Armstrong Gains Endorsements, Mayo Pushes Experience
By: John
Updated: April 3, 2012
(Monroe, LA) Early voting for the Monroe mayoral runoff election starts in just days and the candidates continue to add backers to their teams.
It seems the choice to team up by mayoral candidate Ray Armstrong and his former opponent Johnny Riley is paying off in terms of endorsements.
Monday a group of retired employees of the Monroe Police Department announced their support of Dr. Armstrong.
"The police department is on a downhill slide, that's the only way to put it. We believe that Ray is the man to right that ship and get everything back and operating the way it should be," says Robert Biggers.
Some of the same folks backed Riley on February 15th, but now say Armstrong is the best candidate.
"The message is vital to the understanding of the security and the health of our community. We need a healthy and happy and a well-treated police force," says Armstrong.
Also, former mayoral candidate and small business owner Clint Thomas voiced his support for Armstrong. Thomas claimed just 88 votes in the race.
Mayor Jamie Mayo says he is not impressed with the endorsements and says he has a proven track-record as mayor.
The police chief says crime dropped overall in 2011 and the first two months of 2012. Mayo says with his leadership and that of Chief Quentin Holmes, the police department is doing well.
"If you look very, very closely you'll see former disgruntled employees that are involved in an effort to remove Chief Holmes as chief and bring back either Chief Ron Schleuter or someone else to take that place and that's a shame," says Mayo.
Armstrong's campaign says he has not promised job to anyone, inlcuding Schleuter, and Mayo's accusations are not true.
And while Holmes says he can't comment on the election, he is proud of his police force.
"Typically you have four or five or just a small group of people in any organization that talk about the moral being low, so first of all, you have to consider the source," says Chief Holmes.
Voters head to the polls to decide who will win this mayoral runoff on April 21st. Early voting starts Saturday and continues until April 14th, except for on Sunday.
It seems the choice to team up by mayoral candidate Ray Armstrong and his former opponent Johnny Riley is paying off in terms of endorsements.
Monday a group of retired employees of the Monroe Police Department announced their support of Dr. Armstrong.
"The police department is on a downhill slide, that's the only way to put it. We believe that Ray is the man to right that ship and get everything back and operating the way it should be," says Robert Biggers.
Some of the same folks backed Riley on February 15th, but now say Armstrong is the best candidate.
"The message is vital to the understanding of the security and the health of our community. We need a healthy and happy and a well-treated police force," says Armstrong.
Also, former mayoral candidate and small business owner Clint Thomas voiced his support for Armstrong. Thomas claimed just 88 votes in the race.
Mayor Jamie Mayo says he is not impressed with the endorsements and says he has a proven track-record as mayor.
The police chief says crime dropped overall in 2011 and the first two months of 2012. Mayo says with his leadership and that of Chief Quentin Holmes, the police department is doing well.
"If you look very, very closely you'll see former disgruntled employees that are involved in an effort to remove Chief Holmes as chief and bring back either Chief Ron Schleuter or someone else to take that place and that's a shame," says Mayo.
Armstrong's campaign says he has not promised job to anyone, inlcuding Schleuter, and Mayo's accusations are not true.
And while Holmes says he can't comment on the election, he is proud of his police force.
"Typically you have four or five or just a small group of people in any organization that talk about the moral being low, so first of all, you have to consider the source," says Chief Holmes.
Voters head to the polls to decide who will win this mayoral runoff on April 21st. Early voting starts Saturday and continues until April 14th, except for on Sunday.
