In Kenner's District 1, a minority-majority seat that stretches from the Victorian homes of Rivertown through the Susan Park neighborhood to Loyola Drive's Lincoln Manor, a closely fought contest to succeed Marc Johnson now moves to a runoff.
Dr. Robert Dawson will face non-profit executive Gregory Carroll on November 14, 2009. The fact that Carroll defeated Earl Smith, the handpicked successor to Johnson, by just eight votes for a runoff slot, 281 to 273 respectively, proved a shock to many political insiders on election night.
Smith had the endorsement of the Times-Picayune, and most of the establishment support in Kenner. Carroll the sole Catholic in the race, managed to organize his Rivertown neighborhood and its parish Our Lady of Perpetual Help in a grassroots campaign that overcame Smith.
Of course, Robert Dawson, the endorsed candidate of The Louisiana Weekly, did better than either, with 331 votes and 30% of the electorate for a first place finish. Dee Dunn and Mike Austin finished out the field with 16% and 5% respectively.
Dawson proved the most successful candidate with early voting, earning over 76% support. Otherwise, the frontrunner was strongest the closer one got to his North Kenner neighborhood of Lincoln Park, and likewise the same was true of Carroll in his South Kenner base of Rivertown.
With 1,120 voters, turnout was roughly double what some had predicted, nearly 20% of the electorate on a day on which most voters did not know an election was taking place. The Dawson v. Carroll runoff will place several factions in Kenner politics against one another, from parish Republicans behind Dawson to local Kenner officials behind Carroll.
In an effort for our readers to compare and contrast the two candidates, The Louisiana Weekly and Bayoubuzz asked a series of questions of both men, and we run each's answers side by side.
1. Why are you running?
Carroll: This is a pivotal time not only for the residents of District 1 and the City of Kenner but as well for the entire Greater New Orleans area. The Country is just coming out of a recession, unemployment is at an all time high, businesses and business owners are fighting to survive and our most important asset, "the family structure" is faced with new challenges every day. I am running for the Council seat because I have, and it is important that our next Councilman has: The knowledge and hands on working experience of dealing with both private business and Government agencies that will be needed to revitalize the neighborhoods and business sector, a long history of community involvement and posses an engaging personality that will allow him to work with people of all races, income and education levels.
Dawson: As a physician, I have dedicated my life to serving us. I have heard my patients’ concerns far beyond health matters.. Our people are frustrated with rising crime, blight, and the overall neglect of our community. As councilman, I will be an agent of change to make District 1 safer, cleaner, and stronger for generations to come. Kenner has all the potential in the world. Bordered by the lake and river, we are well-positioned to be a beautiful community of families. We are getting closer everyday to winning a first-class, state-of-the-art public school for our children. We need to strengthen our police department by gaining them the funds they need to protect us and give us the serenity to attract new families and grow. We need to revitalize the Esplanade Mall area and begin working with the owners toward transitioning the area to a premier outdoor lifestyle center with upscale residential opportunities. We need to revitalize Rivertown, Laketown and more.
2. Tell us a story about yourself that explains who you are?
Carroll: BeforeHurricane Katrina I was working as the Assistant Director of the Kenner Parks and Recreation. Two days after the Hurricane I was part of a team that was given the responsibility of organizing a shelter at the Butch Duhe Gym, for the people who were financially unable to leave the City or was forced to banded their home because of extensive damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. The shelter consisted of about 500 men, women and children of every race, income level and different neighborhoods from around the surrounding area. During this period I was given the opportunity to work with employees from other Kenner departments and shared stories about our dislocated families with people from every district of the City of Kenner. But more importantly, l learned that despite the boundaries that divides Dist. 1 from the other districts, we all share common bonds which are: good infrastructure for our neighborhoods, a safe environment to live in and quality of life for our families. That time, during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has given me the desires and experience to serve on the Kenner City Council.
Dawson: When I think about myself, I consider the size of my family. I have 11 other brothers and sisters, and I am often selected as the one to bring everyone together. We have an annual family reunion and more than 400 people who attend. It proves my commitment to family. It proves my belief that family should be a top priority. And it proves that I will work hard for all of our families.
3.. What are your top three campaign planks?
Carroll: To bring strong leadership, new ideas, build involved communities and be assessable,accountable and fiscal responsible to all of the citizens of the City of Kenner, Aggressively working with the Kenner Police Department to ensure sufficient funding and to ensure safety and security to the families of Dist. #1 and the City of Kenner, and Addressing and improving drainage concerns and strictly enforcing zoning codes.
