Daisy is seeking a full term after coming into office upon the resignation of his predecessor, the target of a 2017 criminal probe. He is being challenged by local activist Cornell Dukes.
— In Hammond, Mayor Pete Panepinto is seeking his second term. Two first-time candidates are looking to unseat him.
— Bogalusa Mayor Wendy O’Quin-Perrette will be in a tight re-election race. City Councilmen Brian McCree and Doug Ritchie will join former Mayor Mack McGehee and attorney Tina Ratliff on the ballot
— Four candidates are looking to unseat Abita Springs Mayor Greg Lemons in his second-term bid. The challengers include Alderman Dan Curtis, who’s backed by Alliance for Good Government, and John Preble, the noted local artist and founder of the town’s eccentric UCM museum.
— Harahan Mayor Tina Miceli will be up against longtime City Councilman Tim Baudier.