Bradford Explains Opposition to More Council Financial Oversight [VIDEO]

Shreveport City Councilman Willie Bradford talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about the council's discussion of a proposal to require that body's approval on city contracts exceeding $500,000.

Bradford maintains the measure, initially introduced by Councilman John Nickelson, then amended by Councilman James Flurry, would have stripped Adrian Perkins of some of his authority as mayor, something that Bradford is reticent to do.

Councilman Nickelson pulled his proposal from Tuesday's council meeting when it became apparent that he did not have the required votes to override an obvious mayoral veto, if the bill has passed. Council observers speculate that Nickelson had the necessary four votes to pass the measure by a four to three margin Nickelson, Grayson Boucher, James Flurry and LeVette Fuller yea, Jerry Bowman, James Green and Bradford nay), but needed the fifth vote to override a mayoral veto. Bradford, who had expressed early support of Nickelson's measure, had recently come out as a no vote, essentially killing the bill before was it made it to the council floor.