From the day he was first sworn in as mayor of Bossier City on July 1, 2021, Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler has had to cowtie to the Power Five on the Bossier City Council lead by Bossier's Mr. Insurance, David Montgomery.
"King David" Montgomery and fellow council members Don "Bubba" Williams, Jeff Free, Jeffery Darby and newbie Vince Maggio made a concerted effort to run the city despite the plans of Mayor Tommy. The Montgomery Five picked the city's chief administrative officer, the city attorney and the assistant city attorney, ignoring the preferred selections of Mayor Tommy.
King David pushed through the council the shameful Walter O. Bigby monument in the Bossier roundabout, to the tune of approximately $400,000. Of course, the monument has his name and other council members at its base.
King David also pushed through a $500 pay raise for all Bossier city employees. This set amount discriminated against the lower paid city employees.
New council members Chris Smith and Brian Hammons were usually on the short end of the stick on votes for progressive government. Economic transparency was a big concern for Smith and Hammons. King David stifled meaningful efforts to fully disclose bonded indebtedness, total costs of the carriageway and the sums paid to outside attorneys in litigation lost by Bossier City. (Think Linc Coleman litigation on the parkway and the failed efforts to block term limit propositions on the ballot.)
It appears that only returning member of the Power Five will be Maggio, if he survives a possible recount. Maggio, who was rumored to have aspirations to be mayor, became a lapdog for King David. His razor thin victory margin along with the composition of the new 2025 council will reduce his status from being an insider to an outcast on the council.
Watching the next six council meetings could be good entertainment. Hopefully, the deadwood, including Maggio, will not continue to be legislative roadblocks to good government.
But as attested by the new parking lots handed out to Bossier Power Equipment and Scott's Audio, King David and his followers may continue on a "last call for pork" mission to reward childhood friends, major insurance clients and good ole boy buddies in the next three months. Don't be surprised if the Power Five tries to implement more legislative action that will further handicap Chandler, the incoming council and the City of Bossier between now and June 30 of this year.