Dawson: Make District 1 Safer: Increase patrols in District 1 neighborhoods, Establish community policing with bike patrols and foot patrols through high crime areas, Create a police substation in Rivertown to revitalize the area and reduce response time, Create more neighborhood watch programs with direction from the Kenner Police Crime, Prevention Division: Support and fund the DARE program to warn our youth about the dangers of drugs, (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Support and fund the LEAD program to help our youth make good decisions at an early age, (Law Enforcement/ Local Educators Against Drugs), Establish a mental health and substance abuse treatment center in the district, Expand community resources, adult education, and children's tutorial and mentoring programs , Continue to encourage our youth to join the field of medicine through support from The Black Bag Medicine Foundation,
Fight for Less Blight: Conduct an in-depth, block-by-block review of the district to identify blighted properties, Establish the Neighborhood Preservation Task Force to set a game plan for eliminating blight, Increase fines against owners of blighted property, Bulldoze blighted structures and create green space where blight persists, Create the Vacant Building Initiative to restore vacant property to commerce, Create the Blight Hotline to report overgrown lots, graffiti, broken windows, abandoned cars and more. Advise residents how to maintain vegetation, park in designated areas, remove visible outdoor storage, eliminate graffiti, maintain fences, remove inoperable vehicles and secure vacant buildings, Seek the support of national non-profit interests interested in beautifying communities. Recently in New Jersey, a nonprofit group purchased 47 defaulted home-mortgage loans with the intention of fighting off blight in poor neighborhoods.
Improve Sewerage and Drainage:The city is aggressively pursuing the dollars necessary to strengthen our sewer and rainage lines. I will continue to work with Public Works to deodorize our canals and keep drain lines free of debris. I will strongly promote additional and larger lines to ease flooding in low areas.
4. Tell us what you see as the future of Laketown? Would you support a millage or a sales tax levy to gain your goal?
Carroll: Asyou know Laketown is Dist. 1 sister community to the North. Like Rivertown it offers a family atmosphere with activities such as fireworks display, picnic areas, open spaces for concerts and a pier/boardwalk. The future of Laketown should be to maintain and enhance the area to ensure any development is in accordance with the present structure. And any future plans should be part of the city's budget without adding any new sales tax.
Dawson: Laketown can become a sprawling entertainment district of family recreation, restaurants and more. This area overlooking the lake has the potential to become a jewel that generates dramatic revenue for our city. I do not support a millage, but I do support creating Tax Increment Financing. This financing has been a successful public financing method which has been used for community improvement projects.The Tax Increment Financing be used to finance the debt issued to pay for the project.
5. Most redesign proposals of Rivertown involve moving the Museums on block back from Williams? Is that a good idea? What are you concepts for the revitalization of Rivertown? Carroll: Location, Location, Location-is always vital! And because of the ambiance the river offers and the historic architectural structures, moving the museums one block back would not give visitors the full enjoyment of the area. Like Laketown, the future of Rivertown should be to maintain and enhance the area to ensure any development is in accordance with the present structure.
Dawson: Rivertown is decaying. Some of the museums have become obsolete and outdated. I would not move Rivertown, but instead develop the area into a thriving commerce center - again using Tax Increment Financing to help the area rebuild. I will attempt to enter into negotiations with private/non-profit ventures such as the Audubon Institute to use their strength, success and strategies and our land to build a vibrant area that will be an attraction for visitors and residents alike.
6. In South Kenner are historic properties similar to New Orleans' Irish Channel or Mid City. What historic protections/aide would you give to revitalize this neighborhood?
Carroll: Some of the historic protections have already begun. The City has started improvements to both building of the Kenner High School. Im improvements such as this are important for the revitalization of the neighborhood. Like the Irish Channel and Mid City, the City should form organizations from its citizens that have a passion and knowledge, that will enhance the properties and the ability to seek government grants and fund raisers to maintain its historic building.
Dawson: District 1 is where Kenner began. This is the pioneer territory that has evolved into one of our state’s largest cities. We absolutely have some historic areas that require our attention and commitment. I will create the Kenner Preservation Society to help identify and monitor those structures or properties that should gain historic preservation status.
8. The owner of the current Movie Theatre at Esplanade Mall has complained that the City's aid to build the new Megaplex will put him out of business. Do you think this is a fair complaint?
Carroll: I believe all business and business owners in the City will have to make adjustments that will make them more competitive and incorporate enhancements that will ensure their competitiveness in their market. So the City's aid to any business as long as it is fair and transparent will be a part of the revitalization and future of the City.
