Stop the Presses!
By Lou Gehrig Burnett

A big surprise in Senate 37
         Just when it was thought that things couldn't get more interesting in the Senate District 37 race, they have.  Rumors have been rampant that a Democrat would enter the race where four Republicans have already officially announced.
         But no one saw this coming.  Sheva Sims, a black attorney who lost to District B Councilman Monty Walford by 4 votes last year, said she will be a candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by term-limited Republican Sen. Max Malone.
         Sims made her announcement in the premier edition of The Mirror Weekly-Observer, the newspaper  published by Ed Bradley.  The article, written by Lauren Kennedy, was titled, "Attorney Sheva Sims: A 'Jane' of All Trades."
         The article said, "Sheva Sims has always been a 'voice for the people' as an attorney, educator and minister of music.  Sims plans to continue to be that  voice but in a larger forum as she runs for the Louisiana State Senate Seat, District 37."
         Sims was quoted as saying, "I want fair representation for all people, not just a few.  I was directed by God to aid individuals in having fair,  unbiased and un-bought representation."
         Sims joins four Republicans already on the ballot: They are state Rep. Billy Montgomery, former Caddo Commissioner Jay Murrell, Barrow Peacock, and former  state Rep. B.L. "Buddy" Shaw.
         Politicos believe that the dynamics of the race have been changed by the black Democrat's candidacy.   Of  the 65,332 registered voters in Senate District 37, 22% are black and 41% are Democrats.
         Until now, it was thought that Montgomery would attract a goodly number of those voters as a former Democrat.  Now, politicos are not so sure.
         Sims is a viable candidate, which she proved in her race against Walford.  It is likely, therefore, that she will win over many black voters and some loyal white Democrats who are not happy with Montgomery's party switch.
         Obviously, three of the GOP candidates ­- Murrell, Peacock, and Shaw -­ are not concerned about Sims and are likely pleased to see her get into the race.  As one analyst put it, "Those three would not have gotten very many black votes anyway."
         No one believes Sims can win the Senate seat which is 75% white and has been in Republican hands for 12 years.  The last Democrat to occupy the seat was Greg Barro from 1992-96.
         Don Pierson, as a Bossier City Democrat, made a strong run against Malone in the 1999 election, but Pierson lost by 249 votes.
         Nevertheless, Sims adds a new dimension to a race that is anxiously anticipated by local political junkies.  But don't get complacent.  We may not have seen the end just yet of candidates for this Senate seat.