Endorsements for the October 14, 2023 Elections
25th September 2023 · 0 Comments
Early voting commences Saturday, September 30, but one would not know it speaking to the average Louisianian. Voter apathy runs rampant this season, even as qualified candidates – including one of the most impressive slates of African-American contenders in decades – seek statewide office. An erroneous assumption exists that one particular gubernatorial candidate has it “in the bag,” so why vote? Not only does the data show this conclusion to be completely false, as the governor’s race remains very competitive with massive undecideds, but no assumption should ever serve as a reason to avoid going to the polls. When it does, that false conclusion simply becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Voters make the choices. GO VOTE…and let the best candidates win!
Here are our endorsements for the upcoming elections:
Governor: Shawn D. Wilson
Former Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson earned this newspaper’s support for two reasons. First, he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the operation of state government, and has proven over the last 17 years to be an effective political dealmaker who has constructed coalitions to improve Louisiana’s infrastructure – with support on both sides of the aisle.
Perhaps more importantly, Wilson is the only candidate for governor who stands up for choice. Public choice! He supports putting a constitutional amendment before the electorate to affirm abortion exceptions for rape, incest and danger to the life of the mother as well as other expanded reproductive rights. The idea that we would not allow the people of Louisiana to even cast a vote on whether or not a woman should have the Right to Choose displays horrendous contempt for the Pelican State’s electorate. Of all the gubernatorial candidates, only Dr. Shawn Wilson openly supports such a referendum to allow the people to decide whether access to abortion should be a legal option in Louisiana.
Why are his opponents so afraid of putting the abortion issue before the Louisiana electorate? Maybe it’s because other conservative states have reaffirmed a woman’s right to choose when the people were offered a ballot upon which to decide. The Louisiana Weekly has always advocated the right of referenda on controversial subjects. Our Editors merely reaffirm our decades-long support of giving the electorate the final say by declaring that the electorate’s voice must be heard when seeking to permanently end a fundamental human right to privacy, healthcare and choice! To deny the public a vote on this of all monumental issues is, by definition, a disqualifying factor to become governor of Louisiana.
Lieutenant Governor: William “Billy” Nungesser
Lt. Governor Nungesser serves as an example of bipartisanship. He has balanced a trusted working relationship with the Edwards administration and Democrats in the legislature whilst still effectively managing to convince Republicans to boost funding and support for his main job as secretary of the Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Under Nungesser’s leadership, the state museum system received long overdue capital repairs and has boasted of internationally heralded exhibitions. On October 7, he will inaugurate the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum, having negotiated for its new home in the Morial Convention Center. It is the latest in his work to bring attention to the heroes of the movement, which has included several exhibitions in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, in
addition to the massive expansion of the Civil Rights Trail across the state.
However, it is his coming plans for the LSM which provides the greatest excitement. Nungesser’s proposal to unify the bifurcated state museums, currently divided between his office and the Office of the Secretary of State; revamp their direction under nationally respected, independently chosen directors; and devolve decision making out of Baton Rouge and to the stakeholders who support the museums could prove a new beginning for our key cultural institutions. Under his plan, the Cabildo, Presbytere, and International Jazz Museum at the Old Mint could thrive like never before. The fact that Nungesser’s staff at CRT just launched a website that promotes ALL Louisiana museums in one place – state, local, and private – shows that his ambitions to reform are real.
Secretary of State: Arthur A. Morrell
Running our elections should not require “on the job training.” As the former Orleans Clerk of Court, Morrell oversaw parish and city elections, transported voting machines, staffed polling places, and served without scandal or blemish. His archival work in maintaining evidentiary and court records resembles much of the remaining responsibilities of the secretary of state towards state records and business filings. His proposal to create two more satellite offices would allow more public interaction with that office’s staff. Quite simply, Morrell boasts of the best overall experience to manage the Office of the Secretary of State from day one.
