Remember a couple of years ago when Bogalusa elected the Louisiana Democrats’ next political savior at the tender age of 23? I myself got a major kick out of WWOZ, the goofy public radio station out of New Orleans, doing a hagiographic podcast interview with him about how he was going to revolutionize a moribund city of 11,000 people as a counterbalance to the GOP takeover of the Governor’s Mansion.

When Governor-elect Jeff Landry won the race outright in October, many Democrats were left wondering, “Is it just too hard for a candidate on the left to win in a state that’s increasingly red?” Doubters can look to Tyrin Truong. The mayor of Bogalusa won the election one year ago this month. At 23 years old, he became the youngest – and first Black – mayor in the city’s history. Mayor Truong joins us to discuss his first year in office and his thoughts on the state of the Democratic Party in Louisiana.

“And a child shall lead them.”

Last night my hometown (Bogalusa, Louisiana) elected its first African American male Mayor. Tyrin Truong.

He is also the youngest mayor in the history of the town (23 years old).

It’s a really exciting time for my hometown and I’m excited to see the changes this man will bring. pic.twitter.com/h61k7GwZ8G

— Chase Holden (@GarageGuyChase) November 9, 2022

Truong, who essentially went from student government at Washington University of St. Louis to a make-work job at the Urban League to the mayorship of Bogalusa – he said watching a documentary film about the city made him want to be its mayor, which was pretty entertaining – wasn’t all that surprising. Wendy Perrette, the former mayor whom he thrashed (she actually finished third in that race back in 2022), was less than impressed.

“I wish the mayor-elect well, but young Tyrin has demonstrated repeatedly during this campaign that he lacks the skills necessary to lead and unite our city,” Perrette said in a statement to WWL. “I pray I am wrong. During the transition period, I will help any way that I can.”

And when he took over as mayor, one of the first things he did was to attempt to get rid of the city’s police department…

Truong believes after one year in office, he’s made Bogalusa a better place and is determined to explore alternatives, suggesting a possible shift to the sheriff’s office for policing, following the model of Abita Springs.

“We have been discussing with a new sheriff-elect, a lot about doing what Abita Springs did, and turn over policing to the sheriff’s office,” said Truong.

Truong says Bogalusa’s 30-man police department is top-heavy.

“On any given day, you have more captains and lieutenants in the office rather than patrolling,” said Truong. “We basically have an old guard here in town. They’re used to things ‘my way or no way.’”

He’s proposing the formation of a committee to explore more cost-effective policing methods.

At a time when homicides are down, Tervalon says the police department has been blind-sided.

“To me, it’s a bad idea. There’s no other way that any agency can come in and maintain the manpower we have and dedicate resources to our community,” said Tervalon.

That didn’t work, and I’m not going to say what happened this week to Truong was related to it, but…

Bogalusa mayor Tyrin Truong bonded out of jail Tuesday evening (Jan. 7), after spending most of the day behind bars following his arrest for what authorities described as his role in a sprawling drug-trafficking scheme that also involved guns and prostitutes.

Truong, 25, did not comment to reporters as he left jail after posting his $150,000 bond. Supporters covered him and escorted him into a waiting SUV.

District attorney Collin Sims updated the public on the young politician’s arrest at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled Bogalusa City Council meeting.

“There was a large drug-trafficking organization operating in this area,” Sims said. “My job as the DA is to prosecute based upon evidence. Evidence alone. I don’t care who it is. Does not matter.”

Troung and six other suspects were arrested Tuesday morning after what authorities said was a months-long investigation headed by the Louisiana State Police. Authorities said the alleged ring sold illicit narcotics and used some profits to buy firearms, then gave those guns to people who can’t legally own firearms and people who went on to use the guns to commit crimes in Bogalusa.

Louisiana State Police also said investigators seized opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC and MDMA during Tuesday’s arrests.

Sims described Tuesday’s arrests as only the first “seven of 20″ he expected in connection to the case.

Truong supporters at the council meeting decried the mayor’s arrest until council members ordered them to stop.

Outside the Washington Parish jail, more of the mayor’s supporters spoke on his behalf.

“The charges stink and so does the warrant,” Troung’s attorney Kelvin May said. “He’s not involved in drugs or prostitution at all.”

Yeah, that’s not all that strong an argument. Nor is channeling Kamala…

It turns out that the State Police has been on this for months and that this thing is a massive and very ugly drug and prostitution ring. Lots more arrests are coming, according to Attorney General Liz Murrill. Apparently, these geniuses were using social media platforms to move drugs like weed, opioids and MDMA, and then branched out into guns and hookers.

It’s kinda like one of those stupid movies about the crooked hillbilly sheriff who’s actually the biggest crime boss in the county, except the crooked hillbilly turns out to be part black and part Vietnamese, not a hillbilly but in fact a left-wing activist with a degree from a very expensive selective private college and a favorite of Louisiana’s Very Online Left.

You are allowed to find this hilariously funny. You are, however, discouraged from doing so. Especially when Team Tyrin swears that this is all “political,” as though Jeff Landry and Liz Murrill landed on the 20-something mayor of Bogalusa as a threat they had to frame up to save their own electoral skins.

Is that what’s going on? Or do you think that maybe what’s more likely is Wendy Perrette, poor old rejected and unwanted Wendy Perrette, was right all along about this young savior of the Louisiana Democrats?

Who knows? Maybe the mayor and his defenders are right and he’s being persecuted. Maybe now that the paper mill is gone, the drugs, hookers and guns are simply an economic development initiative for the “Magic City.” And all of you people should simply open your minds to the possibility that he might be onto something.

Because Joy Comes In The Morning.

Especially when you can make bail.