(TLDR at end)
Today I sat down to interview Mr. Nance at his local business in West Monroe. His message was clear: not just access to information, but access to leadership.
Nance, who previously worked for the City of West Monroe for 13 years under prior leadership, says his decision to run is rooted in what he believes has been lost in recent years. He points to transparency, financial discipline, and an open relationship with the people as central concerns.
And he framed it in a way that was hard to ignore.
“When the current mayor ran, she talked about transparency and an open-door policy,” Nance said. “The first thing she did was put a lock on the elevator at City Hall so you can’t access the second floor.”
His promise?
“I will literally and figuratively take the lock off.”
A Focus on Financial Reality
Nance does not shy away from discussing the city’s finances. He repeatedly pointed to what he describes as a growing debt burden, citing approximately $42 million in debt, along with long-term bond payments tied to projects like the West Monroe Sports Complex.
According to Nance, the issue is not whether amenities are nice to have. It is whether they are sustainable.
He expressed concern about multiple city-owned event venues operating at a loss. His solution is not to abandon them, but to manage them differently.
“If it’s going to survive without draining tax dollars,” he explained, “it has to be booked constantly. You can’t rely only on local youth leagues. You have to bring in outside events.”
Rather than pointing fingers, Nance says his approach would be practical. He wants to run the city the way he runs his own businesses, with financial restraint, long-term planning, and clear priorities.
“There’s a time to eat beans, and there’s a time to eat steak,” he said. “Right now, we need to be asking, does this make us safer? Does this fix our water? Does this improve our streets? If not, it moves down the list.”
Clean Water: A Long-Term Commitment
Water infrastructure is another major pillar of Nance’s campaign.
He was careful not to promise overnight fixes. West Monroe’s water system pulls from multiple sources, which makes filtration upgrades complex and expensive.
“It’s not a day-one solution,” he said. “If it was easy, it would already be fixed.”
However, he believes the city should aggressively pursue available federal infrastructure funding that is specifically earmarked for water improvements.
His stance is simple. If grant money exists for clean water, it should be pursued just as aggressively as funds for other projects.
Public Safety and Protecting Children
Nance also emphasized safety, particularly when it comes to theft and school security.
He described personal experiences with property theft and advocates for increased night patrols in neighborhoods. One of his strongest positions was clear.
He wants a police officer in every school within city limits.
“We can make cuts in other areas,” he said. “But what’s more important than our children?”
Beyond policing, Nance talked about building unity across pastors, coaches, teachers, parents, law enforcement, and community members to mentor young people before problems begin.
“This isn’t about national political debates,” he said. “It’s about running a city. It’s about unity.”
Supporting First Responders
Another issue he raised was employee benefits for police officers and firefighters.
Nance believes it is unacceptable for first responders to risk their lives while struggling to afford family health insurance.
“If someone is willing to protect this city, we should protect them,” he said.
He indicated he would prioritize reviewing and strengthening those benefits if elected.
Involving the Citizens in Decision-Making
Perhaps the most consistent message of the conversation was inclusion.
Nance repeatedly emphasized that major city decisions should not happen in isolation.
“When the council meets and we’re deciding what to spend money on, I want citizens involved,” he said. “They know their neighborhoods. They know their problems.”
He described canvassing neighborhoods personally and hearing directly from residents who felt unheard.
He says transparency is not just about publishing numbers. It is about accessibility. It is about answering the phone. It is about meeting face to face. It is about removing barriers, both physical and symbolic.
A Commitment to Accountability
At the close of our conversation, I asked Nance directly whether he would commit to transparency and accountability with me as an independent journalist, even if criticism arises.
His response was immediate.
“100 percent yes.”
Whether voters agree with every position or not, Nance’s campaign message is clear. Restore financial discipline. Prioritize core services. Strengthen public safety. And perhaps most notably, give the citizens a key to City Hall.
In his words, it is time to take the lock off.
TLDR: Taking the Lock Off City Hall
Don Nance says he’s running for mayor of West Monroe to restore transparency, financial discipline, and public access to leadership. He believes the city is carrying significant debt and wants to prioritize core services like clean water, safer streets, and stronger support for police, fire, and schools before funding additional projects.
He supports pursuing federal funding to address long-term water infrastructure issues, increasing neighborhood patrols, placing officers in every school, and reviewing benefits for first responders.
Most importantly, he says he wants citizens directly involved in decision-making and promises to be accessible and accountable. In his words, he plans to “literally and figuratively take the lock off” City Hall.