Dawson: No. The city’s concerns to keep the theatre in proper condition are valid.
What type of development do you favor on the now vacant land near the airport?
Carroll: As long as the development does not involve any type of toxic landfill, pollution, heavy industrial or any type of safety hazards most residents would be open to new development for the area.
Dawson: I would support light commercial development ... especially those businesses that need direct access to the airport such as a UPS Center, car rental companies, etc. What changes would you like to see in Kenner's relationship with Armstrong Airport?
10. What changes would you like to see in Kenner's relationship with Armstrong Airport? Carroll: Work with City, State and Federal agencies to ensure Dist.1 and Kenner's participation in the regional planning for the airport.
Dawson: The relationship is getting stronger between the city and the airport. I would seek more Kenner representation on the board, and devise an Airport Adjacency Association that would be comprised of people who are stakeholders in the land surrounding the airport. That association would meet quarterly with airport officials to express opinions and offer ideas.
11. Should the issue of Civil Service Merit protections for City employees be reconsidered?
Carroll: The Civil Service Merit protection is relatively new to the City employees. The protection should be given more time before any decisions on the program are made.
Dawson: Protecting employees from politics is important. I think the system is now doing a good job of protecting employees from feeling obligated to participate in politics. Should Kenner allow local gas stations and other auto facilities to sell brake tags rather than keeping the city's monopoly?
12. Should Kenner allow local gas stations and other auto faciliites to sell break tags rather than keeping the city's monopoly? Carroll: The employees of the Kenner brake tag station provide employment to its residents, a professional and required service and a major source of income for the City. So until the City can ensure the efficiency and other revenue sources any changes would be questionable.
Dawson: We should make it easier for our commuters to gain access to a brake tag. So I do support allowing the area gas stations and auto facilities to offer brake tags in addition to the city. However, I would only support brake tag stations at area gas stations and/or auto complexes if the revenue derived from those brake tags sold would partially go to the city.
13. What changes in Kenner police budget would you make? Would you like to see any new anti-crime policies pursued? Carroll: The budget for the Kenner Police Department should be able to adjust to population changes, crime controls and any personnel needs that are required for the safety of its citizens.
Dawson: The police department is underfunded by nearly $1 million. Chief Caraway wants to increase the department’s manpower by as many as 25 deputies, and I support his need. We must fund the department on predicable revenues, not just a percentage of variable income. I strongly support creating community policing in District 1, adding a police substation to Rivertown, creating more Neighborhood Watch Programs, and adding more patrols to our streets. We must fund our police as though our lives depend on it.
14. Will South Kenner ever get a new library? What can the council do to help that cause with the parish? Carroll: A library for South Kenner would be a welcomed addition to the district. But with budget constraints for the entire city at the forefront, funding for new facilities such as libraries will be difficult. But the Parks and Recreation Department has agreements with the school board where facilities are shared. Such agreements with School Board or Parish should be explored until a new library can be built.
Dawson: Libraries are plotted on a needs basis. We would have to prove our dedication to nearby libraries, and give officials confidence that a library in South Kenner will be used at the same level other libraries are used. We can help by conducting user studies, and gathering support from schools, community leaders and more who would like the convenience of a neighborhood library.
15. Should the city actively work with the parish and the state on the project to extend the Earhart Expressway to Roosevelt, and then make Airline a limited access highway to I-310? Carroll: Any additional transportation or highway projects should always insure Quality of Life for the residents. Additional information on this project is required before any extensions are approved.
Dawson: I believe this would require more information from traffic pattern experts, but I would strongly support any roadway that will make the drive for commuters easier.
16. Kenner is becoming one of Louisiana's most multicultural cities. The African-American population continues to grow, and the city has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the state. What changes in government policy should be made to reflect the city's diversity? Carroll: Kenner, like a lot of the major cities are becoming multicultural and adjusting to the changes. Changes in the Recreation department include the added sport of soccer, involvement of the Hispanic Community Center is increasing and appointments to the Kenner court system include African-American and Hispanics. Just like these changes , more changes to integrate the city will evolve to include the city's diversity.
Dawson: Kenner is becoming one of Louisiana's most multicultural cities. The African-American population continues to grow, and the city has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the state. The administration should be mindful of every community. I would recommend that this administration remain color blind on filling director and administrative positions but sensitive to our community by assuring that we have equal representation on boards, commissions or task forces throughout the city and district.
By Christopher Tidmore, 
