The three candidates for Denham Springs mayor outlined their plans for drainage, traffic, economic development, public safety, and other city priorities at an Oct. 19 forum organized by the Community Impact Council at the L.M. Lockhart Center Gymnasium.
John Cavalier, Jim Gilbert, and Ben Harris each answered nine questions submitted by voters ahead of the forum.
McHugh David, publisher of The Livingston Parish News and executive director of the Louisiana Press Association, moderated the forum.
Questions covered flooding, traffic, drainage, utilities, public safety, master planning, economic development, fiscal management, quality of life, and leadership. Each candidate answered nine randomly selected questions submitted by voters before the forum.
The questions and summaries of the candidates’ responses appear below, with the candidates listed alphabetically: John Cavalier, Jim Gilbert, and Ben Harris.
Question 1: Do you support a formal master plan for Denham Springs? If you do, what would you prioritize in the master plan? If you do not, what is your reasoning?
Cavalier said having a master plan is “number one” on his priority list because it “enables us to do all of the other things” needed to improve the city. Cavalier called the document the city’s “North Star,” guiding Denham Springs through an era of progress.
He said his master plan would be easy to update “so that we’re not just doing this with a five-year, 10-year, 20-year outlook, but we have built-in timeframes so that we’ll be reviewing different aspects of it … as technology improves, as demographics change, as everything the city faces changes.”
Gilbert said he would prioritize a master plan focused on infrastructure, the city’s current planning and zoning processes, and its ordinances. He said his starting point would be a citywide drainage assessment.
Gilbert said he is aware of residents’ complaints about the difficulty of opening a business in the city. Addressing drainage, traffic, and zoning problems could help alleviate some of those difficulties, he said.
Harris said he supports a “smart growth plan” that would address several needs, including infrastructure problems involving drainage and traffic, which he said residents deal with “day to day.”
Harris said he would work toward offering more services at city hall so residents could “come in and get any type of help [they] need” without having to leave the city.
Question 2: What is your background with managing a budget, whether in business, a household, or another organization? How will you use that experience to manage the city of Denham Springs’ budget effectively?
Cavalier said his experience owning and operating Cavalier House Books since 2009 has required him to spend “at least 40, 50, 60 hours a week sometimes managing all of the different aspects [of a business], from payroll to … the strategic forecasting we take as a business.”
He said his service as a member of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance and a board member of the American Booksellers Association has also given him experience with fiscal management involving approximately $30 million annually.
“Whether you’re budgeting for your household … or the city of Denham Springs … we always want to improve, we always want to shave [unnecessary expenses] off where we can,” Cavalier said.
Gilbert said his experience in the fire service and as chairman of a board of commissioners included managing a fire department budget and prioritizing equipment and stations to stay ahead of rising costs.
Gilbert also said he has managed multimillion-dollar budgets and projects for “the majority of [his] career.” He said officials must keep money in savings so public needs can be met.
“You have a lot to get done, and you have to follow that budget all the way to make sure you’re not going to run into [issues],” Gilbert said.
Harris said that during his 25 years with the water department, including the past 10 years as superintendent, he has handled “many multimillion-dollar budgets and projects.”
“Especially for the last eight years, I’ve had my hand in every major project that this city has done,” Harris said.
Harris said he has never exceeded his budget during his 10 years as superintendent.
Question 3: What role should city government play in economic development? What is the one type of business you would most want to bring to Denham Springs during your first term?
“Small business all the way,” Cavalier said.
“The role of government should be helping small businesses. It should be helping individuals attain their dreams and reach whatever goals they have for themselves,” Cavalier said.
Cavalier cited his experience of being “left out” by city and parish government when large businesses arrive and competition for sales tax revenue begins. He said large businesses can take care of themselves, while small businesses need support.
Gilbert said locally owned businesses are most important.
“People who want to invest in this community, I want to prioritize you,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert said his proposed master plan would outline the types of businesses the city most wants to attract.
“People are looking to make money, and our citizens have a vision,” Gilbert said, citing the potential for a large commercial corridor that could include a convention center and an upscale hotel.
Harris said city government should “help everyone” through existing resources such as the DEMCO Business Development Center, which he said assists businesses by offering offices on a sliding cost scale and providing access to funding opportunities.
