Echols / Mayor Council Controversy

It appears that former City Councilman Mike Echols is not going to Baton Rouge without firing a parting shot aimed at Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo. Echols gave up his District 1 City Council seat to become a State Representative in Baton Rouge. Echols was unopposed in his state race as was his heir apparent Doug Harvey, who will be District 1's next City Council member. One of Echols's last order of business was to request that Harvey start serving immediately as a Councilman even though the elections for the positions of Mayor and Councilpersons are several months away. Harvey doesn't become official as a City Councilman until he is either sworn in during the time before elections are held or after the elections. Echols contends that Harvey should be sworn in now so he can "hit the ground running", and so he will be "up to speed" concerning city issues. As of press time, there has been no action done by the current City Council members to appoint an interim or swear Harvey in as District 1 Councilman.

The "controversy" began when Echols, after hearing that Harvey will not be seated as of now, blamed without offering any evidence, that Mayor Mayo was behind the efforts to not seat Harvey. Echols said in a Facebook post that the Council's actions led by Council Chair Juanita Woods, is "playing into Mayo's political plans". Echols went on to question Mayo's leadership and decision-making, saying the community needs to elect a "better leader", people with "vision and future" and people who can "serve this community with heart and soul". Not to be outdone, Mayo responded, saying that Echols is trying to "deceive" the public knowing that he doesn't control the City Council, nor has nothing to do with who is appointed in the interim. The Mayor and the former Councilman have been at odds over the years as veteran city hall observers know very well. It would also appear that Echols is putting Council Chair Woods in the middle, as she has said that she "is following protocol", as Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernack (District 2) and outgoing Councilman Kenneth Wilson(District 4) said that they are ready to appoint him in an interim position.

Veteran city hall watchers know that Mayo has clashed with Council Members other than Echols. He has had words at times with Councilman Eddie Clark (District 5) and Wilson, but not to the level as that between him with Echols and former District 1 Councilman Ray Armstrong. We can only hope that Mr. Echols will bring the same kind of "fight and drive" in Baton Rouge with the same kind of "heart and soul", that he says is needed in the city of Monroe from its number 1 leader. We still have a ways to go.

Photo Mayor Jamie Mayo