The Westbank State Senate candidates on why they should be elected

12th October 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

Perhaps the most unexpectedly competitive election this cycle has been the Westbank-based Senate District 7 race. The seat covers Algiers, West Bank Jefferson, and parts of Plaquemines Parish. The incumbent Dr. David Heitmeier shocked the state politics by opting not to seek re-election on the Friday before qualifying—with no warning.

The suddenly open Senate District ultimately drew four strong candidates, Leslie Ellison, Roy Glapion, Troy Carter, and Jeff Arnold. The Louisiana Weekly invited all four to debate the reasons that each should be elected to the State Senate. All but Ms. Ellison met to debate.

Their unedited comments will be featured over the next two weeks. Below, each introduces themselves to the voters. Next week they will answer questions about ending the RSD and Common Core; the survival of Historically Black Colleges; Medicaid expansion, the state budget and tolls.

ROY GLAPION: Well, let me just say it is an honor as an American citizen to be able to have the opportunity to run for public office. I’ve never had the opportunity to run for office before. My mother was an educator, and my father was the Councilman for District D. And, he was a representative for the people when he decided to run for public office.

I am a civil engineer registered in the State of LA. I’m a business man. I’m a business owner. I employ 74 people. I know what it’s like to make payroll. Roy — this Roy — has been a public servant without ever being elected to any office.
Since [my father’s] passing in 1999, I’ve given $10,000 in scholarships to students on a regular basis. I also serve as the Chairman of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. We put $150 million of projects on the street. I didn’t do that by myself. I have the foundation, the administration, and the commission that assist in rebuilding recreation in the City of New Orleans.

I have served on the Bureau of Governmental Research. I’ve served as the chairman of the Research and Technology Foundation for the UNO. So, it’s real simple. And I also put my own money up to run in this campaign. I have friends who are having fundraisers for me, but the long and short of it is…I’m just like the average citizen.

I’m just like the person who says, “Look, I’m tired of regular politics; I’m tired of recycled politicians; I’m tired of politicians who run for office and then run for office and run for office. I’m that guy who is an independent businessman — an independent civil engineer — who decides that he can make a changes. He can make at a difference and he can stand for the people not for the endorsements.

And, that’s why I’m here. I’m here to represent the people of District 7 — and the people of Louisiana — when I get to the Senate. I’ve worked with the Senators in my business endeavors, and I know them, and I know how the legislature works.

None of us have been State Senators before. We can tout our legislative experience, but I can stand for the people not for the endorsements. For the people. And that’s why I’m here I’m here to represent the people of District 7 — and the people of Louisiana — when I get to the Senate. I’m looking forward to serve as the Senator for District 7, and representing all the people of my district. God bless, and thank you so much.

TROY CARTER: I served in Louisiana House of Representatives. I’ve served on the New Orleans City Council. I’ve got a long history of service for our community And it’s one thing to talk about what you going to do, but it’s another thing to be able to show what you’ve done. To show the experience that you garnered, to be able to move the ball forward and advance good sound policy that will affect people’s lives in a positive way.

Going to Baton Rouge is not something that you just wake up and decide because ‘I’ve got a little extra money and a little extra time I’ll run’. It’s about really caring and being passionate about the issues and the concerns that are facing our community.

I submit to you as someone who totally understands the budget process; who balanced difficult budgets in the legislature; Who balanced difficult budgets on the City Council, that experience that’s going to be needed — that’s necessary to move forward with a new legislature and a new governor — and having the ability to navigate those difficult terrains of the legislature is someone that understands it.

I understand it. I understand the process and while my opponent is correct. “None of us have been in the Senate Senate before,” the reality is whether it is the House [of Representatives] or the [State] Senate, the process doesn’t change.

Matriculating an idea that becomes a bill that ultimately (if you work hard) becomes law is a process that takes careful consideration. And it takes an understanding of the process.

The process doesn’t change. The people change, but the process remains the same. The bureaucrats in Baton Rouge see members of the Senate, members of the House, and Governors come and go, but those relationships continue to stand.

And I’m proud to say that I have those relationships and have the intimate knowledge of how government works. To make it better for the guy out there and lady out there who feels voiceless, who hadn’t had anyone to help them.

Troy Carter has a history of helping in this community working in this community as small business owner. As a father, as a philanthropist and someone that works in the community, I’ve continued to do things in the community even before — and after — I was elected. I’ve hosted my annual Thanksgiving dinner for the last 23 years.

I currently serve on the Downtown Development District. Serve on the Industrial Development Board. I’m proud to have had the endorsement of the Alliance for Good Government, Independent Woman Organization, AFL-CIO, the United Teachers of New Orleans, Louisiana Federation of Teachers and so many others.

And some will say endorsements don’t matter, but I will tell you all of my opponents competed for these endorsements. They just didn’t get them. I’m Troy Carter. Number 7. And I ask for your prayers and support.

JEFF ARNOLD: Thank you, and thank you for the opportunity for us to get our voice and our message out to your [readers] — and the citizens of District 7.
For the last almost 14 years, I’ve been elected four times to serve the people of Algiers in [State Representative] District 102. I have a history and a record of accomplishment. That’s important having because relationships are important.

Over the last 14 years! Not 20 years ago when you might have served two years before you decide to run for another office. I’ve only run for one office. That’s the Louisiana Legislature. The House of Representatives four times. I’ve never run for any other office.

We have candidates in this race that are running for their 7th election. Their sixth position. That’s…running to get a job. Not running to serve the people.

That’s not what I’m here to do. I have a job! I’m a banker, a successful banker at First NBC Bank. At First NBC Bank, we’re a very successful company. I’m proud of the growth that we’ve had since Katrina and being the largest bank headquartered in Metropolitan New Orleans area. We are a community bank. We serve the community of New Orleans that espouses the principles I have as a state legislator.

There is one candidate in this race who has 13 years of consistent legislative experience There is one candidate in this race who has been married, raises kids lives in Algiers, and has been a public servant for over 22 years in Algiers and that is me Jeff Arnold. I work for the cause of the people and not for the applause. I don’t go around beating my chest for the last 14 years about what I have done. Unfortunately, in a campaign it’s what you have to do.

People endorse me for who I am…NOT for who they want me to be. I’m proud to say I’ve got the Crescent City Democrats with me. But I’m also proud to say I’ve got the Plaquemines Parish Republicans with me. I am proud to say that Gambit has endorsed me. And what does Gambit say?

Gambit said “Jeff Arnold has been a staunch effective advocate for the West Bank during his years in the State House of Representatives. He’s committed to restoring full funding to higher education and health care. He has proposed innovative solutions as a state representative to the state structural deficit. He’s ready to fill the void left by the retirement of State Senator David Heitmeier.”

But it’s not just them. Even people that are not involved in my campaign… In June of 2007 now congressman Cedric Richmond — who was then chairman of the Black Caucus — went to the well; went to the mic of the House floor and said, “Jeff Arnold does a very capable job at representing minorities.”

This District 7 is a minority district. My history speaks for itself. One of the biggest accomplishments includes the avoidance of a complete shutdown of Military and Naval Support Activities base in New Orleans.

We saved the Naval Marine Worldwide Command that’s 2000 Marines working in Algiers every day. We also have 200 [federal employees] that have been working in Algiers everyday. We have the New Orleans Maritime Military Academy, one of the first of its kind military marine charter schools.

These are some of the things that we have done and in Algiers as your state representative. I humbly ask you for your vote and support for [State Senate] District 7. I have the experience to move forward. Thank you.

This article originally published in the October 12, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.