GSU alum elected to lead Shreveport

ܬI want to first thank God. Heܬs been so good to me and to my wife and to my family in helping us to endure this wonderful journey,ܬ said Cedric B. Glover in his victory speech after winning the Shreveport mayoral race. Glover was elected the cityܬs first Black mayor on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Jerry Jones. After trailing behind Jones seven percent in the Sept. 30 primary, Glover captured 53 percent of the vote in the runoff to win. In a victory speech, Glover, a native of Shreveport, pledged to unify the city and continue seeking economic development and solutions to Shreveportܬs crime problem. ܬWe have a very diverse city. We cannot lead or govern alone,ܬ Glover told supporters. ܬWe have a wonderful city with so many wonderful people,ܬ he said in his victory speech. ܬWe canܬt leave anybody behind. We will party tonight with a purpose. Come early tomorrow morning, we will get to work toward building that great Shreveport. ܬSo as we look toward the future, we do it from a perspective of having one Shreveport, a greater Shreveport, a better Shreveport. Weܬll do it together.ܬ Glover was educated in the Shreveport public school system, and later attended Grambling State and Louisiana State universities. He started his political career in November 1990. He became the youngest individual ever elected to the Shreveport City Council. In his five years with the City Council, Glover served two terms as Council Chairman. He also served as the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and was selected Public Official of the Year. Glover also served as a board member of the Greater Shreveport Economic Development Committee. Glover also became the youngest graduate of the Leadership Louisiana Program. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1995, representing District 4 in Caddo Parish. He served in the state house for more than 10 years. In receiving the pre-election endorsement of The (Shreveport) Times, the newspaper noted Glover could ܬreassure and inspireܬ the city. The Times wrote: ܬAs a man who has devoted his life to public service, Glover is at home both in circles of power and in the poorest neighborhoods. Diversity is second nature to Glover, who has been adept at forging coalitions across both political and racial lines.ܬ