If an elected official aspires to a higher office, it stands to reason he or she has a reasonable track record and solid constituent support.
It is indeed pretty to think so.
Which makes it baffling that Jefferson Parish Councilman Byron Lee seems to be toying with the idea of running this fall for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Rep. William Jefferson.
Oh no.
In anticipation of his presumptive victory, Lee has said farewell to his legislative aide, Pam Watson, who landed a job as a vice president at West Jefferson Medical Center, making $175,000 a year.
Where can his wave of confidence possibly be coming from?
Jeffrey highlights the answer to that query here. Shaw continues:
Perhaps from his cousin and ally, state Sen. Derrick Shepherd, who placed a close third in the 2006 congressional campaign. Shepherd, whose Senate district includes a hefty portion of the east bank of New Orleans, wrapped up support from Jefferson Parish's politicians and nearly knocked state Rep. Karen Carter out of the runoff.
Let's hope that if Lee does manage to win Jefferson's seat, he runs a better congressional office than council office.
Many of his 3rd District constituents have complained that Lee is unresponsive and difficult to reach.
Hell, those qualities might make Lee gubernatorial material. ("What I'm really concerned about is the governor not being accessible to us."-- Rep. Jack Montoucet)
[T]o make it easier for Shepherd to get a variance for his construction project in Marrero, Lee yanked his appointee, none other than Shepherd's father, from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. It was a necessary move because the state Board of Ethics forbids appointees and their immediate family members to do business with the boards on which they serve. After the variance was granted, Lee asked the Parish Council to return the elder Shepherd to the panel, which it did.
Some of Lee's constituents took him to task about a fund set up to mitigate the impact of a private landfill on the residents of Waggaman. The account, which receives its last payment from the private River Birch Landfill in 2009, will have collected nearly $700,000 during the 10-year agreement.
Since the landfill is in Lee's district, he oversees the fund. When it was disclosed that a majority of the money went to a nonprofit he created and a private Christian school controlled by a political ally, both in Marrero, residents publicly criticized him for not spending it in the communities where people's daily lives are directly impacted by the landfill.
Lee's argument was that he was fulfilling a campaign promise and that the nonprofit provided school uniforms to needy children throughout his district.
This... is... not ... good. But I'm sure if an Orleans Democrat like Cheryl Gray would run to displace Dollar Bill, the West Bank will find a reason to overwhelmingly support Shepherd's cousin and ally over the liberal from the other parish.
Labels: City Council, Derrick Shepherd, Dollar bill, Elections and Campaigns
