Andre Strumer
Andre Strumer was a Democratic candidate for District B representative on the New Orleans City Council in Louisiana. Strumer was defeated in the primary election on October 14, 2017. Click here to read Strumer's response to Ballotpedia's 2017 municipal candidate survey.
Biography
Strumer obtained a B.A. in psychology, a B.A. in English literature, and an M.A. in communication from Auburn University. He also received his Ph.D. in mass communication and journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi.[1]
Elections
2017
The following candidates ran in the primary election for the District B seat on the New Orleans City Council.
New Orleans City Council, District B Primary Election, 2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | 39.66% | 5,617 | ||
Democratic | 27.41% | 3,882 | ||
Democratic | Timothy David Ray | 17.47% | 2,475 | |
Democratic | Catherine Love | 9.67% | 1,369 | |
Democratic | Eugene Ben-Oluwole | 3.35% | 475 | |
Democratic | Andre Strumer | 2.44% | 346 | |
Total Votes | 14,164 | |||
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, "Saturday, October 14, 2017," accessed October 14, 2017 |
Campaign themes
2017
Strumer participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of municipal government candidates.[2] The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what his top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:
“ | Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Crime. Poverty is the worst type of violence. And education is the silver bullet.[3] | ” |
—Andre Strumer (October 4, 2017)[1] |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the city, with 1 being the most important and 12 being the least important: city services (trash, utilities, etc.), civil rights, crime reduction/prevention, environment, government transparency, homelessness, housing, K-12 education, public pensions/retirement funds, recreational opportunities, transportation, and unemployment. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important.
Issue importance ranking | |||
---|---|---|---|
Candidate's ranking |
Issue | Candidate's ranking |
Issue |
Crime reduction/prevention | Transportation | ||
K-12 education | Homelessness | ||
City services | Government transparency | ||
Environment | Civil rights | ||
Unemployment | Recreational opportunities | ||
Housing | Public pensions/retirement funds |
Nationwide municipal issues
The candidate was asked to answer questions from Ballotpedia regarding issues facing cities across America. The questions are in the left column and the candidate's responses are in the right column. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions.
Question | Response |
---|---|
Very important | |
Federal | |
Increased police presence/activity | |
Focusing on small business development | |
It's diversity. We are "The Land of Misfit Toys." Anyone can find a home here. | |
The most dangerous thing is the crime. The best plan for the future is our children's education and job creation. The most annoying thin I would fix are the streets. Good bye potholes. Hello nice sidewalks. |
Additional themes
Strumer included the following additional themes with his survey response:
“ |
Public Safety Repairing the streets of the city inundated with potholes is a major Public Safety issue. Firefighters need good roads on which to respond to calls on matters of life and death. In the fight to save lives, seconds add up to minutes. And minutes cost lives. Too many minutes mean tragedy for people and property. Our roads are in horrible disrepair. It’s ass if we are driving on the surface of the moon. For the people driving on them, bumpy streets and deep and often hidden potholes mean damage to our cars and expensive repairs adding to our budgets. It is a matter of the safety and the security of our citizens that this issue be addressed immediately and completely. We can do it. The people who employed at the New Orleans department of Public Works and the Sewage and Water board want to work more hours. But their jobs are outsourced to private contractors that charge the city twice as much money for the same work. I will not vote for any private contract, unless all of the city’s employees have as many hours and they can safely work. There is no reason why the people who repair our water system are forgotten. These workers need to have the resources available to them properly allocated so they can earn a living wage, enjoy the security of their jobs, take pride in the work they do, and have the incentive to continue to work for the city instead of seeking higher paying jobs in private companies as soon as they have the experience to apply for those jobs. Education Alternative Energy Green Spaces Corruption Removing those people whom, for whatever reasons they may be, tenure, nepotism, or continued lackluster performance and replacing them with energetic, progressive, and dedicated new employees, who welcome the privilege of public service, and will thereby begin revitalizing the city’s core of bureaucratic caretakers. I will continue tirelessly working as a committed liaison, between the constituents of District B, Greater New Orleans, and the legislators in the different branches of local, state, and national government, through subtle compromise and rigid positioning, to secure what is best for the most. Once exposed, the lazy and corrupt will be run out of City Hall, the Court System, and the parish maintenance departments with immediate action. Any chance to return to public service, first will require community service, public censure, and probationary reinstatement. Depending on the severity of the abuse of position or the neglect of employment duties to the city of New Orleans by the person, loss of pay grade, monetary fines, and imprisonment will be disciplinary options. The word will go out, Employees of the City of New Orleans, “If you do not pull your weight, cheat the city, or by action or inaction cause harm, distress or loss of hope, to come to the people of New Orleans, for personal gain, there will be no quarter given.” Mass Transit Short Term Rentals $15 Minimum Wage Community Growth Starting my own personal and historically successful, “Let It Bother You” program, which will empower people to do simple things to help the city. Pick up the trash in front of their houses. Stop throwing trash into the streets. When you see trash on your street, then Let It Bother You. And pick it up. If criminals set up business on your corner. Let it bother you. And call the police. When there are abandoned cars or water lines leaking, then Let it bother you. And call the city authority. The people of New Orleans will gain a growing sense of community involvement, family stability, and city pride. Lawlessness and living in fear will become a thing of the past. Personal opportunities and business achievements will stand together with strong families and caring communities, beginning today and continuing forever. Affordable Housing Marijuana New Orleans of Tomorrow |
” |
—Andre Strumer (2017) |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Andre Strumer New Orleans City Council. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
New Orleans, Louisiana | Louisiana | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ballotpedia's municipal government candidate survey, 2017, "Andre Strumer's Responses," October 4, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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