New Orleans has the complimentary nickname of “The Big Easy.” Bossier City is quickly earning the derogatory moniker of “The Big No.”

The Big No began with a stalemate between Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler and the Bossier City Council. It officially began on July 6, when new mayor Chandler’s nomination of Shane Cheatham to be his chief administrative officer died for a lack of a second of Chris’ Smith’s motion.

On the same day, the Bossier City Council, led by Councilman David Montgomery, postponed for two weeks the vote on Chandler’s nominations for city attorney and assistant city attorney.

After a detailed public records request was sent by this author seeking texts and email communications by council members regarding Chandler and Cheatham, the council quickly reconsidered and approved the city attorney and assistant city attorney at a special meeting. The chosen barristers immediately stonewalled the public records request for the council communications.

Chandler’s next nomination for public works director was also postponed. Reading the tea leaves, Chandler pulled the nomination before the next council meeting.

Now, some eight weeks since Chandler took office, the cupboard is bare at Bossier City hall as far as key offices and experience.

Chandler has NO government office experience.

Chandler has NO chief administrative officer.

Chandler has NO projects manager -- i.e., assistant chief administrative officer.

Chandler has NO director of public works.

Chandler has NO allies on the council other than newly elected Chris Smith.

Chandler DOES have an embittered, entrenched and egotistical obstructionist in the form of Councilman David Montgomery, who has let it be known his mission is to continually embarrass Chandler.

So much for peace in the valley, “Kumbaya” and the “Bossier way” of running a city.

Many Bossier residents have become concerned about the rudderless, drifting ship of state at Bossier City Hall as they tire of Montgomery’s pettiness, which fuels their concerns over good government for Bossier.

The fallout is now encompassing Montgomery’s fellow henchmen on the council -- Bubba Williams, who is now facing a recall petition effort; Jeff Darby, who went out of his way to embarrass the mayor at a recent council meeting; Jeff Free, who is trying to stay above the fray; Vince Maggio, who has mayoral aspirations; and Scott Irwin, whose appointment as interim was resoundingly opposed by South Bossier residents in that district.

Local observers worry, and rightly so, that this standoff will soon affect funding of local projects from Baton Rouge as well as the federal government and that the city’s financial ratings could drop due to this internal governmental turmoil.

Compromise is the political way of doing business, although the personalities of Montgomery and Chandler do not lend themselves to this needed process, especially after the Molotov cocktails hurled by Montgomery, et al, at Chandler since he took office.

The Big No is now a statement of “no cooperation” by the council with the mayor. It will soon become a reality of “no progress” for Bossier City.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN  THE August 20 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR - SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT http://theinquisitor.com