Editor’s note: This is the first in a series. The American Press will cover each Lake Charles mayoral candidate as he gives his speech to the Kiwanis Club of Lake Charles.
Two candidates for mayor spoke about their plans for office at the Kiwanis meeting Tuesday. Over the next few weeks, the other six candidates will have a chance to present their platforms to the club before the election March 25.
The first speaker was Eligha Guillory Jr., who recently retired after four years from his position as city administrator to run for mayor.
Guillory singled himself out as the “only mayoral candidate who has worked in city government.” He proposed to improve the city’s relationship with residents by expanding public transportation and digitizing utilities, license and permit applications.
He said that addressing drainage issues would be another important role of the next mayor. He advocated for replacing old drainage lines, reducing debris and building a retention system.
Guillory also listed improving the Interstate 10 corridor as a top priority.
“We have over 70,000 cars that pass through Lake Charles every day, but we don’t just want them to pass by,” Guillory said. “We want them to stop, to stay a while, to experience some of our world-class, small-town charm.”
When asked whether he would support annexing more property into the city, Guillory said he would as long as it benefited the entire Lake Charles community. “I think we can grow, but we have to grow smart,” he said.
After Guillory’s 15 minutes were up, candidate Chris Landry was given the OK to enter the room. Each candidate was asked to leave during the other’s presentation.
Landry, a longtime police juror and owner of NAPA Auto Parts – Landry’s Supply, said that what made him stand out from the other candidates was the ability to carry out his plan. “I think I’m the only one that has a plan to pay for all of this,” he said.
Landry said he would speed up lakefront projects, like development at the Pinnacle and Sears properties, that have taken longer than needed. He also promised not to brush complaints under the rug but to address them in an honest, forthcoming manner.
“I say a lot of things that aren’t politically correct,” he said. “But I’ll tell you one thing: I’ll never lie to you. I’m going to tell you the truth.”
He said the most important issue the next mayor faces is drainage, and that the biggest hurdle with drainage and other projects is getting the city and parish to work together to better use taxpayer money.
When asked whether he would move toward a parish-based form of government, Landry said he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of other cities who ceded control to their parishes but would work with the parish when it’s in the people’s best interest.
Landry also said he would support annexing property. “Either you’re growing or you’re dying, and on paper this city has been dying for some time,” he said.
Next week, Joe Banks and Tony Guillory will address the club. Kiwanis Club of Lake Charles President Randy Fuerst called the meeting “incredibly informative.”
“We actually got a clear picture of what the candidates believe the issues are ... a sense of their personality and leadership ability by the way that they spoke,” Fuerst said.
Qualifying will run Jan. 11-13. The primary will be March 25; the runoff will be April 29.
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To attend future club meetings, call Fuerst at 436-3332.
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