A Mayor for Sulphur's Future
Why I'm Running
I was born here. I built my life here. I’m raising my daughter here. Like many people in Sulphur, I want a city government that treats residents with respect, manages taxpayer dollars responsibly, and plans ahead instead of reacting after problems grow worse.
For the past decade, I’ve helped lead a local funeral home, where service, accountability, and trust are not optional. Families count on us during the hardest moments of their lives. That experience shaped how I lead: stay calm, tell the truth, pay attention to details, and do the job right.
I’m running because Sulphur deserves leadership that is steady, transparent, and focused on results, not politics.
Jacob's Priorities
Reliable Infrastructure
Roads, drainage, water, and basic City systems must be properly maintained.
Transparent Financial Management
Residents deserve clear information about how money is spent and what projects are prioritized.
Efficient City Services
City departments should be evaluated based on performance and responsiveness.
Long-Term Planning
Sulphur needs disciplined planning for growth, maintenance, and investment.
A Different Kind of Leadership
This race offers a clear choice.
One model is rooted in politics and preserving the way things have always been done.
The other is rooted in real-world management, where performance matters, decisions carry consequences, and the public expects results.
Jacob Stutes is running to move Sulphur forward with discipline, honesty, and purpose.
Leadership Built on Trust
As a funeral director, Jacob has spent the last decade serving Sulphur families during their most difficult moments. That work requires compassion, precision, accountability, and respect.
There is no room for excuses when people are counting on you.
That same standard should apply to City Hall.
What Jacob Will Do in the First 100 Days
What Jacob Will Do in the First 100 Days
• Launch a department-by-department operational review
• Publish a public infrastructure condition report
• Establish clearer service expectations across city departments
• Increase transparency around priorities, spending, and project status
A Night of Community Support March 13, 2026 This night was a strong reminder of why I’m running for Mayor of Sulphur. Seeing friends, neighbors, and community leaders come together in support of this campaign means a great deal to me. This campaign isn’t about one person. It’s about the people who believe Sulphur deserves leadership that pays attention, listens, and works every day to make this city better. Thank you to everyone who came out, helped organize, and continues to support this effort. We’re just getting started. – Jacob J. Stutes
Protecting Sulphur Families from Utility Damage March 4, 2026 Sulphur residents shouldn’t have to fght for basic safety in their own neighborhoods. When that safety is put at risk, leadership has to step in and fix it. Last week a contractor struck a gas line in Maplewood and the Sulphur Fire Department had to evacuate families from their homes. This week parts of our community are under a boil advisory, disrupting homes and local businesses. That’s not “construction as usual.” That’s a public safety risk. I submitted an ordinance to City Hall establishing a simple rule, if a contractor strikes gas, water, sewer, or drainage lines in Sulphur, work stops immediately until the City verifies the damage is fully repaired and the site is safe. The ordinance must be introduced by the Mayor or a member of City Council before the Council can consider it. Sulphur should never have to evacuate homes or boil water because of preventable contractor damage. Public safety must be the standard, every time. – Jacob J. Stutes
Protecting Residents from Preventable Infrastructure Damage (Proposed Ordinance) February 28, 2026 Leadership means preventing problems before they put public safety at risk. This weekend, following the evacuation in Maplewood after a contractor struck a gas line, I drafted and submitted an ordinance to City Hall to strengthen oversight and accountability when infrastructure is damaged. Families should never be asked to leave their homes because of a preventable utility strike. When that happens, it’s a clear sign stronger safeguards must be in place. Under our Home Rule process, ordinances must be placed on the agenda by a member of Council or the Mayor. The proposal has now been formally forwarded for their consideration. This ordinance establishes automatic stop-work triggers when utilities are damaged, stronger reporting requirements, and enforceable protections for residents whose property is impacted. Sulphur deserves safeguards that protect families first, not systems that react after the damage is done. – Jacob J. Stutes
