A chat with Mack: 10 years in office, Mayor Mack has recieved a flurry of criticism of late, but he says he isn’t going to retire anytime soon

BY MARCELLE HANEMANN
The Daily News
Published/Last Modified on Monday, June 29, 2009 2:48 PM CDT


In an effort to address some issues brought up by members of the public, to demonstrate transparency in local government and to help educate the citizens of Bogalusa, Mayor Mack McGehee agreed to meet with the Daily News last week to answer a few questions.

Many involved the city’s proposed new water metering system, and that matter will be addressed in another story Wednesday.

But McGehee touched on a number of subjects, and he said the city would continue to provide information, via a periodic series in the paper.

Bogalusa Mayor James "Mack" McGehee is shown last year at City Hall.

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This week, the main issue was water meters. But the mayor also responded to a few rumors and complaints.

First of all, he said that contrary to the word on the street, he in not on the verge of stepping down from office.

“That’s another of the famous Bogalusa rumors,” said McGehee. “I hope I live long enough to retire one day. But I have no intention of retiring any time soon.”

While he was on that subject, he also addressed complaints that he’s more likely to be found on the country club golf course than in his office at City Hall.

“My office is open five days a week from 8 in the morning to 4 in the evening,” said McGehee. “If somebody wants to see me they can call and set up an appointment, and I’ll be glad to see them or answer their questions.

“Am I in my office all day? No. Sometimes I’m out on city business. But I have my cell phone in my pocket, and everybody at City Hall has my number. They can get a hold of me. And if somebody hasn’t been able to get in touch with me, I want to know.”

He said he does enjoy a round of golf every now and then, but that he also works through the weekend.

“I work seven days a week, 24 hours a day,” said McGehee. “Not a day goes by, including Saturday and Sunday, that I’m not in the office for some reason or other.”

On charges that the city is “top heavy” and to calls to “trim the fat” in the administration, the mayor said there are no surplus employees

“If we’re top heavy, we were top heavy 20 years ago,” said McGehee. “The City Charter dictates what we have to have.”

He referred to the department heads.

But when it was pointed out that many people use the term “administration” to indicate city employees that are not with the Police, Fire or Public Works departments, McGehee asked Personnel Director Sandy Bloom to honor a Daily News request for job descriptions covering the broader group.

He indicated that the city is willing to provide the information to show that no-one is expendable.

The descriptions will be published upon receipt.

McGehee also said that a salary increase to Bogalusa’s legal secretary has been rescinded due to the city’s financial straits.

The amount of the raise was decided by comparing the job responsibilities to those of others in city, with consideration of the money in that budget, said Bloom. The secretary reportedly answers to “three bosses.”

“That was the only raise I signed this year, and it was promised last year,” said McGehee. “But we decided to pull back until times get better.”

Right now, the city is trying to be frugal without diminishing services and to increase revenues where possible, he said.

And the only way to get through the economic tough times that individuals and municipalities all over the world are currently experiencing, is for everybody to work together, politics aside, for the sake of the whole and of the future, said McGehee.

For the mayor’s response on why the city needs to go to a metered water system, see the Wednesday Daily News.

Copyright © 2010 Daily News

Comments

    Just Me wrote on Jul 3, 2009 2:18 PM:

    " I'm not sure why the administration didn't see the deficit coming sooner. By state law, they are supposed to amend the city budget anytime expenditures or revenues fall below or go above projections by 5% or more. If Mr. Bailey was truly tracking the finances they should have been making adjustments all along, but prefer to wait until the end of the year to make the adjustments. Again, what a joke Bogalusa government is "

    Just Me wrote on Jul 3, 2009 2:07 PM:

    " P. S. Is that a golf shirt Mack is wearing at work ? How professional is that ? Wonder what time his tee time was for that day? "

    Just Me wrote on Jul 3, 2009 2:05 PM:

    " For gafat-- I assure you all my posts are accurate, with historical facts to back them up. "

    Marcus wrote on Jul 3, 2009 11:22 AM:

    " Your very welcome, DEE DEE. "

    m.m. wrote on Jul 2, 2009 7:36 PM:

    " for gafat: you don't need to tell mack to ignore the negative posts: he ignores everything negative going on in this city. look at the condition of our roads, our schools, our downtown, our economy. If he was paying attention, he would be as outraged as the rest of us, and maybe he would actually try to do something to improve the situation around here. "

    for gafat wrote on Jul 2, 2009 2:12 PM:

    " Awww Mack just post under your own name if you want some credit for yourself. LOL "

    For m.m. wrote on Jul 2, 2009 12:36 AM:

    " Larry Miller collects a check and tells Jerry Bailey what to say at City Council meetins when Mack doesn't attend. He doesn't develop anything downtown and gets paid $50,000 per year. Downtown doesn't look all that great past the Daily News intersection. The farther you go the worse it gets because of the drug dealing that Chief Agnew allows to happen. He's another one that needs term limits and needs to leave with Mack. "

    gafat wrote on Jul 1, 2009 8:36 PM:

    " Ignore 'em, Mack. I think all of these negative posts were just made-up.
    Fore! "

    deedee wrote on Jul 1, 2009 6:30 PM:

