District B candidate Gary Brooks was the guest at a recent District B candidate conversation hosted by the Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation (DSDC).

The majority of downtown Shreveport is in District B, and both candidates in the run off election were invited to attend. Candidate Mavice Hughes-Thigpen declined to attend.

DSDC Executive Director Liz Swaine and candidate Gary Brooks.

Brooks spent nearly an hour on a wide variety of questions important to people who support and invest in downtown. They ranged from thoughts on expanding parking in ways to open up currently vacant buildings to rehab, the use of the Riverfront Development Fund, nightclub hours, ways to get owners to maintain buildings, ways to formulate wise incentive options for development, the future of the Red River District, the importance of art and culture to District B and more.

When asked about his engagement prior to the election, Brooks confirmed that he has been to Council meetings and is becoming more familiar with city finances. He came to several of the recent open-to-the-public City Council 2023 budget meetings, and he voted in the last city bond election.

The crowd listening included downtown residents, small business, and property owners, folks who have brought historic downtown buildings back to life and downtown employees- but all with the single desire to see downtown thrive and flourish.

Current District B Councilwoman LeVette Fuller and Swaine.

After the forum, Swaine asked current Councilwoman LeVetter Fuller to come up. She shared thoughts about her four years in office, success stories and some things that she learned were not as easy as she had anticipated. It was an interesting set of conversations, and DSDC thanks Councilwoman Fuller, candidate Brooks and all the attendees for coming.

Remember that early voting runs through Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Caddo Registrar of Voters Office at 525 Marshall Street downtown and the Hamilton Branch Shreve Memorial Library, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop from 8:30 am- 6:00 pm. Election Day is Saturday, Dec. 10.


 

Story from August 9, 2018

All five candidates running for District B Shreveport City Council joined the Downtown Shreveport Development Corporation (DSDC) for a candidate forum at the Petroleum Club on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

The five candidates,

James Carstensen
LeVette Fuller
Craig Lee
Laura McLemore
Wendy Day Vance

all took questions from moderator Liz Swaine that ran the gamut of issues important to downtown. Please take the time to watch the forum and support one of these five candidates who are looking to replace term-limited District B councilman Jeff Everson. Remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 6. If a run-off is needed, that election will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8.