OCTOBER 2012
THE DRUM
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constituents see in your first six months?’ between them and their councilman. I pledge to respond to you within 24 hours via phone or email. My phone number and email address will be available to all of my constituents. My promise to you will be to speak with you about your concerns and give you a plan of action going forward. I’m not promising to fix your problem within one day, but I do promise to get to work on it right away. You have my word on it.” MAYOR-PRESIDENT METRO COUNCIL, CITY OF BATON ROUGE Gordon Mese: “If elected your next Mayor-President, in the first six months I would hope the people would see a smooth transition and a spirit of cooperation with the Metro-Council. I also would hope the process to GORDON MESE replace our Unified Development Code (UDC) would have passed the MetroCouncil and we would have formed a task force to re-write the UDC. The final major change the people would see is a mayor on the streets working hand-inhand with the police and community leaders to heal our city/parish. I can only hope you would give me the opportunity to make our city/parish a more inclusive, vibrant, and desired place to call home.” COUNCILMAN METRO DISTRICT 2 Corey B. Alfred: “Upon being elected as your district two councilman, a restoration/ unification will began to take place, with the immediate organization of a district advisory board (Alsen, Baker, Brownfields, COREY ALFRED Greenwood Estates and Scotlandville). I pledge to continue the work of the past administration, while fostering new ideas and approaches (with community input) to tackle the issues facing us. I also pledge to work from a short and long list, but as always, the voice of the citizens WILL TAKE precedence! Short list: Working with the community of Alsen for prompt resolution to the fire district rating issue; discussions with Sheriff Gautreaux, Chief White and Chief Knaps to provide resources needed for the protection of and service for District 2; Leland Annex transportation; and creation of a District 2 Advisory Board. Long list: district economic development; establishment of a permanent farmers market; and visit every recreational site and began immediate improvements Chauna Banks-Daniel: “If elected to the EBR Metro Council District 2 seat, I pledge to make constituent services the hallmark of my first six months and beyond. It is priority for to me to make sure the residents of District 2 have a full CHAUNA BANKStime district office and DANIEL staff that is available and easily accessible to them… Economic development, crime, zoning, environmental and infrastructure justice issues are concerns throughout District 2. I plan
to be a lead voice calling for resolutions regarding these. The first six months after I take office, I will form a District Advisory Board composed of district residents representing the entire make up of District 2. I also plan to launch a District 2 website that will serve as an online office for constituents. Most importantly, I plan to hold regularly scheduled town hall meetings around the district. I want the residents of this great district to know that I am here to serve them, and that I will work diligently to do just that. Steven Cook: “During the first six months in office, we the community members of District 2 will inventory our resources and establish boards to govern our community, STEVEN COOK allowing us to drive development and growth in District 2, according to an agreed assessment of both resources and relevant need. These boards will manage our economic climate, educational related needs and infrastructure. Community cooperation and engagement events will be held at various points in this process to ensure we understand both the benefit and value of community. Classes dealing with family planning, budgeting and career services will be structured. This begins the process of preparing community members for inclusion in the various long term projects as they relate to the development of our home. Before we will be respected as a district that adds to the city of Baton Rouge, we must first acknowledge the facts, “we have value, and we shall be self-sufficient”. Leroy Davis: “The citizens will see Leroy Davis working hard on their behalf getting things done. An Economic Development C o m m i s s i o n and an Advisory Commission to Law Enforcement Agencies will have been established. There will be monthly meetings of constituents groups LEROY DAVIS throughout EBR Metro Council District 2. A news letter will be in circulation that provides information on activities, events, issues, concerns and problems in the District. A Cleanup Campaign will be under way. As Councilman, Davis will be attending all scheduled meetings, special meetings and committee meetings of the Metro Council. New businesses will be coming into the district and existing businesses will be expanding. Plans will be under way to improve the roads, streets, bridges and other infrastructure. The crime rate will be trending downward. The people will feel safer and feel better about the future of District 2.The pride in Scotlandville will have been restored. The various groups will be working together to listen to concerns and to solve problems.” Hillery Johnson: “Hillery Godfred Johnson, a 59-yearold Scotlandville native, is a candidate for Metro Council District #2. Johnson has several ideas ready for implementation
HILLERY JOHNSON
