An effort is underway to recall Shreveport City Councilwoman LeVette Fuller following her deciding vote Tuesday preventing execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Shreveport and Gateway Louisiana regarding the Cross Bayou Point development project.

“LeVette Fuller joining three conservative Republicans to block the City of Shreveport from even talking to black business professionals was an affront to our community,” said Pastor Linus Mayes, whose church sits in Fuller’s district. “We cannot, and will not, allow that to stand. It’s clear from Ms. Fuller’s voting record on the City Council, her loyalty lies with the conservative Republicans and not our community. We cannot afford to wait another three years to have new representation in City Council District B. This is why she must be recalled.”

Fuller’s vote with three Republicans to block the city from negotiating with Gateway Louisiana, a minority-led consortium that is prepared to invest a billion dollars into downtown and create 14,000 jobs, galvanized the recall effort.

As concerned citizens from District B launch a recall petition to remove Fuller from her elected position on the Shreveport City Council, a recall committee, led by Pastor Mayes, will hold a press conference Monday, Feb. 3.

The recall committee includes prominent clergy, neighborhood associations and District B residents.

The press conference is scheduled to take place 10 a.m. Monday on the steps of City Hall.

The Shreveport Chamber of Commerce reacted to the recall effort and issued a statement Thursday afternoon.

"We at the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce have read with disappointment the remarks of Pastor Linus Mayes concerning the effort to recall Councilwoman Levette Fuller. While we do not dispute the right of the citizens of District B to undertake such a step, we believe such an effort is both shortsighted and ill advised.

"Since her election to the Council, Councilwoman Fuller has demonstrated an independence of mind and a bias toward action that have been all too often absent among members of the Council. While the Chamber does not always agree with the positions of the Councilwoman, nor any Council Member for that matter, we are heartened by her adherence to fact as a basis for her decisions, and her willingness to challenge the orthodoxies that have often hampered both cooperative open discussion and concerted action on the part of the Council.

"Councilwoman Fuller’s decision regarding the fate of the Cross Bayou Project, the inciting incident for this petition, was based on a reading of the facts, an appreciation for the gravity of the project and the position of the City to undertake such discussions. For members of the Council, or select citizens of Shreveport, to malign her or her position because it does not align with a particularly antiquated view of race is counterproductive, belittling to her and harmful to our community.

"We encourage the citizens of District B to listen to the Councilwoman’s rationale concerning her vote, rather than to the histrionics and empty rhetoric proffered by her detractors. When they do, we believe they will recognize that they are being well served by an independent voice who understands their perspective, watches out for their interests and keeps the interests of the City at the forefront of her deliberations and decisions.''

Shreveport City Councilman John Nickelson posted a comment on Facebook expressing support for Fuller.

"LeVette Fuller is a Democrat, and I am a conservative Republican, so we don't see eye to eye on every issue, but I have worked closely with her on the City Council for the past year, and I can tell you this: LeVette is a smart, passionate, and principled leader. She does what she believes is right one hundred percent of the time. And every citizen of our city should be thankful she has the patience, commitment, and equanimity to tolerate the racist personal attacks and absolute idiocy she has to put up with as a member of the Council. She is the best Shreveport has to offer, and the ignorant and ill-intentioned mob attacking her is the worst. Stand up for LeVette and thank her for who she is and what she does.''

Fuller said in a text to The Times that she did not have a comment on the recall attempt.

More:Shreveport City Council votes down Cross Bayou Point MOU proposal