The East Baton Rouge mayor-president candidates faced off one final time at a forum Thursday before meeting at the ballot box for the Nov. 5 primary. 

The four top-polling candidates attended the forum: current Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, former State Rep. Edward “Ted” James, Istrouma High School’s Dean of Students and head football coach Sid Edwards and attorney Steve Myers. The forum, hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and WBRZ at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, covered topics like keeping young people in the city, managing multiple cities in the parish, crime and budget cuts. 

Crime

Broome, the Democrat incumbent who has held the position for the last eight years, argued that she’s actively been addressing all of the issues presented at the forum. She combated questions about crime by saying a rise in crime in Baton Rouge isn’t an anomaly –  it’s happening all over the country.

“We can’t police our way out of crime,” Broome said.

Opponents James and Edwards seem to disagree, both mentioning their administrations would invest in law enforcement. In addition, Democrat candidate James promised his administration would invest in K-12 education with the goal of preventing crime later down the road.

5 Cities, 1 Mayor-President

Candidates were asked how they would act as a leader for not just the city of Baton Rouge, but the other four cities in the parish: Baker, Zachary, Central City and recent addition St. George. 

“The war with St. George has to stop,” said Republican candidate Myers. Fellow Republican Edwards echoed a similar sentiment, saying he will seek a fair and equal administration for all cities by working collaboratively with the other mayors. 

James said he hoped to work with the other mayors in addition to the Metropolitan Council to create a parish agenda. 

Seeing the Future

When asked what his 20-year vision for Baton Rouge was, Edwards said he saw a “city on a hill,” but that his administration would have to address the problems he sees in the city first before it becomes that “mecca.” He compared 20 years to four quarters of football, saying the parish will have to start with the first one.

Broome said her vision consisted of a capital city that embraces its uniqueness with transformative projects, like her riverfront development project, a development stretching from Southern University through downtown and nearly to LSU. In addition, she intends to transform the Raising Cane’s River Center into a hotel and conference center, which she said will help with talent retention.

Money Talks

Myers believes that the city should stop worrying about sales tax and instead hike up the business tax as a way to inflate the budget for downtown investments.

James said he intends to streamline the budget by cutting contracts that are outdated and a waste of money for the city-parish. He also promised to go to the State Legislature for money and federal grants like other communities he’s seen do in his time with the Small Business Administration.

Broome defended against allegations that her administration has been returning money to the State Legislature, saying her administration has only returned money from previous administrations and is maximizing funds in her mayorship. 

Final Comments

Myers said he’s running in hopes of a “competent administration” that will remove difficulties and complications from the system. He wants to hold people accountable and rebuild the city-parish government to address crime and other issues.

Broome defended her prior terms, saying she has not “succumbed to special interests.”

Drawing on his experience as a football coach, Edwards said he will “show Baton Rouge what it’s like to win again.”

In his final comments, James stressed his experience working toward bipartisan solutions and that he has support from both the Baton Rouge Democratic Party and Republicans in the community.

“Although we have been separated, we are not divided,” James said. 

Election Information

The last day to register electronically is Oct. 15. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 1. Early voting begins Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 28. The primary election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the general election is Saturday, Dec. 7.