(The Center Square) — Despite a court order favoring petitioners, a citizen-led initiative for retroactive term limits remains off the ballot in Bossier City.
The measure, certified in July 2024 and supported by over 3,000 signatures, would disqualify four long-serving council members from future elections − Jeff Free, Jeff Darby, David Montgomery and Don Williams.
Though petitioners won in district court and the state Second Circuit Court of Appeal reaffirmed their case on Jan. 15, 2024, the city council has yet to act.
As of January 27, the term limits petition is not slated for the March 29 election, as several steps needed to send it to the State Bond Commission remain unfulfilled.
Instead, the council has fast-tracked a new city charter, crafted by a handpicked Charter Review Commission, which avoids retroactive term limits altogether. Critics, including members of the Bossier City Term Limits Coalition, argue the council’s proposed amendments are superficial and designed to maintain the status quo.
“For y’all to block the people’s petition continuously shows us exactly who you are,” said Cassie Rogers, a coalition member, during an October council meeting.
She contended the council is deliberately delaying action on the petition to protect incumbents in the upcoming election.
The council’s proposed charter, touted as a compromise, introduces prospective term limits allowing current members to continue serving. Unlike the citizen-backed petition, which demands immediate change, the council-backed measure sidesteps public demand for the removal of the council members.
The council secured approval from the State Bond Commission to place its charter proposal on the March 29 ballot, following a contentious process marked by procedural missteps.
State Treasurer John Fleming, who chairs the commission, previously expressed skepticism about the council’s intentions.
“If this goes forward as it is and it passes, I think it could block any further action because the people of Bossier City will feel like they made their decision through their vote,” Fleming said.
At recent council meetings, residents lambasted the council for ignoring their voices. Rogers accused the council of obstructing democracy by prioritizing its charter over the petition-backed measure.
Fellow coalition member Weston Merriott criticized the council’s financial management, highlighting budgetary shortfalls and questioning spending priorities.
“How can this body justify some of these ‘incredible’ projects when we need to take care of the people who take care of the families in Bossier City?” Merriott said.
Council members defended their actions, with at-large Councilman David Montgomery dismissing critics as uninformed.
“You should learn the fundamentals of governmental accounting, which you can go back to college for,” Montgomery said. “The allegations that are levied here are like my grandfather used to say, ‘you can’t argue with ignorance.'”
