Recommendations for the March 24 elections
19th March 2018 · 0 Comments
Jefferson Parish voters will cast their ballots on Saturday in the first truly competitive Sheriff’s race in decades. Two distinct visions for the future of the JPSO will confront the electorate in a contest where the polls are tied. In this neck-and-neck battle, every vote will truly make a difference, and could decide the race.
In Metairie and Old Jefferson, voters will have to choose a successor to the late Constable Raymond Waguespack, and in Kenner, all the municipal offices from Mayor to Council will go before the electorate. Several competitive races could decide the direction of the state’s fifth largest city.
In Orleans Parish, Judicial races for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal and the Civil District Court will pit some well-known political names for these critical positions. Moreover, the open 93rd State Representative District has a slew of competitive candidates contending. Just a few votes could decide the composition of the runoff, and the next legislator from this fast-changing and quickly gentrifying seat.
Your vote will make a difference on Saturday. Take a few minutes, and go vote.
ORLEANS PARISH ELECTIONS
Judge, Court of Appeal 4th Circuit, 1st District, Division F: Dale Atkins
Dale Atkins has served as Orleans Parish Civil Clerk of Court for nearly 30 years. Her meticulous knowledge and application of law in the efficient administration of both her office and the court has drawn admirers across the nation. Her job is far from easy, and yet, Atkins has been a master of maintaining the CDC’s position as the foremost district court in the state for business or corporate litigation.
As former Criminal Court Clerk Ed Lombard demonstrated, when he ascended to the Court of Appeal, the Clerk’s position, with its oversight of needs of the court, provides an important perspective on the Appellate Bench. A long-tenure in such an office provides excellent training for an Appellate system whose mandate of judicial review on law and procedure leans heavily on such expertise.
State Representative 93rd Representative District: Royce Duplessis
This seat has changed massively since Helena Moreno was first elected in 2010. Neighborhoods in and around Downtown have been transformed. Gentrification presents some real challenges, pushing out long-time residents, but it also presents opportunities as Millennials rush to repopulate historic neighborhoods.
Ever hear of the “Faubourg Livaudais?” You might know it better as Central City. Nevertheless, the demand for the streets around O.C. Haley has become so acute, soon these streets of Creole Cottages might go the way of the Irish Channel — and become a neighborhood sought by transplants from around the nation. Hence the name.
Poverty and wealth, side-by-side. This legislative seat which stretches to either side of the Lower Garden District needs a representative who can speak for both. Royce Duplessis is such a candidate. As the past chairman of the City Planning Commission, his singular understanding of the issues confronting the district cannot be matched.
Duplessis also has focused on the larger budgetary challenges facing the state. Already enjoying relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle, some of the innovative solutions that he suggested to our editors are worth of passage — even in the poisoned partisan environment of the State House.
Judge Civil District Court, Division A: Richard Perque
Our editors have long argued for a third Domestic division in Orleans Civil District Court. There are just too many family cases on the docket that need attention, so the reader can imagine our pleasant surprise when Mr. Perque not only advocated for such a permanent change, but volunteered to stay in that third domestic section for at least a term so that custody and other family cases could be resolved by the same judge. He was under no legal obligation to do so, if elected, but pledged to serve in this capacity for a few years — even if another CDC judge is junior, and up to take over the domestic docket. Perque is more concerned with legal continuity for litigants than quickly moving up to the more high profile corporate cases. The fact that he is an expert on domestic and family law constitutes an equal benefit to this end.
JEFFERSON PARISH ELECTIONS
Sheriff: Joseph Lopinto III
It may seem strange that the agent of change for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is the interim incumbent, but that proves none-the-less the case.
During his tenure in the State House, Joe Lopinto chaired the Criminal Justice Committee. The former JPSO Narcotics Detective-turned-Attorney-turned-Representative made himself one of the nation’s leading experts on Police administrative law and statutory codes. In his private practice, he was retained as legal counsel by Departments around the nation for his expertise.
JPSO needs that kind of informed leadership. Though an unparalleled law enforcement agency, the Jefferson Sheriff’s Office has not always been the most sensitive agency to the concerns of minority residents of the Parish. We have already begun to see a change in that attitude since Lopinto ascended into the Sheriff’s role upon Newell Norman’s resignation. And, he has achieved that progress while crime has simultaneously decreased by double digits on his brief watch.
In this close race, it is our recommendation to ask you to vote for Joseph Lopinto.
Constable 5th Justice Court: Allen Leone Jr.
The Constable deals with people in desperate and tragic situations. The job requires a gentile countenance and an understanding perspective—qualities that Allen Leone Jr. repeatedly has demonstrated.
Not just since assuming the interim Constable’s post upon Raymond Waguespack’s death, but throughout Leone’s years serving within the 5th Justice Court. He started at the Constable Office’s lowest rung and ascended through its ranks to Chief Deputy. And, he learned how to do the job with grace.
Though the law stipulates that during an eviction, the Constable can just throw the resident’s worldly-goods on to the sidewalk, this Constable almost never has. On countless occasions, Leone has worked with landlords and the residents to gain more time and resources to move the evicted possessions with a certain level of dignity and security.
That’s a true public servant. The Fifth District, comprising most of Metairie and Old Jefferson needs a Constable who can cite experience working his way up from the most junior position in the office to its leadership. The task of property evictions and process serving is a sensitive job that should go to a professional up to it.
Mayor City of Kenner: “Ben” Zahn
Our editors endorsed Ben Zahn for Mayor of Kenner when Mike Yenni advanced to Parish President, and his tenure has only re-emphasized to us that Zahn is the right man for the job.
He has aggressively pursued code enforcement to stop the encroachment of urban problems that face former ring suburban communities like Kenner. His negotiations with the Treasurer Chest Casino means that their new construction of a land-based facility could also spawn the building of a marina and a true “Laketown.” His work with the School Board has meant that Kenner Discovery will have a new home, and continue to draw schoolchildren and families to the city.
Zahn is a vigorous Mayor who deserves a full term.
Councilman at Large Division A, City of Kenner: Kristi McKinney
Kristi McKinney’s strategy to build a full-time economic development office in Kenner, is key to draw young families into the sometime aging community. Such vigorous presentation of new ideas is standard procedure for McKinney. As head of her neighborhood organization, she was one of the loudest voices for her community, a talent for advocacy that McKinney will carry onto the Council. She may hail from good political stock, as her father was a renowned School Board member, but McKinney earned a resume that took her to Washington and to London. Yet, she wanted to come home when she and her husband desired to start a family. As she noted, “I didn’t want to raise my children anywhere but Kenner.” It’s an attitude that our editors hope will carry to other young families, upon Ms. McKinney’s election to the Kenner Council.
Councilman District 1, City of Kenner: No Endorsement
Councilman District 3, City of Kenner: No Endorsement
Councilman District 4, City of Kenner No Endorsement
This article originally published in the March 19, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
