Iowa Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Paul "Hounddog"
Hesse
Paul "Hounddog" Hesse is running for mayor of Iowa in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Neal Watkins Jr., Jordan Manela and Brian "Shakey" Schexnayder.
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The race · Mayor
- 01Paul "Hounddog" HesseYou’re reading
- 02Jordan Manela
- 03Brian "Shakey" Schexnayder
- 04Neal Watkins Jr.Incumbent
Background
- About
- Former Iowa mayor, elected in 2018, who works as a divisional accountant at a sawmill.
- On the ballot as
- No Party
Four candidates filed for mayor: Paul "Hounddog" Hesse, Jordan Manela, Brian "Shakey" Schexnayder and Neal Watkins Jr. Louisiana Secretary of State Candidate Inquiry: Calcasieu Parish, Nov. 3, 2026 election · Aug 7, 2026
Neal Watkins Jr. is the incumbent mayor; Paul "Hounddog" Hesse is a former mayor. KPLC · Oct 12, 2026
On the record: Paul "Hounddog" Hesse
3 sourced01Police funding1 sourced position
Says the current mayor cut police benefits and pay increases, and that officers leave for other departments.
He’s defunded the police department. And I’m very disturbed about that because we had built up the benefits and the pay for the officers here to be competitive with almost anybody in Southwest Louisiana.”
Own statementKPLC · Oct 12, 2026Link
02Water, sewer and roads2 sourced positions
Plans to improve the water and sewer systems and the roads, work on town beautification and improve employee wages and benefits.
Own statementThe Advocate · Aug 26, 2026Link
Wants to bring back pipe bursting to replace sewer and water lines and full road overlays rather than pothole patching.
We were doing processes of pipe bursting, which is a very inexpensive way of changing sewer and water lines out, putting in bigger lines without necessarily having to dig up the town”
Own statementKPLC · Oct 12, 2026Link
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