Two of the three candidates running for Jennings mayor in the March 29 election addressed key issues including economic development, unity and plans for future generations on Monday during a mayoral forum.

Incumbent Mayor Henry Guinn, who is seeking his third term, and Melvin Adams, a 17-year veteran of the Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury, shared their visions for the city during the hour-and-a-half forum. The Jennings Lions Club and Jeff Davis Parish School Board member Greg Patterson hosted the event, which was streamed on the Strand Theatre’s Facebook page.

The third candidate, Chris Carrier, was not in attendance.

Getting to know the candidates

Adams expressed his long-held desire to make a difference and unite the community, suggesting the railroad tracks have historically divided the city.

“I feel that Jennings is ready for change, and I believe I’m the man to help change,” Adams said, explaining why he is running for mayor. “When I work with kids, their mindset is I have to leave in order to do something else or be somebody. I don’t like to hear that, so I’m running to show them that they don’t have to leave Jennings to be something. If I can do it, then they can do it.”

Guinn cited his commitment to the city’s progress, as his primary motivation for seeking a third term. He highlighted the city’s financial growth under his leadership, noting the reserve funds have increased from $12 million in 2017 to over $22 million today.

He also stressed the need to continue focusing on economic development and fair compensation for all employees, including first responders, without raising taxes.

“The only way to avoid new taxes is new business,” Guinn said. “And if I’m elected as mayor, we’re going to continue to fight for business. We’re going to continue to fight for economic development and equality throughout the city of Jennings.”

Most pressing issues in Jennings

Guinn acknowledged numerous challenges facing the city.

“We’re not lucky enough to just have two pressing issues,” Guinn said. “There are a stack of two dozen issues on my desk, from engineering issues to financial issues to pay raise issues. I wish I could just say we have one thing. We’re going to work on that one thing, and it’s going to make Jennings great again.”

“It’s not – – we have to multitask,” he continued. “We have to work with our council. We have to address a code of ordinances that was introduced in 1972 – it’s 2025 – we have to modernize our code of ordinances. And you’ll hear me say this repeatedly as I answer these questions, water, sewer, roads, internet and electric grid that is strong enough to withstand hurricanes.”

Guinn also highlighted the city’s resilience.

“We’ve lived through two hurricanes, COVID-19, and we had a winter storm this year that we’ve never seen in the history of Jennings, and we endured all of those because we invest in resiliency projects to withstand Mother Nature,” he said. “So if I could limit it to two, I would say resiliency projects and a strong push for economic development so that we can give the pay raises that everybody deserves without creating a tax.”

Adams views economic development and equality as critical challenges the city needs to confront.

“You must have economic development in order to grow,” Adams said. “You cannot grow if you don’t have it, and we must continue that. We also must have equality, meaning equal for everyone, not just some. When you talk about equality, you talk about everyone, and it will take each of us working together to get this accomplished. I really believe Jennings is ready, and I would push for the equality that we need in order to make this city united.”

Accomplishments for next four years

Adams stated that strengthening both the fire department and police force is a key goal to be achieved in the next four years, along with uniting the city.

“If we truly want safety, and they are the first line of safety, we must look for ways to take care of them,” Adams said. “I want to unite this city as never before. There’s a place that we need to work together in order to unite this city, so that each and every one feels that their voice is being heard. There’s a way that we can do that, but we must unite as one. We have a beautiful city and beautiful people here, but we must treat and respect each and every one. I’m here to say that I will treat each and every one with respect, no matter what walk of life you come from.”

Hard work is essential at every level of government, from local to federal, Guinn said.

“It is absolutely key to running the city efficiently,” Guinn said. “But I’ll be the first to tell you, hope is not a good strategy. In fact, it’s probably the worst. You can hope for your streets to get fixed and you can hope for that pothole to get fixed, but if you don’t wake up in the morning and you don’t actually go to work to fix it, it ain’t gonna get fixed.”

If re-elected, Guinn said he aims to build upon the achievements of previous administrations.

“When I got into office, we had money to do projects,” Guinn said. “It is easy to be mayor when you have money to do projects. What you can look forward to in the next four years is building upon the successes of not only the former mayors, but the hard work that we’ve put in over the past seven and a half years.”

The goal is to maximize the public’s tax dollars and reinvest them in vital areas, such as resiliency projects, roads, playgrounds and other improvements that benefit the city, he said.

Attracting families and businesses

Adams stressed the importance of strong schools and infrastructure for attracting families and businesses, highlighting Jennings’ location off I-10 as a major asset.

“…We have a beautiful thing,” Adams said. “We’re right off of I-10, that is one of the most attractive things. We do have a city that has good schools and infrastructure, but we must continue to grow the infrastructure and bring in more businesses in order to keep this going. I hope to attract families for future generations to come that our city needs to grow, and we’re here to make it grow and do better. We must work together.”

Guinn believes that listening to young people and closely collaborating with parish and state officials will lead to significant progress in Jennings.

“If you look at the way that we market our city, we do it with young ideas,” Guinn said. “We do it with fresh ideas. When the business investor comes to City Hall and they say, ‘Mayor, I want to invest eight and a half million dollars on a convenience store, we say, ‘Okay, what do you need?….”

He said the city needs to explore all available financial avenues and consult with local legislators regarding economic development assistance programs. Above all, he stressed the importance of listening to the younger generation.

“When I moved back to Jennings, I didn’t really get the reception I wanted,” he continued. “That’s why I’m here today. If you listen to the young people, if you listen to what they want, they like nice, new, shiny things.”

Guinn said the city has much to offer investors seeking promising locations. He expressed gratitude to the school board for their contribution to providing some of the best schools in the state, significantly boosting the city’s appeal. He also recognized the police jury’s efforts to eliminate the inventory tax.

Guinn said if the parish is successful in eliminating the inventory tax – a change that larger cities such as Lake Charles and Lafayette might struggle to implement – Jennings will secure a distinct advantage. He pointed out that businesses from these regions that serve both markets, similar to Old River’s (Truck Sales) recent establishment in Jennings, will see the city as an attractive alternative, which would be a substantial leverage for a rural area like Jennings.

Plans for future generations

Guinn said infrastructure is essential to future business and expansion within the city.

“Water, sewer, electricity, internet, roads….if you don’t have those, you don’t have Sunshine (Equipment) on the Service Road in Jennings,” he said. “You don’t have Old River (Truck Sales) on the Service Road in Jennings. If you didn’t move the sewer lift station, you don’t have Hebert’s Boudin and Cracklins. If we don’t work with our state legislators and secure the money for the Zigler (Memorial Drive) extension, you’re not going to have the expansion of ShopRite.”

He said the city currently has two businesses awaiting property agreements. These agreements depend on the extension of Zigler Memorial Drive westward, crossing La. 26 to the airport.

Adams said engaging and listening to the younger population is crucial for the city’s future development.

“….We must start listening to those young people and not just say, push them to the side,” Adams said. “Those are the future generations, and we must take notice of what they’re saying in order to get some of these things done. We need their input. We need to continue to grow, and if we don’t utilize those young people, how are they going to learn to take care of generations after them? I say we continue to do what we need to do, but also involve those young people.”

Early voting for the Saturday, March 29 election is underway from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and continues daily through Saturday, March 22 at the Registrar of Voters office in Jennings.