Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Jesse Smith goes by a lot of names, including a coach, elder, husband, dad, and grandpa. In a few weeks, he hopes to add the title, councilman to his list of duties. He is one of four candidates vying for the District 4 city council seat.

Smith was reared along with his brothers and sisters in Sterlington, LA, by his parents, Howard and Leola Smith. One thing he remembers most of his childhood was the bond of the Black community where he grew up. Most raised around him grew up, understanding the importance of pride and how they, as a Black community, presented themselves. This collective understanding provided catalysis for excellence, where everyone worked together with no motive aside from wanting the best for one another and to show each other respect. These positive virtues were not the expectation of others, but the expectation of themselves first.

After high school, He received a scholarship to attend and play for Grambling State University. Injuries prevented him from going further in his athletic career but ignited the path of education for him. As he went on to coach football, education was the thread that helped him connect with young athletes. His theory: If you put the proper interest and effort into education, you will win. At the end of each season he coached, he would go back and evaluate successes, counting those wins when his kids received an academic award or scholarship. He taught and coached in Monroe for over 30 years before retiring from Monroe City Schools.

Coach Smith decided to run for his district's council seat because he has been a community leader for quite some time, helping those in his neighborhood with varying issues. He never really had aspirations of holding a political office but believes it to be a natural matriculation since he has been a community advocate for quite some time.

He and his wife moved into their home in District 4 over 30 years ago. He remembers what the neighborhood was like then, and remembers being around many working-class people who were proud of where they lived. Since then, he has served as a coach and athletics director, and even run successful businesses that serve his community. He admits that he has noticed a decline in the community, but remains optimistic that he can be the change to help restore the integrity and pride that was once there. He believes there are some ongoing problems like drainage and flooding issues that need other solutions. He also believes that the council should work to enforce a standard of living that will re-ignite the pride that was once there in his community. When he is elected, he intents on working with his community to restore the dignity that once existed here.