Bossier City Faces Turbulent Times Over Proposed Charter Amendments and Term Limits Debate

Bossier City Faces Challenges with Proposed Charter Amendments

In the bustling city of Bossier City, recent developments regarding proposed amendments to the city charter have stirred up quite the conversation. The proposed changes, which include the introduction of term limits for elected officials, won’t be making it onto the ballot for the upcoming special election scheduled for December 7th. This decision comes after the state bond commission held a meeting on Monday, where State Treasurer John Fleming expressed his views on the matter.

A Delay for Consideration

During the meeting, Fleming suggested that the commission defer the city’s request for ballot amendments. He stated, “I just think this controversy needs to be resolved by the people that affects it most, and that’s the people of Bossier City.” According to him, there’s no rush to get this on the December ballot as it can be considered at a later date. “There’s no emergency. This doesn’t have to be done in December. It can be done next year if necessary,” he affirmed.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Bossier City resident Ruth Ann Johnston filed a petition in Bossier District Court. Her petition seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction to stall the special election. Johnston argues that the city council did not adhere to specific deadlines and failed to publicize the proposed charter revisions adequately for public review. She fears that these oversights could lead to a “costly” and “legally flawed election.” Currently, Johnston’s request for a restraining order is pending a judge’s signature and a hearing date.

The People’s Petition and its Supporters

Before the bond commission’s vote, other community members, namely David Crockett and Michael Duke Lowrie from the Bossier Term Limits Coalition, voiced their support for deferring the election. Both men have been fervent advocates for retroactive term limits, which would prevent current officeholders from running again if they’ve already served three terms. Interestingly, the charter commission’s proposal for term limits wouldn’t be retroactive, allowing long-serving council members to continue seeking re-election.

Crockett highlighted various points where he believed the Bossier City Council fell short of following current charter procedures. He referred to a recent victory in Bossier City Court, where a judge ordered the city council to place the people’s petition on the ballot. Yet, despite this decision, a majority of council members have repeatedly refused to take action on it.

Addressing Concerns and Legal Back-and-Forth

During the commission meeting, there were some heated discussions about the process being rushed and improper. Lowrie pointed out that the city’s election timeline violated its own ordinance by missing the essential 60-day notice period. “It’s clear, 60 days. They have not met that standard and they still have not publicized it to the public,” he commented.

However, Assistant City Attorney Richard Ray defended the city’s actions, stating that everything has been conducted properly by the Charter Review Commission. Ray mentioned that the initiation of the term limits process came from the voters themselves, highlighting the democratic nature of the movement.

Next Steps and Ongoing Debate

As the discussions continue, it’s clear that the citizens of Bossier City are deeply invested in the outcome. Fleming noted the importance of citizens’ rights under the First Amendment to petition their government. He underscored that while there are those within the council who prefer to maintain their lengthy service, the final decision about term limits rests with the voters.

The ongoing litigation and public debate over the proposed charter amendments illustrate the complexities cities face when it comes to governance and representation. In the coming weeks, residents will be closely watching as the situation unfolds and ultimately deciding the future of political terms in Bossier City.

So, while the skies might be sunny and temperatures pleasant — around 70°F during the day and dipping to nearly 40°F at night — the political climate in Bossier City is anything but calm. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!