Attorney General: “Marty” Maley
A veteran prosecutor and noted victims’ rights advocate, Maley also understands the need for firm rehabilitation programs in prison. As he observed to our editors, without drug treatment and educational programs sponsored by the state, prison becomes a revolving door – one which he hopes to slow. Of all the candidates in the AG’s contest, Maley has both the decades of experience and the breadth of knowledge to keep police overreach and criminal actions in check. It is not an accident that Maley successfully prosecuted one of the highest profile police brutality cases in the state’s history. Moreover, Maley is also a deep critic of how Jeff Landry used the office as a Trumpite mouthpiece, spending his time arguing cases which in no way improved the life of the average Louisianian. He vows to focus his attention on crime, corruption and constitutional rights, not political hot button issues which play well on Newsmax or Fox.
Treasurer: Dustin Granger
A veteran financial advisor, Granger has cited Louisiana’s losses on the market due to a tendency to purchase bonds in what he calls the “corporate Big Oil basket at the expense of our environment, our economy, and the opportunity for future generations to thrive here at home.” He seeks a more pro-environmental investment strategy if elected.
BESE District 1: Lauren Jewett
The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education needs an educator to represent District 1 which covers all of St. Tammany Parish, parts of Jefferson Parish, and parts of Orleans Parish – not a former legislator. Jewett is a Nationally Board Certified special education teacher who has taught in public and private schools. Her background and experience shows in her platform fighting for Public Transparency and Accountability; Prioritize Achievement, Safety, and Equity for All Children; Advocate for Teacher & School Salary Increases; Protecting Public Education from economic disparities and inequitable academic outcomes, as well as Supporting Mental Health of Students, Teachers, and School Staff.
State Senator 1st Senatorial District: Robert “Bob” Owen
He seeks promotion to the state Senate in this St. Tammany to St. Bernard seat, and Owen’s strong working relationships with his colleagues and the legislative leadership shows that he would be effective if elected.
State Senator 8th Senatorial District: Patrick Connick
The incumbent senator has set a standard for bipartisan cooperation. He understands the increasing multicultural nature of his West Bank seat, and Connick has worked tirelessly to bridge the racial and ideological chasms that populate the neighborhood, from the affluent to the working class. Pat Connick, after all, was the man who led the lonely fight to end the tolls on the Crescent City Connection, hardly a popular position for some many of his colleagues who profited from the pork.
Some classify this senatorial contest as a fight between dynasts, a Connick versus a Kerner, yet even a tertiary look at the senatorial race shows that Connick earned his opposition by opposing an ill-conceived museum project that seemed to profit only the Kerner family and their allies – paid for by state dollars.
State Senator 9th Senatorial District: Mary Anne Mushatt
This Old Metairie to Old Jefferson to Uptown seat needs a bipartisan moderate, not an ideological lightning rod as it has had as its senator in recent years. Demographic changes in the Riverbend and along Jefferson Highway require a candidate sensitive to the increasingly diverse communities of this district. We believe that Ms. Mushatt ideas better fit the changing district than the incumbent.
State Representative 23rd Representative District: No Endorsement
Our Editors have decided to wait for the runoff to make an endorsement in this race.
State Representative 83rd Representative District: Kyle M. Green Jr.
The incumbent state representative has had an unusually successful first term. He has made allies on both sides of the aisle, which harkens well for his plans to introduce legislation to fight skyrocketing insurance rates for homeowners. That is a palatable issue in this Black Majority inner suburban District which stretches from Westwego to Avondale, Waggaman, Bridge City and a portion of Marrero.
State Representative 85th Representative District: No Endorsement
Our Editors have decided to wait for the runoff to make an endorsement in this race.
State Representative 91st Representative District: Edward “Ed” Carlson
Carlson introduced one of the best “new” ideas into this year’s political debate. As the head of Odyssey House, he runs one of the largest and most successful drug treatment programs in the state, and he noted that the rates of success were approximately the same for those who voluntarily entered the program, and those who underwent treatment as part of a criminal court settlement. Carlson simply asked the question, if the stats of successful treatment are the same, why do not CDC Judges sentence offenders with drug problems to drug treatment – which is most who appear before the Criminal bench?
The answer is habit and money. It is simpler to issue a jail sentence, and it costs a considerable amount to treat criminals – in the short term. In the long term, successful drug treatment would lower recidivism rates drastically, saving money. Carlson wishes to enter the legislature to make the economic case, and boost funding for sheriffs to prove drug treatment for the convicted.
