Thankfully, the local election season is coming to an end on Nov. 4 – at least for the primary elections. I have been involved in the political arena for nearly five decades and in at least 14 campaigns when working for Louisiana congressmen and Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. But I must admit that this Shreveport mayor’s race is one of the most negative and vitriolic I have encountered.

The culprits who have spread false and vicious rumors, invaded Facebook and website pages with negative comments about candidates, and tried to dig up dirt on candidates and their families and members of the media are all connected to the campaign of state Rep. and mayoral candidate Patrick Williams. I feel sure that Patrick Williams was not directly involved.

I suppose the whole effort by his operatives is apparently a part of damage control on the revelation that Patrick Williams double-dipped on his expenses as a legislator, getting re-reimbursed from the state and his campaign fund for the same expense. But Patrick Williams needs to show some leadership and put a stop to it.

And the get elected-at-all-cost behavior has also permeated other races, including Caddo District Judge, City Judge, City Marshal and City Council seats. It has not been a pleasant election season to cover. I know it is difficult for the average citizen to keep up with all of the shenanigans and be informed because the local mainstream media, with the exception of KTBS-TV, has done little to bring these events to light and inform potential voters.

Be that as it may, I do hope you will evaluate the candidates for mayor and vote Nov. 4. The candidates are accountant Anna Marie Arpino, Councilman Sam Jenkins, businesswoman and teacher Victoria Provenza, minister Melvin Slack, former Caddo Schools Superintendent Ollie Tyler and Patrick Williams. You will notice that Jim Crowley will still be listed on the ballot, but he has withdrawn from the race, so don’t waste a vote on him because it will not be counted.

There are some interesting Shreveport City Council races as well. Councilmen Joe Shyne and Ron Webb are term-limited and Jenkins is running for mayor, so there will be at least three new faces on the seven-member council. Incumbent council members are being contested in Districts A and B. District B is one race to watch. Councilman Jeff Everson, a white Democrat, is being opposed by two African-American Democrats – Lynn Cawthorne and Craig Lee. If Everson loses, Shreveport would have its first majority-black council in history.

Another interesting race to keep an eye on is the one for Shreveport City Marshal. Incumbent Marshal Charlie Caldwell, a black Democrat, has four opponents. The opponents are Anthony Johnson and Don Otis, both black Democrats, and Joey Hester and Jim Taliaferro, both white Republicans.

The race for Shreveport City Judge will not be on everyone’s ballot in the city, which is divided into two judicial subdistricts. The same holds true for the two Caddo District judgeships that are up for grabs. There are three judicial subdistricts in Caddo Parish.

To find out what will be on your ballot, go to caddovoter.org and click on “What’s on My Ballot?” Caddo Registrar Ernie Roberson is predicting a voter turnout of 47-50 percent parishwide.

Over in Bossier, there has been campaign shenanigans as well. Whit Graves, a candidate for Bossier-Webster District Attorney, had two tires slashed in the parking lot of the CenturyLink Center and campaign signs run over and destroyed. It is a tried and true campaign tactic, as childish as it is, to steal an opponent’s yard signs, but to run over large signs on private property is a bit over the top.

It will be a long ballot when you go into the voting booth, so it is imperative that you be prepared. Among the races on the ballot in Caddo and Shreveport will be for U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative, Public Service Commissioner, Caddo District Judge, Shreveport City Judge, Shreveport City Marshal, Caddo School Board, Justice of the Peace, Constable, Mayor of Shreveport, City Council of Shreveport, and 14 Constitutional amendments.

In Bossier, on the ballot will be the races for U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative, Public Service Commissioner, Bossier-Webster District Attorney, Bossier City Marshal, school board, Justice of the Peace, constable and the Constitutional amendments.

Towns in Caddo, Bossier, Webster, and other parishes will also elect some municipal officials, such as mayor, aldermen, police chiefs, etc. 

So do your homework before going to the polls and be sure to bring a photo ID. 

There is plenty of time to focus in on the various races and who you plan to vote for. There have been forums galore for some races, so hopefully you have been able to attend at least one to get a better feel of the candidates. 

In my next column, the final one before election day, I will go into more detail on the federal elections on the ballot as well as the race for Public Service Commissioner.