11-18-19
Louisiana’s voters have reelected Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards to a second term, deep in the heart of the conservative South. Saturday’s election outcome shocked Republicans who hoped to reclaim the seat on the strength of President Donald Trump’s popularity. Edwards cobbled together enough cross-party support with his focus on bipartisan, state-specific issues to defeat Republican businessman Eddie Rispone. Edwards received about 51% of the vote.
Republican Eddie Rispone says he’s disappointed at losing the Louisiana governor’s race but he’s thankful for his family and supporters and vowed to continue to work to improve the state. Rispone spoke late Saturday in Baton Rouge after losing to the incumbent, Democrat John Bel Edwards. He called on supporters to give a round of applause for President Donald Trump, noting that the president came down three times to the state to campaign. Speaking of the president, Rispone said: “That man loves America and he loves Louisiana.”
MEANWHILE, IN THE ONLY OTHER STATEWIDE RACE ON THE BALLOT, SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN EASILY WON REELECTION. HE TOOK 59 PERCENT OF THE BALLOT TO DEFEAT DEMOCRAT GWEN COLLINS GREENUP.
REPUBLICAN JOSH GUILLORY WILL BE TAKING OVER AS THE NEW MAYOR PRESIDENT FOR LAFAYETTE. HE EASILY WON WITH 55 PERCENT OF THE VOTE OVER CARLEE ALM LABAR. IN OTHER LAFAYETTE ELECTIONS, JONATHAN GOUDEAU IS THE NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 31, WHICH WAS NANCY LANDRY’S SEAT. GOUDEAU BESTED GUS RANTZ FOR THE SEAT. JOSH CARLSON IS THE NEW PARISH COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT THREE, WHICH INCLUDES BROUSSARD, YOUNGSVILLE AND MILTON. IN CITY COUNCIL RACES, PAT LEWIS AND GLENN LAZARD ARE THE NEW COUNCILMEN FOR DISTRICTS ONE AND FIVE.
IN ACADIA PARISH, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS ON THE BALLOT AND THEY ALL WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS. ONE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES WAS PARISHWIDE, FUNDING THE RICE ARENA, THE L-S-U AGCENTER EXTENSION IN CROWLEYAND FOUR-H PROGRAMS. THERE WERE FOUR CITY OF CROWLEY PROPERTY TAXES THAT WERE ALSO EASILY APPROVED.
IN ST. MARTIN PARISH, INCUMBENT MIKE PETE HUVAL NARROWLY WON REELECTION. HE WON BY LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED VOTES OVER FELLOW REPUBLICAN KEITH BAUDIN.
IN IBERIA PARISH, BEAU BEAULLIEU IS THE NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 48, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES PARTS OF LAFAYETTE AND ST. MARTIN PARISH. HE IS REPLACING HOUSE SPEAKER TAYLOR BARRAS. MEANWHILE, THE NEW SHERIFF OF IBERIA PARISH IS TOMMY ROMERO, WHO TOOK 52 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO DEFEAT CHALLENGER MURPHY MEYERS.
IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, BILL FONTENOT WAS REELECTED AS PARISH PRESIDENT, GETTING 52 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO DEFEAT KEN MARKS. IN THE ASSESSOR’S RACE, SHERRI ZERINGUE MCGOVERN TOOK 60 PERCENT, EASILY DEFEATING BLAIR BRIGGS.
IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WILFORD CARTER WAS REELECTED AS DISTRICT 34 STATE REPRESENTATIVE, GETTING 57 PERCENT COMPARED TO KEVIN GUIDRY’S 46 PERCENT. TROY ROMERO IS THE NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 37. THE FORMER JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JUROR TAKES OVER THE SEAT THAT COVERS JEFF DAVIS PARISH AND PARTS OF CALCASIEU PARISH.
JD BANK AND JD BANCSHARES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BRUCE ELDER IS THEIR NEW PRESIDENT AND C-E-O. ELDER, WITH 35 YEARS A BANK EXECUTIVE, COMES FROM CRESCOM BANK IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE TAKES OVER FROM DAN DONALD JUNIOR, WHO HAD BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM PRESIDENT AND C-E-O.