State Representative 92nd Representative District: “Joe” Stagni
This veteran Kenner state representative has charted a bipartisan course, caring more for drainage and infrastructure needs than the hot button social issues that have obsessed the legislature. Stagni can boast of a wide range of allies and friends in the state House, from members of the Black Caucus to Conservative rural legislators. He also was willing to cross the partisan divide and work with Gov. John Bel Edwards if it benefited his constituents and the state. It paid off as he singularly managed to get the airport flyover ramp funded, a major accomplishment amidst the negative fiscal condition of the time. He cares intensely about his community, expressing concerns from rising insurance costs to quality of life. Stagni stands as a model for Louisiana legislators, and he deserves another term.
State Representative 94th Representative District: Stephanie Hilferty
Stretching from Lakeview into Bucktown, crossing the Jefferson/Orleans line, this district has been blessed with a Representative able to work across racial and partisan lines. Hilferty is a responsive advocate and a respected lawmaker. So much so, that she has been whispered as a potential House Speaker, who would win election with a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. For New Orleans to lose the chance of holding the Speakership of the State House would prove catastrophic
State Representative 103rd Representative District: “Mike” Bayham
Few public servants have given more back to their communities than he. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Bayham took on countless responsibilities in St. Bernard Parish government, effectively doing the jobs of three or four people. Perhaps, even more astonishing is that he found grant money to pay for his position. As Bayham’s portfolio ran from lobbying the legislature for infrastructure funds to revamping the public bus system to creating the reenactments of Battle of New Orleans, few positive changes in St. Bernard lacked his fingerprints. As a former Councilman, he has past elective experience, and Bayham knows all of the players in Baton Rouge.
State Representative 105th Representative District: Mack Cormier
Just completing his first term in the legislature, Cormier has fulfilled his promise of defending Louisiana’s fishermen and oyster farms, after controversial plans for two freshwater diversions endangered the livelihoods of these critical Louisiana industries. The Democratic representative for coastal communities in Plaquemines, Algiers, and West Jeff deserves another term to continue the fight.
Orleans Criminal Court Judge, Division I: Leon Roche
A reformer who has long advocated for rehab and educational options as a condition of bond, he seeks this judicial post with the mind of a reformer. Roche pushes for firm guidelines on discovery and timetables which allows both counsels to have time review evidence before court convenes.
Jefferson Parish Councilman at Large Division A: Ricky Templet
The incumbent West Bank member has been on the forefront of seeking a rebirth of the riverfront neighborhoods running from Gretna to Westwego. Templet’s work to create a private/public partnership with an international ferry operator could provide both transit options and new residents to West Bank cities. Yet, he also possesses a parish-wide focus, with interests in criminal justice and infrastructural improvements. He deserves another term.
Jefferson Parish
Councilman at Large Division B: Dominick Impastato
This is the councilman who literally saved four playgrounds in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Impastato is the first member of the Jeff Council to hire a Spanish-speaking chief of staff, and to have a staff reflective of the increasingly multiethnic nature of Jefferson Parish. He has spent more time trying to improve Jefferson’s bus and transit system than any other, because he possesses a unique sensitivity to the needs of poorer neighborhoods. He deserves promotion to the At-Large post.
Jefferson Parish Councilman District 3: NO ENDORSEMENT
Our Editors have decided to wait for the runoff to endorse in this race.
Jefferson Parish Councilman District 4: Arita Bohannan
As an expert in family law issues and the founder of the Mediation Clinic of Louisiana, Bohannan is a candidate for both understanding business and the growing ethnic diversity of Metairie and Kenner. A mix of cultures herself, she is sensitive to the growing Black and Hispanic families moving into previously Caucasian suburban communities. She also knows the long-time residents as a fourth generation citizen of District 4. Her commitment as a private citizen was well-known. Few people can boast that they built a park for children and families to enjoy before they ran for office. Bohannan did.
