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Mayoral Candidates Q&A What You May Not Know
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NOVEMBER 8!
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mayoral candidates SHREVEPORT
Shreveport voters will soon have a chance to help determine the future direction of the city by selecting the next mayor. SB Magazine posed questions to the ten candidates and include the Q&A here from the leading candidates. For the full Q&A and to find out what each candidate loves most about Shreveport, visit sbmag.net.
Tom Arceneaux
What is your long-term vision for Shreveport?
I want Shreveport to be a safe, well-managed, clean community. I’d like it again to be an All-American City, a designation it last achieved in 1999. I want Shreveporters to be proud of their home, to be ambassadors for it as a place to live, work, play, and raise a family. We can do that if we work together.
What are your recommendations for increasing economic development?
Here are several recommendations: (a) reduce the bureaucracy for getting permits and starting businesses; (b) consult with local businesses to find out what the city can do to help and to get out of the way; (c) work with Louisiana Economic Development department, chambers of commerce, and North Louisiana Economic Partnership to facilitate recruitment of large employers.
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or helping small home-grown businesses grow and why?
This is not an either-or issue. We need to be doing both. The city, however, can have greater short-term impact by helping home-grown businesses to grow or get started. We should pay close attention to the businesses and people who are already here. Most large business transactions will start with the state or outside economic development professionals. The city should play a supportive role in those efforts, with the mayor in the lead.
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
Violent crime presents a short-term and a long-term challenge. In the short term, we need as many officers doing direct police work as possible, even if that means using reserve or auxiliary officers or civilians in office positions when possible. In the long term, we must reduce the number of dilapidated buildings and other breeding grounds for crime and develop better relationships with the people in our neighborhoods.
What plans do you have for infrastructure improvements?
Because of federal dollars flowing from COVID relief, as well as improved sales tax collections, the city has millions of dollars that are not allocated for specific items. I plan to use those dollars first to address repairs to streets and drainage systems. Then I will treat the balance like a bond issue, appointing a citizens committee to recommend priorities for more improvement.
How will you approach the budgeting process and what are your priorities?
The budget process is one of my strengths. We must provide basic services with excellence. After that, we must communicate to citizens the honest budget choices by identifying levels of service that would be affected, so citizens can have meaningful input into the choices. When I was on the City Council, the city did that, and I plan to implement a similar process as mayor. We must restore public confidence in the city’s financial management.
Do you propose to add or remove any departments and how will you keep department heads accountable?
I propose to separate the management of public buildings from the provision of parks and recreation services. In addition, I proposed to place the Finance Director (now called a “Chief Financial Officer”) back under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The city can implement both proposals without any increase in the city operating budget.
How do you propose to address population decline in Shreveport?
Once citizens perceive that the city is safe, professionally managed, and well maintained, the attraction of living closer in town will cause the city
to grow. I also plan to focus on redevelopment of close-in neighborhoods, particularly historical neighborhoods, to encourage a return to the city.
Do you have a plan to bring in tourism dollars and how?
Shreveport has many great attractions – historical neighborhoods, live music and theater, great restaurants. I plan to be front and center in promoting those attractions in the region, as well as to assist in attracting large groups. Amateur athletic tournaments and events have unrealized potential to draw families to Shreveport for events.
How will you measure your own success?
I plan to set forth a long-term and short-term plan, with measurable objectives, once I am in office. I will measure myself, and my department heads, by achievement of those objectives, which I will publish for citizens to see. Beyond that, I will be able to judge my success by the proud of their home, to be attitudes and temperaments of Shreveporters. If they are prouder of their city, I will know we have succeeded.
development?
Here are several recommendations: (a) reduce the bureaucracy for getting permits and starting businesses; (b) consult with local businesses to find Louisiana Economic Development department, chambers of commerce,
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or helping small home-grown businesses grow and why?
This is not an either-or issue. We need to be doing both. The city, businesses to grow or get started. We should pay close attention to the businesses and people who are already here. Most large business transactions will start with the state or outside economic development professionals. The city should play a supportive role in those efforts, with
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
Violent crime presents a short-term and a long-term challenge. In the short term, we need as many officers doing direct police work as possible, even if that means using reserve or auxiliary officers or civilians in office positions when possible. In the long term, we must reduce the number of dilapidated buildings and other breeding grounds for crime and develop better relationships with the people in our neighborhoods. Because of federal dollars flowing from COVID relief, as well as improved sales tax collections, the city has millions of dollars that are not allocated for specific items. I plan to use those dollars first to address
How will you approach the budgeting process and what are your
services with excellence. After that, we must communicate to citizens the honest budget choices by identifying levels of service that would be affected, so citizens can have meaningful input into the choices. When I was on the City Council, the city did that, and I plan to implement a similar process as mayor. We must restore public confidence in the city’s I propose to separate the management of public buildings from the provision of parks and recreation services. In addition, I proposed to under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The city can implement both proposals without any increase in the city operating budget.
