11-23-15
Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards has picked seven people to lead his transition into the governor’s office. The Democrat has fewer than two months to get ready to take over the job from term-limited Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal. Leading the transition is Ben Nevers, a term-limited state senator who ran a pro-Edwards PAC. Nevers will become chief of staff when Edwards takes office.
TWO MAJOR RUNOFFS ON SATURDAY WERE FOR LAFAYETTE AND IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF. JULIE DARCE HAS THE RESULTS.
VOICER H :23
ALSO THE NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THE LOUISIANA IS BILLY NUNGESSER, WHO DEFEATED KIP HOLDEN.
IN STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, REPUBLICAN JEAN PAUL COUSSAN OF LAFAYETTE DEFEATED ANDRE COMEAUX TO TAKE THE HOUSE SEAT THAT USED TO BE OCCUPIED BY JOEL ROBIDEAUX. COUSSAN WON BY JUST 260 VOTES. IN ANOTHER RUNOFF, DUSTIN MILLER OF LAWTELL IS THE NEW REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 40. HE TOOK 56 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, DEFEATING DONOVAN HUDSON.
IN DISTRICT 34, STATE REPRESENTATIVE A-B FRANKLIN OF LAKE CHARLES NARROWLY RETAINED HIS SEAT. FRANKLIN GOT 120 MORE VOTES THAN HIS CHALLENGER, FORMER 14TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE WILFORD CARTER. STATE REPRESENTATIVE DOROTHY SUE HILL ALSO WON ANOTHER TERM IN OFFICE. SHE RECEIVED 55 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, DEFEATING BISCUIT SMITH.
TWO LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS LOST IN THEIR BIDS FOR REELECTION. FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER BRUCE CONQUE DEFEATED INCUMBENT ANDY NAQUIN BY JUST 44 VOTES, WHILE COUNCIL MEMBER BRANDON SHELVIN WAS EASILY DEFEATED BY CHALLENGER PAT LEWIS. TWO JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JURORS WERE DEFEATED AS WELL. COACH CORMIER GOT ONLY 40 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AS HE WAS DEFEATED BY BUTCH LAFARGUE AND MILTON REED JUNIOR WAS OUSTED BY MARCUS PETERSON. THERE WERE ALSO TWO ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURORS WHO LOST ON SATURDAY. FATTY BROUSSARD WAS DEFEATED BY RONNIE FABACHER WHILE JAY CREDEUR TOOK ONLY 38 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN HIS LOSS TO CHALLENGER RICHARD FAUL.
CROWLEY VOTERS APPROVED THE REDEDICATION OF A HALF CENT SALES TAX THAT WAS ENDORSED BY CROWLEY POLICE CHIEF K-P GIBSON. THE TAX WAS ORIGINALLY JUST FOR SALARY RAISES FOR POLICE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS AND CITY EMPLOYEES. NOW THE TAX CAN ALSO BE USED TO BOOST STARTING PAY AND FOR FRINGES AND BENEFITS. THE REDEDICATION WAS APPROVED BY 69 PERCENT OF CROWLEY VOTERS.
THE POLICE CHIEF OF WASHINGTON COULD BE FACING A RECALL. A GROUP CALLED THE CONCERNED CITIZENS COMMITTEE OF WASHINGTON HAS GATHERED ENOUGH SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO RECALL POLICE CHIEF RONNELLE BROUSSARD. THE ST. LANDRY PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS CHERYL MILBURN SAYS SHE APPROVED THE PETITION AND IT IS NOW WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHERE IT WILL BE DECIDED IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL ELECTION. SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINED AT A JULY TOWN MEETING THAT BROUSSARD IS AWAY FROM THE OFFICE TOO MUCH AND NOT FULFILLING HIS DUTIES.
Louisiana’s labor market slipped in October, as the unemployment rate rose and payroll employment fell. Payrolls fell 6,000 from September. Crucially, payrolls also dipped below last October’s level, a warning that the state’s economy may be shrinking. A separate survey shows the jobless rate rose to 6.2 percent in October from 6 percent in September, remaining below October 2014’s 7 percent rate.
