By Marie Brown
One of the biggest controversies in Monroe City government in recent years has occurred over the appointment of a fire chief. The Man in the Hat (Mayor Oliver Friday Ellis) has nominated two candidates for the fire chief position, both of whom were rejected by most of the city council. After a year of inaction, the Man in the Hat (Friday) bypassed the council and asked his State Senate friend to enact legislation at the state level to fulfill his wishes.
Act 452 was passed by both the House and Senate sneakily, involving a last-minute maneuver concerning New Orleans during this past legislative session, and was ultimately signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry. Effective August 1st, it is now state law. The City of Monroe operates under a Home Rule Charter, which serves as its primary constitution. Voted on by Monroe citizens in 1979, the Charter addresses issues including the selection of a fire chief.
At the core of this dispute is the Man in the Hat (Friday), accusing three Black council members of wanting a Black fire chief, while he is determined to appoint a White fire chief. The Charter lists eight department heads. Currently, the Man with the Hat (Friday) has confirmed five department heads, with three positions vacant. Sources indicate he is about to submit three White candidates to the council for confirmation. If approved, Monroe would have six White department heads and only two Black ones, despite the city’s 65% Black population. Meanwhile, the Man in the Hat (Friday) has stripped some duties from the current Black department heads and given them to others. It’s clear to many who is playing the race card.
The governor has now given the city 30 days to select a fire chief, and most of the city council has voted to pursue legal action against the state of Louisiana. If the two sides cannot agree on a candidate, the Man in the Hat (Friday) will provide names to the governor, who will make the final appointment, favoring whom the Man in the Hat (Friday) prefers. All of Louisiana is watching to see what unfolds, as most of the state’s large cities are governed by a Home Rule Charter. When a final decision is made, will we continue to Love where we Live and Live where we Love, or will we bow to the Man in the Hat?