Jefferson Councilman District 5: Hans Liljeberg
It takes a true public servant to resign from a safe and well-paid Appellate Court seat because he worries about rising crime and quality of life in his neighborhood. Liljeberg had served as a deeply respected jurist for 21 years, but he became more concerned that his daughters would have to move from Metairie because of rising crime and increasing urban problems. With his long experience in the law and civic engagement, he concluded that the best action to take was to offer himself to the electorate – and take a huge pay cut to do so. He runs for the Parish Council with well-thought out plans to rehabilitate Bucktown Harbor and to complete the work to make “Fat City” a place to live, work, and play. And he has the administrative experience to do so as well. Having managed a seven million dollar budget at the 24th JDC, he knows something of utilizing government resources to get the best bang for the buck.
St. Bernard Parish President: Kerri Callais
A veteran of St. Bernard government, Callais has been on the forefront of the post-Katrina rebirth of the parish. She was a key player in transforming Arabi into the “Arts and Entertainment” community which has drawn scores of young people to settle in the parish. Her work brought almost 1,000 lots back into commerce, and she has proven an innovative pioneer for economic development. Her proposal to restore the parish’s code enforcement department, a victim of budget cuts, promises well to a commitment to quality of life in St. Bernard. Most importantly for a parish president, Callais is focused on a major overhaul of the moribund drainage system, so that the floods of the past never return.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
#1: VOTE YES
“Do you support an amendment to prohibit the use of funds, goods, or services from a foreign government or a nongovernmental source to conduct elections and election functions and duties unless the use is authorized by the secretary of state through policies established in accordance with law?”
Call this the keeping corruption out of elections amendment. This proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit funds, goods, or services from a foreign government or nongovernmental source from being used in elections unless authorized by the secretary of state in accordance
with state law.
#2: VOTE YES
“Do you support an amendment to provide that the freedom of worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection?”
Critics call this a cosmetic change, but it enshrines federal first amendment rights in the La. Constitution. This proposed constitutional amendment would establish that the freedom of worship in a church (or other place of worship) is a fundamental right. In the event state or local government action is alleged to have violated the freedom of worship, this right will receive the highest order of protection by courts.
#3: VOTE YES
“Do you support an amendment to require that a minimum of twenty-five percent of any money designated as nonrecurring state revenue be applied toward the balance of the unfunded accrued liability of the state retirement systems?”
Our pension systems are underfunded to the tune of over $30 Billion. With no capital influx, teachers, firemen, policemen, and other retired public servants will see their pensions cut in the coming years – unless we do something now. Spending surplus monies to this purpose fulfills a solemn promise of retirement security, by increasing the minimum required contribution of nonrecurring revenues to the state public retirement systems from 10 percent to 25 percent.
#4: VOTE YES
“Do you support an amendment to deny a property tax exemption to a nonprofit corporation or association that owns residential property in such a state of disrepair that it endangers public health or safety?”
This is just common sense. If a property is falling apart, it should not receive a tax exemption. This proposed constitutional amendment would provide that those properties of a nonprofit corporation or association that would otherwise qualify for an ad valorem tax exemption would no longer receive such an exemption if the governing authority of the parish or municipality determines that property is leased as housing, is in a state of disrepair, and is a danger to the health or safety of the public or the owner of the property has received at least three code enforcement violations concerning health and safety in the previous twelve month period.
ORLEANS PARISH:
Prop 1: VOTE YES
The improvements in our school buildings post Katrina are starting to wear out. Orleans Parish School Board is seeking to renew a property tax of up to 4.97 mills for an additional 20 years to support the preservation, improvement and capital repair of school facilities owned by the school district it governs. This is an existing tax used for a good purpose.
Prop 2: VOTE YES
There has been an epidemic of blighted property, and the current structure of City Hall has not addressed it well. The New Orleans City Council has proposed an amendment to the City of New Orleans charter to reorganize code enforcement functions into a stand-alone department to combat blighted property more effectively.
Prop 3: VOTE YES
Mayoral administrations, for decades, have used a limited timetable to push through spending priorities, without oversight. The City Council has proposed amending the City charter to extend its minimum time to review the mayor’s proposed operating and capital budgets from one month to two months.
This article originally published in the September 25, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
