No, I am NOT referring to a round two of the incidents when Caddo Commissioner Steven Jackson waved a cell phone in my face, shouted "Settle I am going to take you down" and then poked me in the face.

Thankfully I was rescued by parish administrator Woody Wilson who jumped between us two and then Commissioners Mario Chavez and Ron Cothran who pulled Steven forcefully and against his will into a room off the council chambers.

Jackson is facing a charge of simple battery in Shreveport city court from this incident.

He also has a pending felony charge of impersonation of a law enforcement officer in Bossier City.

His record also includes two different stalking charges from two different women.

My reference to a potential boxing match that relates back to a meeting of the Commission's Juvenile Justice Committee meeting held on Tues. of last week.

Jackson is chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee.

The committee meeting was abruptly adjourned by Jackson under less than ideal, as in parliamentary procedure and civility, circumstances.

Jackson's actions at that meeting prompted an email from committee member Stormy Gage-Watts, who is Ms. Congeniality, to her fellow commissioners and the parish administrator. This email is attached.

Jackson responded to the email, and his response is also attached.

Jackson's days on the Commission are seemingly numbered.

If he is convicted in Bossier Parish of the charge felony offense, he loses his Commission seat by law.

If not convicted, Jackson has his eyes on a state legislature seat which is on the fall ballot along with commission seats.

The Commission has its regular work session today and then regular meeting on Thurs. Thankfully several commissioners are seated at the dais between these two.

It is expected that there will be another meeting of the Juvenile Justice Committee in the near future, Word is that scalpers will be selling tickets to that meeting.

From Steven Jackson:

Commissioners (and any others who are probably reading), that is not what happened and the record will show that is not what happened. This is why we take minutes to have a factual account of what took place. We all know it is the presiding officer duty to maintain decorum and run an efficient meeting and that is what I attempted to do. There is nothing threatening about that. Respect begets respect.  We all have an obligation and duty to do that.

It has become obvious since President Burrell made changes to the juvenile services committee chair you have not been happy with him or with me. Please know I will not be bullied out of chairing any committee or carry out any task I have been assigned. Everything that I did on Tuesday while you may not  agree, was in accordance to the commission bylaws and proper with Roberts Rules of Order. We have the right to agree to disagree. 

It is very customary that we all have been on early morning and late night  emails and text. I have never seen or heard of that being an issue. I had a very late evening finish on Tuesday. But I do  have a copy of all text exchanges from various times of the day on various issues and I’m happy to share with the group. If needed. But that would put some people in an uncomfortable situation if shared publicly. So please let’s not be selective in that area. The chair has the task to recognize speakers. To be clear there was a question asked by President Burrell. You had spoke once and it is our rule that others have an opportunity to speak. Since the matter President Burrell was inquiring about involved the citizens committee, I did allow them an opportunity to be apart of the discussion. That is a discretion the chair has. 

I’m the end, we have a task to do and we need to be focused on that task . Leave the personal issues at the door. 

Best regards 

Sent from my iPhone

From Stormy Gage-Watts:

Hi All,

I’m writing to you today about an incident that occurred on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Juvenile Committee Meeting. When I arrived, the meeting had begun with discussions because there wasn’t a quorum. Jeff announced since there’s a quorum now, we can begin. The chair says these are the committee rules and I see no objection taps gavel and proceeds to adopt those rules without pausing to ask the committee if we agree, have questions/comments or concerns. NO VOTE! I asked for a point of order, to the chair about his adoption. Are we following a different protocol for a specific reason outside of Robert’s Rule of Orders? He comments, it’s his meeting and he’s been doing a certain way for all meetings.  As I was speaking, he interrupted me and I said I have the floor and he said, “I took the floor back and I can do that, because that’s RRO.” I knew at this point I entered a hostile environment because I asked a question. I stopped and said Jeff just record my vote as a no and carry on. Maintaining a very professional decorum as always. I stepped out for a minute or so to ask a question to Attorney Bernstein and when I came back in, there was discussions, again I asked for a point of order, what agenda item are we on with this fast-paced agenda and was told we were on the item to discuss proposing juvenile millage. I said, please put me in the queue. I wasn’t acknowledged with ok, or sure I’ll put you in line, you’re number 4 or whatever, nothing.

Nevertheless, I patiently waited as the chair of the citizen advisory board spoke (not a committee member), and I turned to raise my hand and Mr. Jackson was staring at me with his face frowned up in complete anger that startled me and cause me to raise my eyebrows with such concern at this point, and again I raised my hand. I didn’t speak out of turn or cause a scene to speak while another CAB member spoke, Mr. Jackson began a rant about him knowing politics when he sees it and taunts the administrator about sitting up in her seat and yells out Clay, I see you sitting up in your seat. All of these actions are totally unacceptable in public decorum. This is not a dictatorship, it’s supposed to be a democracy.

I write a note and sit the note in front of the committee’s name plate to inform the chair that I am in the queue to speak. Mr. Jackson looks at the note and begin to yell, “STORMY I see the note put that note up, I’m going to let you speak.” This was beyond intolerable, and I looked at Mr. Jackson with disbelief as a leader that he would act out this unacceptable behavior. This disgraceful conduct didn’t stop there, after the next speaker didn’t agree with what was being presented, Mr. Jackson jumps up out of his chair slams the gavel hard on the desk and yells, “THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AND I DON’T NEED A SECOND, I DIDN’T COME DOWN FOR THIS BULL****. This was a direct threat to me and an attempt to silence my voice.

Everyone sat there appalled of this erratic behavior and some were afraid to move. I was even asked if I needed an escort to get to my car safely. Whatever the performance was garnered towards this is absolutely unacceptable. I will not be bullied or treated with this type of disrespect from any individual. In conclusion, Mr. Jackson texted my cellphone at 11:26PM at night to tell me “I was wrong for disrupting his meeting.” I’ve excused a lot of Mr. Jackson’s unsuitable actions, but this must stop. This serves as my official complaint and notice for Steven Jackson uncontrollable anger and improper gestures towards me and it will not be tolerated.

Best regards,
Commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts
Caddo Parish Commission District 7