How do you propose to address population decline in Shreveport?
Once citizens perceive that the city is safe, professionally managed, and to grow. I also plan to focus on redevelopment of close-in neighborhoods, particularly historical neighborhoods, to encourage a return to the city.
Do you have a plan to bring in tourism dollars and how?
Shreveport has many great attractions – historical neighborhoods, live music and theater, great restaurants. I plan to be front and center in promoting those attractions in the region, as well as to assist in attracting large groups. Amateur athletic tournaments and events have unrealized potential to draw families to Shreveport for events.
How will you measure your own success?
I plan to set forth a long-term and short-term plan, with measurable objectives, once I am in office. I will measure myself, and my department heads, by achievement of those objectives, which I will publish for citizens to see. Beyond that, I will be able to judge my success by the attitudes and temperaments of Shreveporters. If they are prouder of their city, I will know we have succeeded. Shreveport will be a thriving Shreveport will be a safe city that welcomes civic discourse and participation in all facets city will be resilient and boast informed and able to pivot quickly to solve problems. Our best chance at brighter economic opportunities will come through improving quality of life for current residents by prioritizing public health and safety. We achieve this by improving infrastructure, removing blight, fortifying our law enforcement agencies and working with private partners to help the most vulnerable in our community. In addition to these strategies we must absolutely consider high yield incentives that entice companies into our area while creating consistency in policies and procedures so that any business can easily get to work in our city.
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or
I think we have to multitask. If we made it easier for small home-grown businesses to open up, that would mean we streamlined our processes and made them consistent, straightforward, and user friendly. A city that is open to business opportunities at a smaller level that nurtures entrepreneurs is also agile enough to support larger industries that hire our citizens and help us to welcome new residents. It’s time for Shreveport to raise our self-esteem and state firmly that we can have nice things, and our citizens deserve opportunities to grow their businesses on this side of the river with less resistance to new concepts
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
It’s time to accept that there must be multifaceted approaches to violent crime. A strong response to crime should be a deterrent. We’ve made strides in increasing officer visibility with Chief Smith. Community cooperation on investigations is critical. That requires trust and I think that trust is growing. We’ve been aided a lot by citizens’ willingness to share their security camera footage. I believe we can fine tune the Real Time Crime Center, but that will begin with a policy review
WWW.TOMFORSHREVEPORT.COM
LeVette Fuller
What is your long-term vision for Shreveport?
Shreveport will be a thriving midsized city with an array of career, cultural and community opportunities for all of our citizens. Shreveport will be a safe city that welcomes civic discourse and participation in all facets of municipal, business and cultural development. The city will be resilient and boast a capacity for being data informed and able to pivot quickly to solve problems.
What are your recommendations for increasing economic development?
Our best chance at brighter economic opportunities will come through improving quality of life for current residents by prioritizing public health and safety. We achieve this by improving infrastructure, removing blight, fortifying our law enforcement agencies and working with private partners to help the most vulnerable in our community. In addition to these strategies we must absolutely consider high yield incentives that entice companies into our area while creating consistency in policies and procedures so that any business can easily get to work in our city.
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or helping small home-grown businesses grow and why?
I think we have to multitask. If we made it easier for small home-grown businesses to open up, that would mean we streamlined our processes and made them consistent, straightforward, and user friendly. A city that is open to business opportunities at a smaller level that nurtures entrepreneurs is also agile enough to support larger industries that hire our citizens and help us to welcome new residents. It’s time for Shreveport to raise our self-esteem and state firmly that we can have nice things, and our citizens deserve opportunities to grow their businesses on this side of the river with less resistance to new concepts and less rigidity as it pertains to certain arbitrary policies.
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
It’s time to accept that there must be multifaceted approaches to violent crime. A strong response to crime should be a deterrent. We’ve made strides in increasing officer visibility with Chief Smith. Community cooperation on investigations is critical. That requires trust and I think that trust is growing. We’ve been aided a lot by citizens’ willingness to share their security camera footage. I believe we can fine tune the Real Time Crime Center, but that will begin with a policy review
of the program. Beyond response we must think about preventing victimization. There are so many community driven tactics that have proven effective through studies across the country. We need to consider some of these strategies to work in tandem with law enforcement. It may be that private partners including the LSU Health Science Center, and Community Foundation of North Louisiana will come to the table to implement these programs with the City’s blessing. Ultimately let’s begin to think about all of the above: the same strategies that will make us fertile ground for new businesses will grow our population and make us safer.
What plans do you have for infrastructure improvements?
