In politics there is an old wag that a "new broom sweeps clean."

And it is certainly true in Washington and Baton Rouge where the head cheez, as in top dog, has many departmental/staff appointments.

It’s not that easy in Shreveport.

Police and fire personnel are protected by civil service. The police chief and fire chief are life time appointments.

Certain municipal boards have city appointments, but they are not concurrent with the mayor’s term. Two board members of the Shreveport Airport Authority refused to resign to allow Perkins to put knowledgeable aviation people on the board.

Perkins inherited numerous department heads and with them, problems that have existed for many years in the respective departments. The recent legislative audit of the city is a prime example.

Another is the over billing of Shreveport residential water and sewer customers.

The list can go on and on. Much like a city budget that has spent $13 million in reserves since 2009 to "balance" income with expenses.

Perkins did name the city’s first Chief Technology officer–Keith Hanson.

Perkins did convince Henry Thompson to resign as director of the Shreveport Airport Authority in early January. He also replaced the director of public works that month.

Perkins did get to name a new police chief–Ben Raymond–last month.

Now he will get to select a new Human Relations Director. This position is now open.

On January 1, a new Finance Director can be named after the retirement of the current director.

Changing the direction of city hall , the economic environment and the racial climate of Shreveport is like turning an aircraft carrier–not a ski boat.

Perkins is a new face and a new direction for Shreveport. He is not a magician or a Houdini that has instant solutions. But he has started.

This Article was published in the October 18th issue of The Inquisitor.