Mayoral Candidates Face Off at Forum

The Shreveport Young Professionals hosted a forum for the candidates. The group had a set of questions and the candidates were given a chance to answer under a time limit. Issues being discussed included what to do do about economic development, their qualifications and how they plan to keep young professional in the city. Asked what they would do first if elected their responses varied. Arlene Acree and Liz Swaine said they would focus on the economy first. "Economic development continues to do what I`m doing with job growth," Acree said. Swaine told us, "Obviously a lot of that will involve economic development it will involve quality of life. Cedric Glover and Vernon Adams were more concerned with safety of the city. Adams stance? "We must reduce crime in Shreveport," while Glover told us "We`re going to look and try to make Shreveport safer. We should make that the first thing we need to focus on." Ed Bradley told us he needed to do some research before he could decide. "I think we need to take a look at the city and do an in depth study on what our needs are and where we are." And Madjun Ali said he would tackle poverty, "The problem is the people without; the people at the bottom, the people who count in this race." Jerry Jones said he would focus on the budget first, "We need to address the debt issue." The Shreveport Mayoral primary is set for September 30th. The general election is in November.