Friends,
Several important elections are up for a vote this Saturday, March 24. Please take this opportunity to express your voice in local government and help shape the future of our communities.
No matter the size and scope, every election has the ability to affect our mission to eradicate poverty in Southeast Louisiana. It is critical that we cast our vote for officials and measures focused on creating equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated, and economically stable.
Before this weekend, take a moment to review the election information below and familiarize yourself with your election day details.
And please remember to GEAUX VOTE this Saturday, March 24!
Michael Williamson
President and CEO
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
An excerpt from NOLA.com on the March 2018 Elections
The marquee match in the New Orleans area is in Jefferson Parish, where the campaign for sheriff is expected to be the most closely contested for the post in more than 30 years.
Also on the ballot are municipal races in Kenner, Slidell and Covington; two judicial posts and a legislative seat in New Orleans; and a controversial tax proposal in St. Tammany.
The following parish-by-parish rundown reviews these ballot items and more, along with where to vote early. With the exception of Grand Isle, polling sites are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jefferson Parish
Voters will choose the leader of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Retired Col. John Fortunato faces interim Sheriff Joe Lopinto III, who stepped into the job when Newell Normand retired in August.
Normand won three terms handily and picked Lopinto, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, to fill his post until the election. Lopinto had been chief deputy. Fortunato was the agency's longtime public information officer, first serving under Harry Lee, who declared Normand his successor before his death in 2007.
In Kenner, Mayor Ben Zahn is finishing what was left of Mike Yenni's term when he became Jefferson Parish president. Zahn faces two challengers for what would be his first full term: Al Morella and Dona Reynaud.
Four City Council seats are being contested: one at-large and three district seats. The three other council members were unopposed.
Also on the ballot in Jefferson's 5th Justice Court, Constable Allen Leone Jr. seeks a full term against Jack Rizzuto.
Orleans Parish
Voters in New Orleans are being asked to fill two judicial vacancies, and some voters will consider candidates for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives.
Civil Clerk of Court Dale Atkins is running for a seat of the state's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal against Orleans Civil District Judge Robin Pittman.
The Division A seat in Civil District Court has drawn three candidates: Taetrece Harrison, Ellen Hazeur and Richard Perque.
The 93rd House seat is open after Rep. Helena Moreno won an at-large seat on the New Orleans City Council. Eldon Anderson, Kenny Bordes, Royce Duplessis and Danil Faust are running to succeed her.
St. Tammany Parish
Two parishwide tax proposals go before St. Tammany voters, both slightly trimmed-down versions of levies that were rejected two years ago.
Up for consideration are separate 10-year, 1/5-cent sales tax renewals that would generate $9 million for the parish jail and courthouse. The original tax approved in 1998 was a quarter cent, and voters rejected a 20-year renewal at that level in 2016. The tax is set to expire at the end of March.
Slidell is choosing a new mayor to succeed the term-limited Freddy Drennan. Four candidates want the job: Slidell Memorial Hospital executive Bruce Clement, state Rep. Greg Cromer, City Councilman Landon Cusimano and former St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis.
Term limits will also lead to turnover on the City Council. Only incumbents Warren Crockett and Val Vanney return in districts C and D.
District A's Glynn Pichon and District G's Bill Borchert Jr, who are term-limited, are seeking at-large seats. Joe Fraught is the third man in the at-large field, from which the top two vote-getters will earn a place on the council.
District A: Glenn Baham, Leslie Denham
District B: Tommy Benasco, David Dunham
District C: Chris Symons, Kenny Tamborella
District F: Lance Grant, Kim Baronet Harbison
District G: Cindi King, Ray Larry, Glen Sutherland
Voters in Covington City Council District C are picking a successor to Mark Wright, who was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. Tim Burke, Tiffany McGary and Joey Roberts are all political newcomers. The winner will complete Wright's term, which ends in 2019.
There's also a five-person field for 1st Ward Justice of the Peace: Amy Murphree, Wally Porter, Casey Revere, Scott Ruel and Chuck Wohltmann.
An excerpt from myHammond.com on the March 2018 Elections
below is sample ballot for Tangipahoa Parish upcoming election on 03/24/2018.
State Representative 86th Representative District (1 to be elected)
Nicholas Muscarello, Jr….. #2 (Republican)
David P. Vial…..#4 (Republican)
PW Prop. (Library) – 3 Mills Tax Renewal – PC – 10 Yrs. (Yes or No)
Shall the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”) be authorized to renew the levy and collection of a special ad valorem tax of three (3) mills on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the Parish (the “Tax”) (an estimated $1,643,476.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year) for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2019, and annually thereafter, through and including the year 2028, and shall said Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of improving, maintaining, operating and supporting the Tangipahoa Parish Public Library and its branches?
Consolidated Gravity Drainage Dist. No. 1 – 5.0 Mills Renewal – BOC – 10 Yrs. (Yes or No)
Shall Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, Louisiana (the “District”), under the provisions of La. R.S. 38:1902 and Article VI, Sections 30 and 32 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, be authorized to renew the levy and collection of a special ad valorem tax of 5.0 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation on all property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the District (the “Tax”) (an estimated $2,207,626.33 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, commencing with the tax collection for the year 2020, to and including the tax collection for the year 2029, and shall the proceeds of said Tax (after paying the reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) be used for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining or operating drainage works of public improvement in the District, and implementing a Comprehensive Master Drainage Plan within the territorial limits of the District?
Fire Protection Dist. No. 1 – 10 Mills Renewal – BOC – 10 Yrs. (Yes or No)
Shall the Tangipahoa Fire Protection District No. 1 be authorized to renew the levy and collection of a special tax of ten (10) mills (an estimated $390,000.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year) on all property subject to taxation in the District for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2019 and ending with the year 2028, for the purpose of purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection facilities and equipment, paying the cost of obtaining water and for salaries of District employees?