The Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Political Action Committee, FuturePAC, has announced its endorsement of candidates in most races for the upcoming East Baton Rouge city-parish Metro Council elections. But the PAC won’t be throwing its highly sought after support behind anyone in the mayor-president’s race—at least, not before the Nov. 8 primary election. It also hasn’t endorsed anyone in the Metro Council District 2 election.
BRAC spokeswoman Ansley Zehnder says BRAC will hold a mayoral candidates forum on Oct. 18 in place of individual candidate interviews, providing candidates the opportunity to discuss their campaign messages with not only the FuturePAC Board, but the broader business community and general public as well.
“Because the forum will be held so close to election day, the FuturePAC Board of Directors will not endorse a candidate in the mayor-president primary election,” Zehnder says. “However, the Board reserves the right to endorse in the general election.”
That the official PAC of the business community is sitting out the mayoral primary is significant and speaks to the ambiguity many feel about the field of candidates in the upcoming election. The PAC is not alone. Business executive and political activist Lane Grigsby, whose endorsement and financial support is also highly sought after by political hopefuls, has decided not to endorse anyone during the primary.
As for the Metro Council races, FuturePAC’s board chairman, Van Mayhall, says his group was impressed by the quality and quantity of candidates. “It’s refreshing to see so many talented and bright individuals willing to serve our community,” he says.
FuturePAC’s endorsements are: Scott Wilson, District 4; Erika Green, District 5; LaMont Cole, District 7; “Buddy” Amoroso, District 8; Kenneth Perret, District 9; Tara Wicker, District 10; Matthew Watson, District 11; and Barbara Freiberg, District 12.
In addition to the endorsed candidates, FuturePAC also congratulates and supports the unopposed incumbent candidates: “Trae” Welch, District 1; Chandler Loupe, District 3; and Donna Collins-Lewis, District 6.
—Stephanie Riegel
