Recommendations for the March 29 election
17th March 2025 · 0 Comments
Early voting for March 29 commenced on March 15. Our editors chose to endorse in two competitive elections in Jefferson Parish, as well as the constitutional amendments – upon which all Louisianans will be able to cast a ballot.
While there were various elements of the four constitutional amendments under consideration which enjoy our support, the editorial board of we are deeply concerned that too many items have been included in three of the four ballot measures. A state constitution by its definition is supposed to be straightforward, clear and broad in its language. A casual reader should be able to understand the document clearly. Of many of the provisions which are listed below, most are worded in a deceptive fashion. That leads to a perplexed voter in the ballot box, unsure of the implications of voting in favor or against.
This newspaper has stood up for clarity in our elections process, especially when it comes to modifying Louisiana’s Basic Law. Three of these amendments, particularly Amendment 2, do not rise to that standard.
Jefferson Parish Elections
Parish Councilman District 1: Ricky Templet
This West Bank seat stretching from Grand Isle to Gretna presents a remarkable challenge to represent. From coastal swamps to beachfront homes to oyster beds to rural farms to suburban ring cities, representing this council district requires an encyclopedic knowledge of policy and a careful expertise on balancing remarkably disparate interests.
Ricky Templet seeks to return to his old job on the parish council with exactly that skill set. He demonstrated this quickly through his latest idea, the innovative – and somewhat controversial – proposal for Jefferson Paris to use its $100-million surplus to create an insurer of last resort that would provide affordable property coverage to endangered homeowners. Right now, so many Jefferson Parish residents are paying as much for insurance as their mortgage – or even more. That situation is unsustainable long-term, and the creation of a government-sponsored, public-private partnership to provide affordable property insurance may be the only option for many people to save their homes.
Council Member District 1,
City of Westwego: Jason LeBlanc
Louisiana needs more highly educated young people to return to their hometown to contribute and make a difference. Jason LeBlanc could have been employed in the world with his qualifications, but he chose to return to his roots in Westwego and get back to the community. He was inspired to run for the city council by looking at the lacking conditions of a public park in a housing development nearby. He wanted to improve the conditions for the kids who play there every day, and also became very enthusiastic about the wharf project currently under construction.
LeBlanc seeks to improve Westwego’s recreational atmosphere for children and families, as well as putting the roots down to attract other twenty-somethings to settle in the community. Ultimately, cities survive when families take root. That is the essence of his mission, if elected.
Statewide Constitutional Amendments
CA No. 1 (ACT No. 2, 2024-3ES – SB 1) – To provide for disciplinary proceedings over attorneys and to create courts of limited jurisdiction: Vote NO
This amendment awards the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical legal practices in the state of Louisiana, as well as granting the Legislature the authority to establish trial courts of limited and specialized jurisdiction, such as multiparous drug courts, and other administrative bodies that may cross parish lines.
Neither idea ranks as a bad change, but they are two totally different sets of authority that should be voted upon as separate amendments.
CA No. 2 (ACT No. 1, 2024-3ES – HB 7) – To provide with respect to the power of taxation including limitations thereon: Vote NO
Where do we even begin? In the almost 100 year history this newspaper has published, our editors have never witnessed as convoluted a constitutional amendment as this!
The very expanded description promises “a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring a surplus payment to teacher retirement debt.” One would think Louisiana legislators were putting a teacher pay raise in the constitution, yet that is far from the case. If passed, the state would pay off a retirement liability which individual parish school boards have had to shoulder. Relieved of that burden, the hope is that the money would go to pay raises for teachers.
The fact that no mandate exists requiring it aside, many rural or poorer parishes could not ensure a pay raise equivalent to those in the richer parishes. The reason why the state took over a portion of teacher pay in the first place was to equalize that income deficit.
Still, the idea of the state shouldering a debt responsibility in exchange for freeing up parish resources does not stand as a terrible idea, and if that were the only measure under consideration in the amendment, our editors might be more sympathetic. However, that remains far from the case.
This single amendment also enacts new tax rules; places limits on the enactment of tax breaks; lowers the cap on individual income tax rates; allows more severance tax money to flow to local government; creates tighter limits on annual growth in Louisiana’s state general fund spending on ongoing programs and services, with tougher rules for changing the limit; removes several protected trust funds from the constitution and place them in state law, giving lawmakers more ability to change the rules governing them; increases income tax deductions for citizens over 65; and allows local governments to lessen property taxes on business inventory or get a one-time payment if they stop charging those taxes – as the state will no longer reimburse this tax as it has for decades.
Even with the elements with which our editors agree, that constitutes too many provisions to put in one amendment.
CA No. 3 (ACT No. 3, 2024-3ES – SB 2) – To provide relative to crimes committed by juveniles and to special juvenile proceedings: Vote NO
Currently, the Louisiana Constitution determines which felony crimes, when committed by a person under the age of 17, may be transferred for criminal prosecution as an adult. It is limited to 16 heinous crimes. This would open the door for legislators to expand that list at statutory discretion. Our editors contend that the electorate should be able to decide by public vote which crimes should be removed from the juvenile shield – one by one.
CA No. 4 (ACT No. 4, 2024-3ES – SB 5) – To provide for election dates for newly-created judgeships or vacancies in office of judge: Vote YES
We actually do support one amendment on this list. It’s the only straightforward one. This amendment would provide for the use of the earliest election date to fill judicial vacancies, instead of appointing an ad hoc judge and waiting a year.
This article originally published in the March 17, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
