What’s the Single Biggest Problem in Shreveport Right Now? Hundreds of Residents Weigh In
We are about 2 months away from an election in Shreveport. Leaders for our community will be chosen by the voters. There's not much passion for the election yet, but I expect that will grow. But what is the one issue that will determine who you vote for?
What Are the Key Issues in Shreveport?
KEEL News asked a question on social media and got hundreds of responses. We asked "What is the single biggest issue facing Shreveport right now?" The answers ranged from some very specific issues for specific neighborhoods. But several topics popped up over and over again in our responses. And these are not issues you haven't heard about before. Water, roads, crime and police staffing are some of the big problems our leaders need to tackle. Jobs and poverty are also top concerns.
What Is at Stake in the Shreveport Election
The Mayor's race is on the ballot in Shreveport. Incumbent Mayor Tom Arceneaux faces several challengers:
Caddo Parish Commissioner John Paul Young (R)
Caddo Parish Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts (D)
State Representative Tammy Phelps (D)
Former Caddo Parish Commissioner Michael Williams (D)
Businesswoman Chaunta Mero (D)
Businessman Sia Fakhriravari (NP)
SHREVEPORT NEXT MAYOR WILL HAVE A TIGHT BUDGET
Most analysts says this is most like a 4-person race with Arceneaux expected to lead the field and Democrats Stormy Gage Watts and Tammy Phelps battling for the second spot. John Paul Young is also likely to get a pretty good share of the vote. He's been making headway on social media and is holding meet and greet events across the city. Stormy Gage Watts secured the endorsement of Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn and several prominent ministers. Phelps has the backing of State Senator Sam Jenkins.
The election is on November 3. Early voting runs from October 20-27. The runoff is set for December 12.
Here's our list of the issues most critical to local residents according to hundreds of responses we got on our social media page. We have ranked them based on which ones were mentioned most often.