In what will mark the first gubernatorial candidate forum leading up to this fall’s election, all four announced candidates are set to debate Louisiana’s transportation and infrastructure needs in Baton Rouge on Friday morning.
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and U.S. Sen. David Vitter—all Republicans—as well as Democrat John Bel Edwards have confirmed participation in the forum, which is hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana, Louisiana Associated General Contractors, AIA Louisiana and Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Association. The forum will be the highlight event of the two-day, 2015 Critical Issues Summit at Renaissance Baton Rouge, 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd., on Friday. The forum will begin at 10 a.m.
The decision of all four announced candidates to debate the topic of infrastructure issues for the first forum of the election season indicates voters are looking for an infrastructure leader in their next governor, ACECL Executive Director Dan Mobley says.
“People already know what the problem is—we need to invest in our infrastructure,” Mobley says in a prepared statement. “What everyone wants to know is, ‘How do we do it? Who has the vision, the courage and the political will to embrace a plan to move our state forward?’ The January 16 forum is a great place to start getting answers.”
The American Society of Civil Engineers releases its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure every four years. According to the latest report, released in 2013, Louisiana’s infrastructure is graded a C-. An estimated 19% of the state’s major roadways are in poor condition, while the state has 45 high hazard dams and 1,827 structurally deficient bridges, according to the report.
Only those registered to attend the Critical Issues Summit, which will be held Thursday and Friday, will be able to attend the gubernatorial candidate forum. Cost is $175 for AGC, ACEC, AIA and LAPA members; $350 for guests.
