Endorsements for the October 14, 2023 Elections
2nd October 2023 · 0 Comments
Governor: Shawn D. Wilson
Former La. Dept. of Transportation & Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson 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.
Lieutenant Governor: William “Billy” Nungesser
Lt. Governor Nungesser 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. On October 7, he inaugurated the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum at the Morial Convention Center.
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.
Attorney General: “Marty” Maley
A veteran prosecutor and noted victims’ rights advocate, Maley also understands the need for firm rehabilitation programs in prison. Maley also successfully prosecuted one of the highest profile police brutality cases in the state’s history.
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.”
BESE District 1: Lauren Jewett
Jewett is a Nationally Board Certified special education teacher who has taught in public and private schools. This Northshore/Southshore seat needs an educator, not a politician.
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. Pat Connick was the man who led the lonely fight to end the tolls on the Crescent City Connection and has labored hard to bridge the economic and racial divides in his West Bank seat.
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.
State Representative 23rd Representative District: No Endorsement
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.
State Representative 85th Representative District: No Endorsement
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?
State Representative 92nd Representative District: “Joe” Stagni
This veteran Kenner state representative has charted a bipartisan course, and he singularly managed to get the airport flyover ramp funded which opened last week.
State Representative 94th Representative District: Stephanie Hilferty
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. 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.
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
Templet’s work to create a private/public partnership with an international ferry operator could provide both transit options and a rebirth of the riverfront neighborhoods running from Gretna to Westwego. 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 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
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. 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. 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.
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. 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 – This proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit funds, goods, or services from a foreign government or nongovernmental source from being used in elections.
#2: VOTE YES – 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 – 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. Directing the level of nonrecurring revenues to the state public retirement systems from 10 percent to 25 percent will help.
#4: VOTE YES – 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.
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 October 2, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
