Post by T Brown on Oct 17, 2014 13:23:58 GMT -6
www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2014/10/15/lasalle-mayor-ambassador-city/17334459/
LaSalle: Mayor should be 'ambassador' for city
Richard Sharkey, 3:45 p.m. CDT October 16, 2014
Mitzi Gibson LaSalle says the mayor of Alexandria has to become an "ambassador" for the city, and she's ready to accept that challenge.
LaSalle, the District 2 representative on the City Council, is one of five candidates running for mayor in the Nov. 4 primary election.
Her "inside look" at city government by being on the council has shown her what needs to be done to improve Alexandria, she said.
"We need to have more fair and transparent government. We need to have cleaner and safer streets. We need to have more affordable utility bills for all of our citizens. We need to continue to work on more improved infrastructure," LaSalle said.
If she's elected, she said, citizens would have "a mayor that is fair, that is accessible, that is compassionate to the needs of the community. They're going to have a mayor that is business-friendly."
An improved permitting system will help attract new businesses and make it more convenient for existing businesses, LaSalle said.
"Way too often I've heard from the business community that it is pretty tough doing business with the city of Alexandria, pretty tough going through the permitting process for new constructions, whether it be residential or commercial. …
"If we have to, we need to hold the hands of small businesses or new businesses that are coming into our area. We need to make the process as painless as possible for them to encourage them to expand their businesses, to encourage them to open up new businesses. We have to make Alexandria a more business-friendly community."
Attracting new businesses starts with making sure the city has the right workforce, business climate and infrastructure, she said, and with the administration being proactive.
"The mayor of Alexandria should be an ambassador for the community, which means they go out to other areas and court those folks to come into our community for tourism and also to establish new businesses here."
The city needs to take advantage of its location in the center of the state by seeking out more conventions, family reunions and other activities, she said.
The current mayor-council relationship is "not equal, it is not beneficial to the city as a whole, and I know definitely from being on the outside and from being a part of the council, it can be different," LaSalle said.
"Under my leadership, the way it would be different is that I would be fair to every council member. I would be open to every council member. I would work with every council member. …
"You cannot have a leader in office that if you vote against something that they want, that then hold up projects in your area, that they won't meet with you. You can't have that."
The council has a member act as a liaison with the administration, LaSalle said, but she'd like to see that liaison role rotate among council members to improve the mayor-council relationship.
While there are some council votes which have split along racial lines, LaSalle said she doesn't think the council is racially divided.
"People do seem to miss the times that we vote unanimously," said LaSalle, who is the first African-American female ever elected to the council.
"For myself as a councilwoman, I voted on the issues, and no matter which way racially people thought they should go or would go, I voted on the issues. There have been times that I have absolutely received some flak, I guess you can say, for voting opposite my other two African-American council (members) … but I vote on what's best for the city, what's best for a particular community, what's best for a neighborhood."
LaSalle said she'd have a different style of leadership from the current administration.
"It's also a passion and compassion for the community, for the residents as a whole. I don't think that any neighborhood in our city is better than any other one. I think they have different issues, but I think they all have issues.
"They need to be treated fairly, and they need to be addressed fairly and not overlooked and not ignored."
She agrees with the administration that the relocation of Central Louisiana Technical Community College's campus to downtown Alexandria will make a big impact because it'll help provide the skilled workforce needed to attract and retain businesses.
"That project is also going to foster an awakening and re-creation of downtown Alexandria. Definitely at the same time we are focusing on the community college project, we need to be focused on revitalizing, rebirthing and revamping our downtown area," LaSalle said.
She said the riverfront area has been underutilized and needs more development.
"We have got to get people not only working, but living, walking, shopping and also being entertained in downtown Alexandria."
The city can partner with private businesses in the development of downtown, she said.
"I'd also like to spread out and go into each and every one of our neighborhoods and communities and provide them with the services and with the infrastructure they need to have a better quality of life."
LaSalle said she wants the city to form more partnerships with other governmental agencies, such as the Rapides Parish Police Jury, School Board and area municipalities.
"We have a lot of little small towns, cities and villages around us, and we need to work a little more closely with them to see what resources we may have that can enhance their communities. … A lot of those folks come into our community to work, to shop and to be entertained," LaSalle said.
Another focus would be enhancing recreation and other programs to help youth be "active, educated and healthy."
"My vision for Alexandria is actually the citizens' vision. … The mayor's office is the citizens' office. The City Council is the citizens' City Council. That's the type of leader that I am," LaSalle said.
"But I also plan to be a leader that does go out into the rest of the world and see what other communities are doing, see what other cities are doing that we could possibly benefit from and bring it back here."
LaSalle is one of four Democrats in the mayor's race. The others are Jamar Gailes, Jeff Hall and incumbent Mayor Jacques Roy. Candidate Nicholas R.P. Wright is a Republican.
Mitzi Gibson LaSalle
Age: 45
Education: Graduate of Washington-Marion Magnet High School in Lake Charles; bachelor's degree in marketing from Grambling State University
Political experience: Serves as District 2 representative on Alexandria City Council. When elected in 2010, she became the first African-American woman elected to the council.
