By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – If you follow the political scene in Southeast Louisiana you are probably familiar with the name, “Bernie Cyrus.”
Cyrus has had many different connections to politics for more than 30 years, starting when he was a young boy growing up in New Orleans, at a time the father of former Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price was running for Louisiana lieutenant governor.
Cyrus lived across the street from Price and was neighborhood buddies with him, going so far as to help with campaigning when he was only a teenager.
Cyrus’ political life never got off the track from that early start—even though he has had several other careers during his professional life. He is currently a political consultant for several of the October election candidates in St. Tammany Parish—and has run for election seven times.
When Cyrus decided to write a book it seemed obvious he would write about the political scene in Louisiana, including a good friend of his in Edwin Edwards. But to the surprise of many, Cyrus’ first book that recently went public is about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
“Why write about Lincoln?” Cyrus responded. “There were over 620,000 people who died in the Civil War—the war should have been avoided.”
Additionally, Cyrus said that his great, great grandfather was a slave so he understands the issue from several different viewpoints.
“Rethinkin’ Lincoln” is now on sale after Cyrus finished the over 250-page book that researched and discovers what he calls the real reasons for the war.
“The Civil War was not fought over slavery rights,” he said. “It was about high tariffs on the South, the railroad and the South being invaded. The Lincoln that has been portrayed for years is not at all who Abraham Lincoln really was.”
Cyrus was researching his family history, which led back to the days when Lincoln was president. He said the more he studied the Civil War, “the more I hated the war and what really led to it. That’s why I wanted to write a book and let others understand what I had learned.”
Cyrus lives in Covington and has become involved in several political campaigns on this side of the lake in the past year or more, after he worked on campaigns for the likes of Edwards, Mary Landrieu, Steve Scalise, Russell Long and many others.
Last year he became a consultant for Warren Montgomery in the North Shore race for district attorney and was cheering with others on election night when Montgomery surprised the other contenders by winning the election.
Now he is representing Nelson Rivers, a candidate for the clerk of court race in October, and also providing assistance to Scott Illing, a recent addition to the race for sheriff.
His political connections are far and wide when looking over the past 30 years when he wore different hats as a consultant, candidate, musician and radio/TV personality. He previously hosted “The Bernie Cyrus Show” on New Orleans TV and “New Orleans After Midnight.”
Cyrus ran for election seven times, including a run for the Louisiana Senate, the House of Representatives and the New Orleans City Council. His political victories have come for State Central Committee.
Cyrus is friends with Edwards as well, being appointed to a state job under the popular former governor, and campaigning during past elections.
“I’ve done a lot of different things, but the common thread has always been to help people in some way,” he said. “I’ve been so blessed and I will keep doing what I think God leads me to do.”
The success his professional life has become is a testament to a man who reached out to him during his high school years that were difficult for Cyrus.
“When I was a kid they didn’t have ‘ADD,’ they had ‘BAD,’ and I was a bad kid,” he said with a laugh. “I went to four different high schools because I had gotten expelled.”
Finally settling at Abramson High School with a final chance, he got interested in politics and ran for student government, getting elected school vice-president, before he went on to a Youth Leadership Camp his final two years.
“I made straight A’s when I went to Abramson and that’s because a man named ‘Biff’ Pettingill believed in me and helped me,” he said. “That’s why I’ve spent my life trying to help other people and especially to mentor some of these younger kids.”
Cyrus is now single and the father of two sons, working primarily from the North Shore as he continues to juggle several careers.
Rethinkin’ Lincoln is available online at rethinkinlincoln.com, or by calling Cyber Media One at 866-912-3589.