Halt sprawl. An organization called Urban3 is currently assessing the revenue productivity of Shreveport block by block. They’re combing every inch of infrastructure and every penny of revenue to determine where we get a return on investment and where we are hemorrhaging tax dollars. These studies tend to show productivity in older, often neglected, and more densely built areas like downtowns and surrounding core neighborhoods. My hypothesis is this is partially the case with Shreveport, and that we need to prioritize those areas for infrastructure improvements. We must repair and revitalize before we build more new infrastructure that induces demand outside of the city limits.
How will you approach the budgeting process and what are your priorities?
I believe Shreveport will benefit from implementing a strategy like outcome-based budgeting. The first step in outcome-based budgeting is setting priorities. If our desire is a safer, cleaner city we prioritize safety and city improvements. While recreation also serves as crime prevention, it may be that certain programs should be reimagined in order to see a savings. It may be that the adjustments are not drastic, but are still meaningful.
Do you propose to add or remove any departments and how will you keep department heads accountable?
It would be hasty to threaten departments without data showing the efficacy and productivity of those departments. With that said, results are a measure of success and accountability set through gauging metrics, productivity, morale, and employee turnover as well as training and transparency. Public service is more than customer service - it’s a calling. We are here to help our community and understanding the work changes lives, that at every level, from front line entry level to senior management is the most important thing to remember every day from the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning.
How do you propose to address population decline in Shreveport?
What makes us safer and more business friendly will help grow our population. Think “better not bigger” and bigger will follow. We need to be lofty and warm and fuzzy occasionally - people want to live in welcoming hospitable places where their neighbors are happy and thriving. Jobs come to places where people want to live. We have to shift our mindset to create a cheerful optimistic disposition about this city. The mayor’s job is to grab the reins and make this city safer, cleaner, and stronger for the current inhabitants so we will feel more optimism and pride.
Do you have a plan to bring in tourism dollars and how?
Let’s capitalize on our rich cultural heritage. Our roots are in music of every genre imaginable and we can’t keep letting opportunities pass us by. It’s more than Leadbelly and Elvis but that’s a great place to start. Let’s support our amazing festivals and give new creatives with great ideas the support they need to create new ways to interact and celebrate our cultural attributes. I’m ready for the Shreveport Civil Rights museum to be open so we can get a better understanding of our own history and reconcile the past.
How will you measure your own success?
Let’s use the hard data on businesses, crime rate, real estate closings in the core and improved neighborhood conditions. We have a lot of work to do. A lot of it may not be the shiny glitzy projects but a boring government is a government working hard to keep itself stable so people have fewer things to think about and can focus on the future for their families.
LEVETTEFULLER.COM
Mayor Adrian Perkins
What is your long term vision for Shreveport?
I want Shreveport to be the Distribution Capitol of the South! We have all the natural attributes with the river and our geographical location. We have the infrastructure with two interstates weaving through our city, a port, robust rail, and an airport. Recently, we’ve been able to attract distribution giants from the private industry to Shreveport like Amazon and help those already here grow like FEDEX and UPS. These are the ingredients needed to get such a crown and we’re well on our way.
What are your recommendations for increasing economic development?
Continuing to be aggressive like we have been. We created an actual economic development department opposed to a team of one. We’ve also worked well with the 18 plus economic development entities within the city and often helped coordinate efforts. We have the second fastest recovering economy in Louisiana post Covid and are top 3 in overall growth when adjusting for recent job announcements.
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or helping small home-grown businesses grow and why?
We have to do both and my administration has done that. Our Fair Share Program supports minority, women, and locally owned, smaller disadvantaged businesses at a historic level while bringing in large companies like Amazon. We have to do both because diverse economies are the most resilient and focusing on one area opposed to another could create asymmetry making us too heavy in some areas and not heavy enough in others.
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
We will continue to push Community Oriented Policing while investing in our first responders and technology. Crime in Shreveport is coming down from the heights we saw in the pandemic and other like sized cities aren’t so fortunate. Our policies are working and we’re going to continue to do all we can to fight crime. As of today, Shreveport’s crime rate is lower than Jackson, Little Rock, Birmingham, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.
What plans do you have for infrastructure improvement?
Continue focusing on the largest capital project in City history, the federal consent decree program we’re under for our sewer system. We’re going to spend over 500 million dollars and will likely have to spend over a billion. When my administration came in the program was extremely negligent having spent twice the amount of money only accomplishing half the work. We are going to seek some recompense from that irresponsibility to put more money back into the program and hopefully lift the more expensive water bill burden off the shoulders of our citizens.
How will you approach the budgeting process and what are your priorities?
We approach the budgeting process as a value statement. The things we spend public dollars on are the things we care about the most hence why Public Safety is our number 1 expenditure. Our other priorities continue to be Economic Development and Technology and we’ve increased the personnel and spending of both departments by more than 25 percent.
Do you propose to add or remove any departments and how will you keep department heads accountable?