“I think our small businesses are the most important, but I also think that we need to be there to help everyone,” Harris said.
Question 4: The 2016 flood still shapes the city. What specific steps would you take during your first term to reduce flood risk, including drainage, the Amite River, and Highway 16 projects? Which of those are within the city’s control, and which are controlled by the parish, state, or federal government?
Cavalier said his service on the city’s planning and zoning commission has shown him that residents attend meetings in “droves,” often “basically terrified of the idea that whatever is being built is going to be detrimental to what already exists.”
Cavalier said he would take an approach that respects the city’s existing infrastructure while investigating available flood-mitigation measures so future growth can occur without causing public alarm.
“A big part of the master plan is that people need to feel safe where they are, but we also need to meet with experts, developers, and property owners who are interested in doing so while building forward,” Cavalier said.
Gilbert reiterated the need for a citywide drainage assessment. He noted that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development handles drainage along state highways, while local drainage entities oversee the primary drainage canals running through the city.
Gilbert said Denham Springs has little control over regional flood-prevention measures. However, he said the city has influence and can build relationships with officials at higher levels of government to help ensure the city receives attention in current and future flood-reduction projects.
Harris discussed the Comite River Diversion Canal and the work of the Amite River Basin Commission, which he said has “billions in projects working [right now] … made up of 99% federal dollars.”
Harris credited Gravity Drainage with setting a standard in recent years for work within the watershed and on the city’s waterways, including mapping ditches and waterways.
“The city also can step in,” Harris said, noting that the city has equipment that can clean culverts and dig ditches four days a week.
“We can take care of our city … first, and then stand up and make sure that we can take care of ourselves on the parish and federal level for the rivers,” Harris said.
Question 5: How would you ensure every neighborhood, including areas that have historically received less attention, benefits from city services and improvements?
Cavalier said he would first focus on capacity-building. By taking stock of available city resources and local nonprofit organizations, Cavalier said he wants to expand their capacity, supporting their continued operations while helping them hold larger events and increase community outreach.
Cavalier also proposed an online ticketing system through which residents could report problems such as road issues or utility disruptions. Once those reports are logged, he said, the city could more effectively track and address them.
Gilbert described himself as a man of the people.
“I love all people, and one of the things I can tell you … when people call me, I don’t just answer the phone, I show up to your house,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert said the city needs to do more to bring residents together, citing a need for additional community outreach and events to build stronger relationships.
“I don’t think anybody matters any more than anybody else. I think all people deserve the same love, the same support, and I love this city,” Gilbert said.
Harris said his smart growth plan would make it easier for residents to contact the city for assistance and services. He proposed a complete overhaul of the city’s website to improve access and communication.
Harris said residents without internet access could visit city hall and use updated technology and resources to address a range of needs.
“You will be able to sit down in the foyer of city hall, and if you want somebody to help you, they’ll be there, or if you want to fill out [a service request] on your own, you can,” Harris said.
Through city hall, Harris said, residents could connect with community organizations, mental health helplines, and other local services.
Question 6: Every candidate running for office wants to hit the ground running if elected. What would your first 90 days in office look like?
Cavalier described his approach as a “very collaborative leadership philosophy” based on “strengths-based leadership.”
He said “a lot of those first 30, 60, 90 days” would be devoted to ensuring the right people are in the right roles so each city position is as strong as possible and the government can operate smoothly and efficiently.
Gilbert cited his experience writing transition plans when Parish President Randy Delatte took office.
“We can get started right now,” Gilbert said. “I know what needs to be done.”
Gilbert reiterated that he would not give jobs or promise contracts to anyone if elected mayor.
Gilbert noted that a new city budget would be available by July. He said identifying and prioritizing the city’s most pressing needs would be among his earliest tasks.
Harris said there “will be no transition period” because “I know exactly where I want to go on the first day.”
Harris said he wants to widen Hatchell Lane and add a center turn lane to improve traffic flow near surrounding neighborhoods and schools. He also said he wants to complete the Centerville project and add more streets to the state’s list of needed improvements.
After the first 90 days, Harris said, “it’s gonna be the same thing: work every day.” He said he would pursue grants, improve the city’s infrastructure, add sidewalks, and work to provide safer transportation options.