within his first 100 days in office. He will immediately organize “Boys to Men” and “Girls to Ladies”. These two units will serve to actively enrich the lives of local youth by teaching basic protocol, etiquette, vocational skills and educational expectations. He will also find monetary support for youth summer employment opportunities, and establish local forums for youth to express their various talents. These actions will serve to decrease crime and truancy. Other plans include, executing tax break programs for active retired professionals that tutor and mentor youth and adults. He proposes aggressive recruitment of businesses to develop the northern corridor, thereby creating the new “Scenic Valley”. While in office, he will identify blighted properties to increase property values of local owners, as well as, improve infrastructure and transportation. COUNCILMAN METRO DISTRICT 6 Edwin ‘PaPo’ Del Valle: “I’m running for metro council District 6. I’m 62 years old, US Army retired with 21 years of service and a retired correctional EDWIN DELVALLE officer with 20 years of service. I have lived in Baton Rouge for 40 years. If elected, I will work with local nonprofit organization and government agencies to address the concerns of the district. I will help the homeless and the poor by working with social service agencies to improve the job market and living conditions for low income residents. I am a volunteer with the American Red Cross, Restoring Hearts, the American Legion, and CASA. I, Edwin “PaPo” Del Valle, within the first six months will begin to work with local police and community organizations to decrease crime by increasing police protection and community involvement. My campaign is “People First, Politics Last”. Carolyn ‘Gee’ George: “A major change that I would like to see happen in District 6 is just having a feeling of safety in our community. CAROLYN GEORGE We must target restoring options for our youth and let them know that we as adults still accept our responsibility to help them with decisions that they make in life. If we can restore the home, then half the work is done. When a home has a solid foundation, the rest falls in place. Jobs, community events and a recreation center are some of the things that will help restore our communities. I have conducted Youth Empowerment Programs that give guidance to the youth on how to conduct effective job interviews, how to dress and how to accurately fill out a job application and 25 to 30 youth have been employed by way of this seminar. Our elderly should also have opportunities available to them. I truly have the best interest of the community at heart and will work aggressively to find solutions. Yes, we have crucial situations on hand but we must dive deeply enough to seek answers. I have not sat on a lot of boards or organizations but let the work I have done in the community speak for me.
COUNCILMAN METRO DISTRICT 7 Hazel Bradley: “As a Councilwoman of district 7 the major changes in which my constituents will see in the first six months HAZEL BRADLEY when I am elected is rapport. I want to be able to communicate with all citizens and by doing this I want to set up an advisory board for my district consisting of members of my district who can tell me what the needs are in the particular area in which they live, by doing this areas in my district want be left out and every citizen will have their fair share. I will reduce crime by partnering with the Chief of police Donald White, to build a police task force that will fight crime in my Community. Infrastructures and rebuilding of neighborhoods will be at the head of my agenda, working on demolition or removal of blight structure; tearing down old houses and replacing them with single & multifamily homes also providing housing for the homeless. Paul Brumfield: I believe that the proper function of a candidate is to do for the people PAUL BRUMFIELD those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well, by individuals, and that the most effective candidate is a candidate closest to people. As a council member, I will focus my attention and energies on crime,traffic problems, affordable housing and other issues that impact district 7. I will work with churches, businesses and government agencies to address the issues. We will create a community-development efforts to increase business investment in at-risk neighborhoods in district 7. I will foster relationship with the EBR Parish School Board to offer incentives for high school graduation. Finally, I will encourage the citizens of district 7 to get involved in city parish government affairs. C. Denise Marcelle: “My constituents will see the addition of a youth center called the Baton Rouge Student Learning Center located at the corner of 40th Street and Gus Young Ave. The center has been created to address C. DENISE MARCELLE the urgent need for high quality tutors and mentors to help children struggling academically in the district. My constituents will also see the results of my past and current work that I am doing with the EBR Redevelopment Authority. I have partnered with the RDA to develop affordable housing for the district, both new construction and rehabbing existing blighted properties in the district. One of the highlights of this partnership will be the revitalization of the Piggly Wiggly Shopping Center on the corner of 38th Street and Choctaw. We have named this project the Choctaw Corridor. This project will beautify the area, attract additional venders and create jobs. The planned Green Space Walking Trail will promote exercising and a healthy life style in the community. Please see CANDIDATES, PG 16