Restoring the Standard of Daily City Maintenance February 24, 2026 A city tells you how closely it’s being managed long before you ever step inside City Hall. You can see it from your windshield. When medians break down, curbs disappear under weeds, storm drains fill with debris, and corridors sit unattended for weeks, that is not a funding issue. That is what happens when oversight slips. These are not complicated problems. They are routine responsibilities, the kind that should be handled so consistently that residents never have to think about them at all. The next Mayor’s job is not just to plan for the future. It is to ensure the fundamentals are executed every single day. A well-run city shows its discipline in the small things, corridors that are routinely monitored instead of overlooked, drainage that works before the rain, not after the damage., public spaces that reflect steady oversight, and maintenance that happens on a consistent schedule instead of only after complaints force action. When those basics are handled properly, residents don’t just see the difference, they feel the difference. Because the condition of a city is ultimately a reflection of its leadership. Sulphur deserves leadership that pays attention, follows through, and restores the standard people expect from their local government. – Jacob J. Stutes
Permitting Should Be Predictable and Professional February 16, 2026 At the forum, I was asked how easy it is to start or expand a business in Sulphur and what an acceptable permit turnaround time should be. Right now, applicants often face unclear requirements, multiple handoffs, and inconsistent response times. That creates unnecessary uncertainty for homeowners, contractors, and small businesses trying to move projects forward. In many municipalities today, permits are submitted through a digital portal where applicants can track their status in real time, receive updates, and communicate directly with the reviewing department. That is the standard we should move toward. For complete, standard applications, the goal should be a 72-business-hour turnaround, with clear timelines provided whenever additional technical review is required. The process should include a secure online system for submission and tracking, a single point of contact assigned to each applicant, and written expectations so people always know where their project stands. Permitting is not political. It is operational. When the process is clear and predictable, projects move faster, businesses can invest with confidence, and City Hall operates efficiently and professionally. – Jacob J. Stutes
Sulphur Mines Update and Public Communication February 13, 2026 I recently learned through a newspaper report that state oicials held a local meeting on February 4th, 2026 to provide an update on the ongoing emergency declaration related to the Sulphur Mines salt dome. Many residents remember the large public meeting held a few years ago when this issue &rst came to light, and many have expressed frustration that they have not heard updates since. Based on the latest information shared, this is not an immediate safety threat, but it remains an active, long-term situation that will require continued monitoring and oversight. What concerns me is that many residents, including myself, were unaware this public meeting was taking place. People should not have to learn after the fact through a newspaper article that an important community briefing has already happened without a meaningful chance to participate. As mayor, the way I communicate during this election will not change once in office. I will hold frequent, clear public briefings, and I will implement a straightforward opt-in text notification system so residents receive direct alerts about major public safety updates, infrastructure issues, and important community meetings. Leadership means making sure people are informed in real time, not after the fact. – Jacob J. Stutes
Planning Sulphur’s Economic Future February 9, 2026 Sulphur doesn’t need another insider who knows how the system works. It needs a mayor who knows when the system isn’t working anymore. For decades, our growth model has depended on the same playbook, large industry, political relationships, and waiting for prosperity to trickle down. And while that approach brought activity, it also left us with aging infrastructure, limited diversification, and a tax base that hasn’t kept pace with the demands placed on it. You can see the results. Broken roads. Drainage issues. Deferred maintenance. And a city still stretching the same dollars year after year. Here’s the truth, you don’t build a strong city by standing next to projects and taking credit after the fact. You build it by making hard decisions about land use, infrastructure, and economic direction before the ribbon cutting. That’s why my focus is forward-looking. Sulphur has real opportunities right now, especially along the frontage road corridor. With intentional planning, that area can attract retail and service businesses that generate new sales tax revenue without raising taxes on residents. That’s how you fix infrastructure sustainably. That’s how you relieve pressure on families. That’s how a city pays for its future instead of borrowing against it. I’m not running to protect old systems or old alliances. I’m running to build a stronger, more resilient Sulphur, one that works for small businesses, working families, and the next generation. Leadership isn't about how long you've been connected. It's about whether you're ready to do something different when the old ways stop delivering. Sulphur is ready! -Jacob J. Stutes
