As Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s time in office winds down, questions are growing about how her administration will ultimately be remembered.
With a federal fraud trial still pending, the conclusion of her tenure remains anything but simple.
Political analyst Dr. Silas Lee says it’s difficult to render any real summation of Cantrell’s legacy while the trial is unresolved.
“With her federal fraud trial pending, it’s hard to make any definitive assessment. Being the first sitting mayor to be indicted will undoubtedly be a part of her legacy and the outcome of that case will be tied to it.”
Lee notes that despite controversy, there were still notable accomplishments over her eight years in office.
“There were certainly some positive initiatives that came out of her administration,” he said. “Those won't necessarily be overshadowed, even as the focus shifts to how this chapter concludes.”
As for what Cantrell’s final days in office might look like, Lee doesn’t expect a dramatic departure nor a quiet one.
“I don’t think her exit will be boisterous or silent. She’ll most likely address the city she served and make an effort not to stir already choppy waters.”
With the trial looming and a new mayor preparing to take office, the final image of Cantrell’s administration, and its legacy, may be written as much in the courtroom as it was in City Hall.