Alan Jackson was elected the 2024 Shreveport Council chairman. One of the prerogatives of his position is to make appointments to the various Council committees.

The appointments were recently completed and released. Many of the committees maintained the same membership and committee chairs. However a major change was the Public Safety Committee.

Through the end of 2023, Grayson Boucher had served on the committee and was the chair for five years. His appointment was consistent with his service as a fireman for 23 years and a fire chief for 11 years. During this time Boucher was always a strong advocate for the Shreveport Fire Department and the Shreveport Police Department.

But guess what?

Boucher was not named chair of the Public Service Committee by Jackson, much less appointed to that committee. Councilman Gary Brooks was named chair, even though he did not serve on that committee in 2023, which was his first year on the council. Jackson did reappoint Jim Taliaferro and Tabatha Taylor to the committee.

Hmm....what’s the deal?

Jackson never responds to inquiries from this author, so his reasons are not known. It is known that Jackson never contacted Boucher about his committee preferences.

Here are some factors that undeniably were in the mix in Jackson's appointment:

1. Boucher ran against Jackson for the 2024 council chair.

2. Boucher voted against the Red River District open container ordinance. (The committee appointments were made AFTER that vote.)

3. Boucher voted against the first noise ordinance that Mayor Arceneaux vetoed.

4. Boucher voted against the amended noise ordinance.

5. Boucher voted against the appointment of RJ Johnson as the Director of Council Affairs..

6. He voted against the appointment of Shanerika Flemings to be the Council Clerk. Jackson nominated her for that position.

7. Boucher later voted to fire Flemings from her position of Council Clerk. Jackson voted against her termination.

8. Boucher ran for Shreveport City Marshal against James Jefferson who was endorsed by Jackson.

9. Boucher is a strong supporter of John Nickelson and his bid for Caddo Sheriff. Jackson is a supporter of Henry L. Whitehorn for that position.

10 Boucher was a strong supporter of Tom Arceneaux in the mayor's race. Jackson first endorsed Adrian Perkins and then Greg Tarver in the runoff election.

There's an old way in politics to "follow the money". Another is to follow the history of votes.

Politics aside, Jackson's selection of council chair has been questioned from the perspective of the overall good of the city and the city's public safety. And to the political savvy, retaliation is the primary reason cited for Jackson kicking Boucher off the Public Safety Committee. Jackson's decision is considered by most political observers to be a bad reflection of Jackson's leadership of the Council during his first month of service as Chair.