    " to marcus Thank you for the answer to my question. So my comment now is the mayor should be on his way out because we as citizens hopefully will not vote him back in for another term. Bogalusa truly needs a change. He had enough years to make a difference in the positive direction. "

    m.m. wrote on Jul 1, 2009 2:09 PM:

    " It's all about being a big fish in a little pond. The way I see it, the few here who have power and connections (including mack and the rest of the city employees) do not want change, because, as things are, they get what they want and do what they want. It is time for the rest of us to stand up and let everyone know we are sick and tired of living in a city that offers no future for our children. And what the devil does Larry Miller do? "

    Marcus wrote on Jul 1, 2009 8:06 AM:

    " In answer to dee dee's question, how long can one person be mayor? The answer: as long as he, or she, is elected by the people, no matter how many times. What is happening with the Mayor, and the administration of the city of Bogalusa, is a perfect example of why we need term limits! of eight years in office only, for the mayor, and city council of Bogalusa. "

    dee wrote on Jul 1, 2009 7:36 AM:

    " As far as im concerned, the citizens of the city of Bogalusa deserve just what they get. He diddnt do anything his first, or second term, so why act all suprised? the citizens continued to elect him, time after time,hence, the old saying,"You get what you paid for". "

    marcus wrote on Jul 1, 2009 7:19 AM:

    " A 1. responsible,2. dedicated, elected public offical must be, 3.. avilable, and 4.. honest to the citizens he represents. The mayor of the city of Bogalusa during the 10 years he's been in office, has not done any of the four numbered words that ive typed above. "

    TAGgirl wrote on Jun 30, 2009 11:35 PM:

    " Mack, step on down, and take ol' Danny Stogner with you! In fact, take them all with you except for the Penton man, he sounds like he has a brain of his own. "

    marcus wrote on Jun 30, 2009 5:59 PM:

    " This article is a perfect example why there should be term limits of eight years for the mayor of Bogalusa, and the city council. "

    Just Me wrote on Jun 30, 2009 12:30 PM:

    " mack does not intend to resign, because I believe he must serve 15 years to qualify for the retirement. Before Mack, the Mayor wasn;'t in a retirement system, but then he's not been very successful at any of his prior jobs. I am sure his father-in-law was happy to get him off the payroll at the business he ran. Shame Mack didn't learn anything from him about fiscal responsibiity. It's all smoke and mirrors,folks. Bogalusa will only get worse with him in office. Wake up and get rid of him "

    littlecg wrote on Jun 30, 2009 9:55 AM:

    " Here, he gives a statement to the local newspaper and they use a picture of him to publish that was took years ago.I tried to scedule a appointment with the mayor and speak to him about his city officials harrassing my family and his secretary which is a attitude, told me that he wasn't there and I asked her if their was a way for her to reach him and she said that he had know number to reached at when he's not in the office. that I would have to check back later.
    REPLACE THE MAYOR!! "

    marcus wrote on Jun 30, 2009 12:13 AM:

    " In the past, I tried to communicate with you over five times, and you never called me, what you are, is a lair. "

    marcus wrote on Jun 30, 2009 12:03 AM:

    " He thinks that if he puts a few articles in the Bogalusa Daily News about himself, that the tax paying citizens in this city are going to forget about all of this, and it will all blow over, he's tragically mistaken. He just doesnt get it, and neither He, or certain members of the city council never will. The people of Bogalusa are not stupid, and, he needs to plan for his retirement after the next election. "

    deedee wrote on Jun 29, 2009 10:20 PM:

    " Also the mayor claims no one is expendable on the city pay roll. I really think he should spend the day with some of the city workers. And also in the clerk of court office, I am still waiting on some paperwork that they messed up and that has been a month ago. "

    deedee wrote on Jun 29, 2009 10:12 PM:

    " If you are lucky enough to catch him in his office, and mind you I called in advance for an appointment, he was rushing me out so fast because he had forgot about my appointment. He claimed he had to be in Baton Rouge. ( it was a ball game he said he had to attend) Seems to me that he would willingly step aside and let someone else do the job he doesn't have time for.And besides how long can one person be mayor? "

    Joe Nobody wrote on Jun 29, 2009 10:02 PM:

    " The mayor dances around the issues. “If we’re top heavy, we were top heavy 20 years ago…”; city population is reduced from 27K to 13K over approximately 20 years yet the size of government is static.
    It’s all about power and ego, diminish the size of government and there goes the power base and the ego suffers. "

    only in bogalusa wrote on Jun 29, 2009 5:17 PM:

    " sounds like he needs to cut some of the dead heads out and he should give his cell number to the public to call him not city hall "

    Just Me wrote on Jun 29, 2009 4:24 PM:

    " What a joke ! Mack can't even pronounce transparency, and working weekends ?!? Some of us aren't that stupid. He doesn't even work a 40 hour week most weeks. Guess it's time to pack up, 'cause I was hopin he'd resign and Bogalusa could begin the long, now difficult journey back to what it should and could be. There are actually positive places to live out there, and I intend to find one. Good Luck to those of you who keep this this leadership in office Don't say you weren't warned "

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