I don’t propose adding or removing any departments seeing as though we’ve expanded economic development by 400 percent in their personnel and assumed responsibility of the MPC Jan 1. 2022. Managing that growth to be optimally effective is where we would put our focus in a second term, not expanding or cutting anything else. As far as accountability, myself and the CAO are going to continue our regular evaluation check ins with department heads to evaluate the good and bad of their leadership.
How do you propose to address population decline in Shreveport?
By continuing to attract jobs and changing the overall narrative about our city. Jobs, especially good paying jobs like we’re seeing arise in our economy, always attract people. Quality of life is just as attractive so we have to make sure we put the same energy into having great assets and describing them as we do in getting jobs and we’ll see our population numbers turn around.
Do you have a plan to bring in tourism dollars in?
Working more closely with the Shreveport Bossier Tourism Bureau and holding them more accountable. The City of Shreveport has its hands full in running government and all the specified and implied tasks that come along with that. The SBTB gets taxpayer dollars to attract tourists to our area. We have to work alongside them in accomplishing this because trying to pick up this responsibility will take away from some other area of government.
How will you measure your own success?
I will constantly review and work toward fulfilling my campaign promise like I do today. That’s the social contract I and my administration have to the citizens of Shreveport.
WWW.ADRIANPERKINS.COM
Gregory Tarver
What is your long-term vision for Shreveport?
My long-term vision for Shreveport is a city united to face both its opportunities and challenges. A city that operates with efficiency and meets the needs of all of its residents. A city whose citizens have a regained confidence in local government and is an enthusiastic partner to the business community. A city that attracts and nurtures young families and professionals that’s safely allows our young to enjoy their youth and our seniors to enjoy their golden years.
What are your recommendations for increasing economic development?
Shreveport has to become a more business friendly city by removing unnecessary regulations and restrictions and working with local companies who have invested their capital here. We must also work towards growing and supporting our local businesses and entrepreneurs while also improving our workforce capabilities to meet the needs of a growing business industry.
Do you think Shreveport should focus on bringing in large businesses or helping small home-grown businesses grow and why?
Experts tell us that small businesses have been and will continue to be the engine that drives any economic development. Our focus should be on revamping our workforce development program to meet the need of the business community and the workers that serve them. We should foster a climate that supports new technology and manufacturing. Shreveport has never had a talent problem, ours has been a talent retention problem.
How will you address the problem of violent crime?
My approach to crime will be to call upon the State Police and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to work in tandem with the Shreveport Police Department to develop plans to coordinate new approaches to fighting violent crime in our city. I would also employ technologies like “shot spotter” and crime cameras to get a handle on crime. Finally, we need to shut the revolving door at the courthouse.
What plans do you have for infrastructure improvements?
Driving around town is a constant reminder of the need for infrastructure improvements in Shreveport. Having to boil water is yet another reminder of the costly effects of failing to maintain safe and secure water and drainage systems. My plans will include the usage of one-time federal dollars on infrastructure wherever those funds present themselves. I will also seek guidance from experts on how to best address our other critical infrastructure needs.
How will you approach the budgeting process and what are your priorities?
My approach to the budget begins and ends with public input. State budgeting allows for citizen input and I will ensure that we will have public budget hearings before the budget is presented to the City Council. I will also look to find efficiencies within the budget to eliminate waste. As a businessman, I understand that to be successful Shreveport must have the ability to operate proficiently while not reducing the quality of the services received by residents.
Do you propose to add or remove any departments and how will you keep department heads accountable?
I am more concerned with current city departments functioning in a way that best serve the citizens of Shreveport than I’m concerned about reducing the number of departments. I will work with the Chief Administrative Officer, my staff and department heads to develop quantifiable objectives to be accomplished for each department. The department heads will be accountable to me on if those objectives have been put in place and I will be accountable to the citizens of Shreveport.
How do you propose to address population decline in Shreveport?
My family has been in Shreveport for over 150 years. Shreveport is a great place to raise a family. I have supported expansion at LSU Medical School as well as bringing Southern University Law Center to Shreveport. Improving our local schools and higher education institutions are fundamental to preparing future generations for the workforce and careers in our city. We must end the drainage of our youth and talented citizens to other cities because of lack of opportunity.
Do you have a plan to bring in tourism dollars and how?
I plan to prioritize Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Sports and Cuisine as I work with the Convention and Tourist Bureau to promote Shreveport in the Ark-La-Tex and throughout the nation. It is critical to work with Shreveporters to instill a city pride that will help us to market ourselves. In addition, a robust, bustling Downtown Shreveport that supports local flavor and celebrates our entrepreneurs is critical to achieving increased tourism.
How will you measure your own success?
In my opinion, success should be measured by how well we come together around Shreveport’s challenges and opportunities. I am of the belief that if we can realize that Shreveport is big enough for everyone, is committed to developing every community and can work to benefit every citizen, we will be a unified city. A unified Shreveport will not fail.