Sidewalk Safety and City Maintenance Reliability January 27, 2026 Circled back today and I’m glad to see this sidewalk hazard has been addressed. Previously, a resident was forced into the street during rain because safe pedestrian access wasn’t maintained. That shouldn’t happen not near homes, not near businesses, not anywhere in our city. This is how city maintenance should work: when an issue is identified, temporary access stays safe, surrounding properties are respected, and the repair gets completed properly, without putting people at risk and without forcing residents or business owners to chase attention. The goal isn’t one fix. It’s consistency. A system that protects pedestrians, respects businesses, and follows through every time. That’s the level of reliability Sulphur deserves. If there’s a recurring issue in your neighborhood or near your business that keeps getting ignored or delayed, direct message the page with the location (street + nearest cross street). I’m collecting input now to build a priority list, not to make instant promises, but to make sure the most common and most disruptive issues get handled first. .– Jacob J. Stutes
Raising the Standard of Leadership in Sulphur January 5, 2026 The way our city looks Is Unacceptable! In order to attract the right investors and developers to Sulphur, we need to be a shining example of what a city should look like. One of my priorities will be getting the areas along the interstate developed with businesses. However, nobody will want to invest in a city that doesn’t look attractive. So as your Mayor, we will be cleaning up this town and launching a beautification project. I want to start right at the main corridors coming off the interstate: Ruth Street, Beglis Pkwy, and Cities Service Hwy. My goal is to clean up these areas, KEEP them clean, and have that good first impression. As I drive around the city day after day, I see trash piled up along the medians, overgrown grass, and rocks and debris lining the shoulders. In my opinion, this doesn’t make for a very good first impression. What we see every day is unacceptable and I won’t stand for it. Starting immediately after becoming your Mayor, I will be working on making these areas beautiful, then maintaining them. 1. Beautify this city. 2. Attract investors and developers. 3. Incentivize developers to invest in Sulphur. 4. Grow the economy and invest back into our employees and citizens. Let’s raise the standards of not only the city, but of our leadership. - Jacob J Stutes
Why “Putting People Before Politics” Matters December 8, 2025 The other day someone asked why I chose the message “Putting People Before Politics.” My answer was simple, a city cannot move forward when only one circle has a voice. Real leadership requires rising above personal disputes, old expectations, and the noise that keeps this city in the same place. I’m grateful for the support coming from every part of Sulphur. Longtime residents, young families, business owners, volunteers, and people who’ve never stepped into local government are reaching out. When people from different corners start pulling in the same direction, that tells me the city is ready for something better. Putting people before politics means staying focused on what matters, infrastructure, drainage, safety, and a city that responds when residents need help. It means working with everyone, even when they don’t agree with each other. I’m here to serve the whole community, not a single group. I appreciate every person who sees the value in that approach and wants this city to function better than it does today. Progress happens in the center, where people agree on the problems in front of them and expect their leaders to solve them. That’s where I work. That’s where I lead. And that’s where this city will move forward. My job is to deliver results, and as mayor, that’s exactly what I plan to do. I’ve said it all along and I’ll say it again, it’s time to make Sulphur great again. - Jacob J. Stutes
Late Night Thinking: Why Cities Fall Behind November 30, 2025 Sulphur isn’t losing people because it’s small. Sulphur is losing people because other places work better.For years, families and businesses have been drifting toward cities with stronger infrastructure, cleaner systems, and clearer leadership. That’s not fate. That’s the result of direction. When a city has no coordinated plan, it quietly falls behind. When leadership is fragmented, opportunity slips to whichever town is willing to build what we won’t.It doesn’t have to stay that way.Sulphur can regain its competitive edge, but it starts with a reset in direction. Infrastructure isn’t just roads or drainage or water, it’s the backbone of whether families stay, whether new businesses land here, and whether the next generation sees Sulphur as a place worth rooting into. With disciplined leadership and a real structure for progress, Sulphur can move from reactive to strategic. From patchwork to planned. From losing ground to gaining it back. What’s been missing is intention. What comes next is choice. The train is built. The engine is running. Are you coming on board? - Jacob J. Stutes
