It is expected for debates during sessions of the New Orleans City Council to get heated - but a recent debate over the role of the past interim police chief got so heated that Councilman Oliver Thomas challenged Councilman J.P. Morrell to a fist fight! Thomas said he would fight Morrell "anytime, anytime, now!"
One councilman challenging another councilman to a fist fight explains the thug-like mentality of some politicians in New Orleans and it is totally embarrassing for such juvenile behavior to rise to the level of a city council meeting.
The fact that Oliver Thomas is an ex-con added to his threat to fight another councilman. Thomas pleaded guilty to federal charges of accepting bribes and kickbacks and entered a federal prison in Atlanta in 2008. Thomas was released in 2010. In 2021 - Oliver Thomas ran for City Council and won.
After accepting bribes as a city councilman - many have joked about the idea that Thomas was re-elected in spite of his guilty plea. If Oliver Thomas wants people to forget about the fact that he's served time in prison - he should stop displaying a thug-like mentality.
After being challenged to a fist fight - J.P. Morrell had the perfect response - "I'm sorry, I wasn't raised that way. I resolve my problems the legal way." Thomas' comeback was - "You resolve your problems picking on people, bullying people." I find it interesting that the man who challenged another man to a fist fight is the one calling another man a bully.
The tension between Thomas and Morrell is understandable since both men will certainly be running for mayor in the next election. But that's no excuse for challenging a fellow councilman to a fist fight.
But don't rule out Thomas as a legit contender in the mayor's race. Remember - he was elected to the City Council with voters knowing he had pleaded guilty to accepting bribes.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell has often been described by voters as a "bully." Is this what New Orleans voters respect? It's possible - but I refuse to believe that more decent candidates can't win.