Finally, Some Good Political News (And Hope) for JP Council District 3

I’ve lived in Jefferson Parish for the past 18 years.

For the entirety of my time in JP, and for years before, Jefferson Parish Council District 3, which includes a chunk of the WestBank and South Kenner, has been a political cesspool.

From 1992 to 2004, Donald Jones was Councilman. He was term-limited out and defeated in his attempt to become an At-Large Councilman in 2003. In fact, he didn't even make the runoff. Seeking a comeback in District 3 in 2011, Jones finished 4^th in a 4 person field, also failing to make the runoff.

From 2004 to 2012, Byron Lee was Councilman for District 3. With the possible exception of Aaron Broussard, in my opinion, Lee was one of the most corrupt parish officials of our era and he has continued to stuff his face at the public trough and help his friends and family squander JP tax dollars with his influence as mentor to current District 3 Councilman Mark Spears, who, thankfully, is term-limited.

Just last year Lee surfaced in the news again with video of him yucking it up with Spears at a suite at the Zurich Open golf tournament.

Who paid for the suite? Spears,diverting money from his council district slush fund so he could act like a big shot.

For more on the Lee/Spears connection, click here. 

With Spears almost out the door, many JP residents (myself included) were hoping for a candidate with integrity to step up to actually represent the people of District 3, and not the Jones-Lee-Spears political cabal that has raped and pillaged JP for decades.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t appeared to be the case with Jones and Lee seeking to return to their former seat to pillage some more. Also mentioned as a possible candidate in District 3, former JP School Board member Cedric Floyd, who recently cost JP taxpayers tens of thousands in legal fees and settlements regarding sexual harassment allegations.

So, Jones, Lee, Floyd and...Derrick Shepherd?

Several people contacted me before and after the story by WDSU’s Travers Mackel regarding former State Rep, State Senator and convicted felon Shepherd’s campaign for the seat.

Shepherd, fresh from getting the numbers off the back of his shirt as an ex-con and suing the state to overturn a Constitutional Amendment banning felons from seeking public office for 15 years (now dropped to 5 years), is promoting himself as a “Military Man” and seeking a “second chance”.

A second chance at what exactly?

Shepherd, who resigned from the State Senate after he was charged with money laundering, tried a similar approach and “second chance” appeal in 2015, when he sought to return to the state house before he was denied in court.

In a 2015 press release announcing his state house bid, Shepherd said, "My campaign will offer hope to many citizens who have made a mistake that they too can receive a second chance at life.''

To WDSU’s Mackel, Shepherd said last week, "I think people can make their own decisions -- they can say, this guy has paid his dues, or they can say, get away from my door."

Has Shepherd paid his dues? Technically, yes, he served his time.

Should he have an opportunity at public office again? Absolutely not.  

Everyone deserves a second chance at life. But, serving in elected or appointed office should be held to a different standard.

We deserve to know and feel confident that our elected and appointed officials have integrity and will put the needs of us, their constituents and taxpayers, first, above their own greed and need to funnel money to their friends and family.

Unfortunately, “Integrity” and “Representing the Public” are foreign concepts to Jones, Lee, Floyd and Shepherd.

But, there is some good news (finally) for Jefferson Parish District 3 residents.

A very reliable source has told me that Kenner District 1 City Councilman Gregory Carroll is strongly considering entering the race and may issue an official announcement in the next few weeks. Qualifying is in August for the October election.

Councilman Carroll has 1,000 times more integrity than all of the other candidates combined and has represented District 1 (South Kenner and a chunk of Central Kenner) since 2009.

Carroll was a frequent thorn in the then-Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni’s side and repeatedly fought for the best interests of his district and the City of Kenner, despite the political costs.

Despite being the lone Democrat on the Kenner City Council, Councilman Carroll has pushed for fiscal responsibility and transparency in government.

Councilman Carroll rose in stature after standing up to Yenni in his attempt to close Lincoln Manor playground.

Carroll again showed his independence and bucked Yenni’s attempt at political retribution as Yenni tried to close streets and limit access to historical cemeteries in South Kenner.

Councilman Carroll has been a leader in the revitalization of Kenner’s Rivertown which has long been neglected by Kenner Mayors including Yenni. When Yenni borrowed millions for his poorly conceived 2030 Plan that all but ignored District 1 and Rivertown, Carroll fought diligently to get additional funding for the District.

While Rivertown is still a work in progress, the area is home to several restaurants including Gendusa’s, Porch & Patio and Fleur de Lilly. Rivertown is also home to Kenner’s Music in the Park and Movies in the Park which regularly draws crowds.

If Councilman Carroll does enter the JP Council D3 race and wins, I will be disappointed that he would be leaving the Kenner City Council but ecstatic at the prospect of him moving to the JP Council where God knows we need integrity and leadership.

But with Councilman Carroll potentially entering the race, there may finally be some hope for Jefferson Parish  District 3 yet.