Question 7: Congestion on Range Avenue, Highway 190, and near the Interstate 12 interchange is a common complaint among Denham Springs residents. As mayor, which specific projects to alleviate traffic would you prioritize? How would you work with local, state, and parish officials to bring them to fruition?
Cavalier said he would focus on reducing residents’ need to travel long distances or leave the city for certain goods and services, thereby reducing traffic along major roads and interstates.
“I would like it if we didn’t have to go to Baton Rouge to go to all our specialist doctors … or retail or get the arts and culture we’re all wanting,” Cavalier said. “I’d like to see that come home. I’d like to see us drive less.”
Cavalier said he wants Denham Springs to provide more of the essential services residents need so they do not have to leave the city as often.
Gilbert described himself as “quite the road and watershed nerd” who spends “hours digging through [infrastructure] plans.”
Gilbert said infrastructure improvements must be completed in phases, with some portions of roads improved before work can begin on others. He cited work involving Rushing Road, Range Avenue, and nearby roads. Gilbert said officials would need to secure project endorsements and federal funding to complete major road projects.
Harris reiterated his proposal to widen Hatchell Lane and add a center turn lane to accommodate increased traffic.
He said the planned diverging diamond interchange project at I-12 would be engineered and modeled before construction begins to avoid creating the types of problems currently affecting Hatchell Lane and Range Avenue.
“Right now, I want to take care of the city of Denham Springs,” Harris said. “I want to help our infrastructure. I want to make it easier for us to get around.”
Question 8: What specific steps would you take to support the police and fire departments during your term?
Cavalier said employee pay should be addressed first.
“We’ve seen a lot of our officers being basically lured away by better salary packages and better perks,” Cavalier said.
Cavalier said tax revenue generated by a proposed convention center and upscale hotel could help fund pay increases. He also said the fire department is operating with staffing levels similar to those of many years ago, despite the city’s increased size and complexity.
Cavalier said finding ways to work with departments to make those changes and increase funding would be a priority. He also proposed quarterly, citywide town hall meetings where residents could discuss community issues with law enforcement officers and other first responders.
Gilbert cited his experience in the fire service, saying that ensuring police and fire departments have the necessary equipment and training is a personal and professional priority.
Gilbert said he also wants to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community.
“I want the community to support them as well,” Gilbert said. “We need to be building collaborative efforts with our law enforcement and fire.”
Gilbert said stronger local support would contribute to more effective disaster response.
Harris said his experience as a reserve police officer has allowed him to spend time with local law enforcement officers and understand the support they need, including updated equipment that allows them to perform their jobs safely and effectively.
Harris said the fire and police departments could each use “another person on each shift” to help improve response times. He said grant funding could provide support that is not available through local revenue or existing budgets.
Question 9: How would you work with the City Council, especially on issues where you disagree? How would you work with parish, state, and federal officials to advance the city’s priorities?
Cavalier said he hopes the City Council will be “a complete partner in everything that we’re doing” and that council members will serve as “ambassadors of the city.” Because they are often the first to hear about problems in the city, he said, council members play an important role in addressing residents’ concerns.
Cavalier said parish, state, and federal officials are part of a larger team working to improve Denham Springs and communities throughout Louisiana.
“It’s about us finding opportunities to collectively bring us together and … pursuing the best strategies in a group effort so it’s not one of us working against the other,” Cavalier said.
Gilbert said his service on the Denham Springs City Council has allowed him to establish relationships with local, parish, state, and federal officials.
“I’ve gone to the Capitol. I weighed in on bills that affect our quality of life, our laws that we use to govern,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert also said that during the past 50 years, only one Denham Springs mayor had not previously served on the City Council.
Gilbert promised to issue a monthly mayoral report informing residents about major developments in the city if he is elected.
Harris said progress begins with community groups and organizations.
“We need every individual in the city that wants to have a say,” Harris said. “We need to give them the time and the place where we can talk about situations before we go any higher [in government].”
“The citizens need to be informed before votes are cast,” Harris added.
Harris said releasing City Council agendas earlier, avoiding meetings on work nights, and holding town hall meetings would help residents prepare and provide more opportunities for their voices to be heard.
