BC councilors channel their inner George Wallace

In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this Council, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of the people, and I say no term limits now, no term limits tomorrow, no term limits forever.

That’s the message that Bossier City Councilors Republicans David Montgomery and Vince Maggio and Democrat Jeff Darby sent when they voted – again – to violate the city’s Charter by failing to permit consideration of a measure to place on the Dec. 7 ballot two term limits measures. This was nothing new, as over and over again they had violated the charter and their oaths of office in the process on the matter of calling such an election several times over the past year or so, as the Charter mandates the Council do so upon certification of a petition to amend the Charter. The petition forwards a pair of propositions that places a retroactive lifetime three-term limit on holding the mayor’s office and city councilor spots.

But something new this time, in emulating Democrat Alabama Gov. George Wallace’s efforts to resist court orders regarding desegregation over six decades ago that featured an inaugural address attacking it and months later briefly physically blocking integration at the University of Alabama, was that Montgomery, Maggio, and Darby deliberately defied a court order issued last week mandating that the Council follow the Charter and pass a resolution permitting the State Bond Commission to move forward. The SBC approves of the items and then sends them to the Secretary of State for ballot inclusion.

At this latest Council meeting, long time opponent of term limits Democrat Bubba Williams did vote in favor, joining GOP Councilors Chris Smith and Brian Hammons, of adding the resolution to the agenda, which wasn’t on there because the court decision had come less than a day prior to the meeting and therefore by state law needed unanimous consent for agenda inclusion. Whether this meant he would have voted for the resolution or whether he voted this way because he has announced he won’t seek reelection regardless of term limits presence is not publicly known. Absent was another long-time opponent, Republican Councilor Jeff Free.

The metaphorical standing in front of the schoolhouse door by Montgomery, Maggio, and Darby means, unless a special meeting is called prior to then, the Council would have to pass the resolution on Sep. 24 in time for the SBC meeting on Sep. 26, which even with waivers from its usual scheduling might not be enough time for consideration then. However, the SBC may call a special meeting in advance of the Oct. 14 State deadline for ballot inclusion that could put the items on the Bossier City ballot for Dec. 7.

A special meeting seems unlikely as it requires a Council majority. However, the president, Williams, also has the power to call one and should he do so that would demonstrate a new fidelity on his part to following the law. Regardless, even assuming Williams has changed his mind unless the hearts of at least one of Montgomery, Free, Maggio, or Darby soften, matters won’t change regardless of meeting date.

That means court action likely will have to resolve this, entailing the obstructive bloc to launch a series of legal filings – at taxpayer expense – intended to be dilatory. Its members will lose eventually, and they know that, but their goal is to use taxpayer resources to give themselves and/or their allies a chance to stay in power by causing any vote on term limits to occur after qualifying for city elections next year.

Fortunately, that task has been made more difficult with the decision by Republican 26^th District Judge Parker Self’s ruling, as appeals would have to be on the evidence presented in the case, which left really no room to maneuver against. Further, likely the SBC, whose next regular meeting is Oct. 17, and State would grant some minor leeway to deadlines. Add to that motions made by the successful plaintiffs to force the matter onto the ballot prior to city elections likely would find favor from the judiciary with it going so far as to push back city elections to accommodate. Under a regime of maximal leniency, finally closing out the matter could occur as late as a week after Dec. 7, for inclusion on the Mar. 29 ballot and postponing the city general election to May 3. It is very unlikely that the shameful, if not shameless, violators of civil rights Montgomery, Free, Maggio, and Darby will succeed.

Unfortunately, all at needless cost to the citizenry. However, as learned from past civil rights movements, that’s to be expected, lamentably. As lamentable, this whole episode shows Bossier City government still hasn’t grown up.