Hopefuls debate Gardere crime

• By STEVEN WARD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 19, 2008 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The four candidates seeking the District 3 Metro Council seat fielded questions at a forum Thursday about crime and drug dealing in the Gardere Lane area, the influence of developers and improving traffic on Highland Road.

The four candidates — Republicans Chandler Loupe and M. Scott Wilson and Democrats Rebecca Thompson Pero and Merritt E. McDonald — are seeking Pat Culbertson’s seat on the Metro Council. Culbertson is not seeking re-election because of term limits.

District 3 encompasses most of the southern part of the parish from Interstate 10 to River Road, including parts of Highland Road, Perkins Road, Gardere Lane, Burbank Drive and Nicholson Drive.

Wilson said one way to fight crime in the Gardere Lane area is to create vocational programs for residents who “have no education” and “no incentive to wake up in the morning.”

Pero, who lives in the Gardere Lane area, said the crime problem in the community is hyped and the crime that is there could be curbed by insisting that landlords clean up their properties.

McDonald said the criminal justice system has failed the community and stronger punishments are needed.

Loupe said streetlight cameras could catch drug dealers and “the people of Gardere Lane have nothing to do and nowhere to go.” Loupe called for better recreational opportunities and said a new jail is badly needed.

During his introduction, McDonald, who is white, said he wants to make minority contracts for garbage collection available because “blacks do most of the work,” thus they should be able to own some of that businesses as well.

Sherry Harper, a 20-year resident of the Riverbend subdivision, said she was disappointed with Culbertson’s representation on issues of growth and traffic congestion. She asked the candidates if they will “give more weight to” constituents or “other influences” such as developers.

Loupe said the constituents’ problems are his problems.

Wilson and Pero promised to listen to the people.

McDonald said developers have been a problem because of years of bad planning.

Highland Road was also on their radar: Loupe, Wilson, and Pero said they do not want to four-lane Highland Road and want, instead, to preserve it. Wilson also said he wants to outlaw 18-wheelers on the road.