Job: Business development executive for Keller Enterprise
Family: Children Maya, Sommer, Jerry III and Hunter; grandchild Greyson
Church: Word Christian Center in Alexandria
Website: www.facebook.com/officialmitzilasalle
LaSalle: Mayor should be 'ambassador' for city
Richard Sharkey, 3:45 p.m. CDT October 16, 2014
Mitzi Gibson LaSalle says the mayor of Alexandria has to become an "ambassador" for the city, and she's ready to accept that challenge.
LaSalle, the District 2 representative on the City Council, is one of five candidates running for mayor in the Nov. 4 primary election.
Her "inside look" at city government by being on the council has shown her what needs to be done to improve Alexandria, she said.
"We need to have more fair and transparent government. We need to have cleaner and safer streets. We need to have more affordable utility bills for all of our citizens. We need to continue to work on more improved infrastructure," LaSalle said.
If she's elected, she said, citizens would have "a mayor that is fair, that is accessible, that is compassionate to the needs of the community. They're going to have a mayor that is business-friendly."
An improved permitting system will help attract new businesses and make it more convenient for existing businesses, LaSalle said.
"Way too often I've heard from the business community that it is pretty tough doing business with the city of Alexandria, pretty tough going through the permitting process for new constructions, whether it be residential or commercial. …
"If we have to, we need to hold the hands of small businesses or new businesses that are coming into our area. We need to make the process as painless as possible for them to encourage them to expand their businesses, to encourage them to open up new businesses. We have to make Alexandria a more business-friendly community."
Attracting new businesses starts with making sure the city has the right workforce, business climate and infrastructure, she said, and with the administration being proactive.
"The mayor of Alexandria should be an ambassador for the community, which means they go out to other areas and court those folks to come into our community for tourism and also to establish new businesses here."
The city needs to take advantage of its location in the center of the state by seeking out more conventions, family reunions and other activities, she said.
The current mayor-council relationship is "not equal, it is not beneficial to the city as a whole, and I know definitely from being on the outside and from being a part of the council, it can be different," LaSalle said.
"Under my leadership, the way it would be different is that I would be fair to every council member. I would be open to every council member. I would work with every council member. …
"You cannot have a leader in office that if you vote against something that they want, that then hold up projects in your area, that they won't meet with you. You can't have that."
The council has a member act as a liaison with the administration, LaSalle said, but she'd like to see that liaison role rotate among council members to improve the mayor-council relationship.
While there are some council votes which have split along racial lines, LaSalle said she doesn't think the council is racially divided.
"People do seem to miss the times that we vote unanimously," said LaSalle, who is the first African-American female ever elected to the council.
"For myself as a councilwoman, I voted on the issues, and no matter which way racially people thought they should go or would go, I voted on the issues. There have been times that I have absolutely received some flak, I guess you can say, for voting opposite my other two African-American council (members) … but I vote on what's best for the city, what's best for a particular community, what's best for a neighborhood."
LaSalle said she'd have a different style of leadership from the current administration.
"It's also a passion and compassion for the community, for the residents as a whole. I don't think that any neighborhood in our city is better than any other one. I think they have different issues, but I think they all have issues.
"They need to be treated fairly, and they need to be addressed fairly and not overlooked and not ignored."
She agrees with the administration that the relocation of Central Louisiana Technical Community College's campus to downtown Alexandria will make a big impact because it'll help provide the skilled workforce needed to attract and retain businesses.
"That project is also going to foster an awakening and re-creation of downtown Alexandria. Definitely at the same time we are focusing on the community college project, we need to be focused on revitalizing, rebirthing and revamping our downtown area," LaSalle said.
She said the riverfront area has been underutilized and needs more development.
"We have got to get people not only working, but living, walking, shopping and also being entertained in downtown Alexandria."
The city can partner with private businesses in the development of downtown, she said.
"I'd also like to spread out and go into each and every one of our neighborhoods and communities and provide them with the services and with the infrastructure they need to have a better quality of life."
LaSalle said she wants the city to form more partnerships with other governmental agencies, such as the Rapides Parish Police Jury, School Board and area municipalities.
"We have a lot of little small towns, cities and villages around us, and we need to work a little more closely with them to see what resources we may have that can enhance their communities. … A lot of those folks come into our community to work, to shop and to be entertained," LaSalle said.
Another focus would be enhancing recreation and other programs to help youth be "active, educated and healthy."
"My vision for Alexandria is actually the citizens' vision. … The mayor's office is the citizens' office. The City Council is the citizens' City Council. That's the type of leader that I am," LaSalle said.
"But I also plan to be a leader that does go out into the rest of the world and see what other communities are doing, see what other cities are doing that we could possibly benefit from and bring it back here."
LaSalle is one of four Democrats in the mayor's race. The others are Jamar Gailes, Jeff Hall and incumbent Mayor Jacques Roy. Candidate Nicholas R.P. Wright is a Republican.
Mitzi Gibson LaSalle
Age: 45
Education: Graduate of Washington-Marion Magnet High School in Lake Charles; bachelor's degree in marketing from Grambling State University
Political experience: Serves as District 2 representative on Alexandria City Council. When elected in 2010, she became the first African-American woman elected to the council.
Job: Business development executive for Keller Enterprise
Family: Children Maya, Sommer, Jerry III and Hunter; grandchild Greyson
Church: Word Christian Center in Alexandria
Website: www.facebook.com/officialmitzilasalle