Community Service at the SC3 Thanksgiving Gathering November 15, 2025 This week kicked off with visiting with everyone at the senior center during their Thanksgiving bingo. I also had the opportunity to attend SC3’s Community Thanksgiving. Almost every seat was filled. One woman shared that she has no family, and this is the only time she’ll sit at a full table for Thanksgiving. That stayed with me. It’s a reminder that many people in Sulphur carry more than we realize, and small gatherings like this matter. The volunteers at SC3 show what quiet service really looks like, steady, consistent, and done from the heart. These events don’t just feed people, they hold them together. They show exactly where our community is strong and where we could be even stronger. Meeting these needs isn’t charity, it’s basic community infrastructure. We can build an even stronger, more connected Sulphur by supporting both our people and our neighborhoods with intention. I’m ready to set those intentions in 2026. - Jacob J. Stutes
Making Sulphur Clean October 15, 2025 I thoroughly enjoyed the parade last week, as did many of you. There was a huge turnout and things went well. However, over the past week, I’ve been waiting for the city to clean the streets, sidewalks, and yards which were left littered with trash and candy. Never happened. I went back the next day just to see the aftermath of the parade. When I’m Mayor, these streets will be swept clean immediately following the fun. That will include the sidewalks and private yards affected by the parade. This mess that remains shouldn’t be left to the homeowners to clean, nor the citizens to drive through for weeks on end. The melted candy and trash eventually gets washed into our drainage systems, which causes issues. If I have to drive the Zamboni aka street sweeper myself, we are gonna make sure these streets are left clean and the citizens can be proud of this city. My efforts of a cleaner city is one we can be proud of and my efforts will be robust! – Jacob J Stutes
Progress in Progress: Working With SC3 on Drugs and Homelessness October 13, 2025 This morning I had a fruitful meeting with the director of the Sulphur Christian Community Coalition, Joanne Coleman. We had an in-depth discussion on how the city and SC3 can work together to help with two main concerns of so many people, the drugs and homelessness. These two problems often go hand in hand. As discussed in a previous post, the homeless basically fit in three categories: severe mental health disorders and drug use, the enabled, and the unfortunate who have befallen a tragedy that put them there. The first of those make up the vast majority of people who are homeless (severe mental health disorders and drug use). When I am Mayor, I will be teaming up with SC3 to get more resources to connect with them so that we can help those suffering with mental health disorders and drug use, as discussed at length this morning. Getting them off the streets and into facilities (the ones I’ve been talking to) will help treat their illnesses and drug use. Having programs available to those who want help will go far to helping treat them and turning them into productive citizens. Tackling the drug crime in our city will help eliminate the facilitation of those who seek this behavior, making it harder for those who depend on drugs. Without the rampant availability of drugs, we can help wean these people off their addiction and lead them to a better life. This is the primary goal for Making Sulphur Great Again! Joanne Coleman and I both see eye to eye on the approach of enabling those who find themselves without. We can’t just carry these people through life. Our goal is to help lift them up and give them direction with assistance, jobs, housing, and food. The goal there is to give guidance and a sense of purpose. For those who have befallen a tragedy and found themselves on the streets, just know that you are not alone. A strong local economy is the key to regaining your purpose and drive in life. I am fortunate enough to have gotten to know those in the industrial complex in our area, and I will be reaching out to them for employment opportunities of the people here. We want our less fortunate citizens to know that we care, and we care enough to help them get their lives back. I also want the city to build up its forces to be able to tackle the needs of our citizens with every service we have. I plan to build up our public works department utilizing the unemployed citizens who are wanting to get their lives back, all the while contributing back to the city. The Sulphur Christian Community Coalition is an amazing organization that helps those in need in a multitude of ways. Thank you for reaching out to me and wanting to discuss these pressing issues. I truly look forward to working closely with them to help clean up our streets and make Sulphur a safer, better, cleaner place to live and work. –Jacob J. Stutes