LSU Tiger fans know that the Auburn Tigers are coming to town for a game on Saturday, Oct. 14, but Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister isn’t sure most voters are aware that a statewide election also is taking place on that date.
“Secretary of State Tom Schedler predicts voter turnout will be less than 20%. That means every vote cast will be important to the outcome. Will you vote?” McCollister asks.
Early voting begins this Saturday, Sept. 30, and runs through Oct. 7 [except on Sunday, Oct. 1] from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
“I know many of the candidates. Just as in hiring an employee, I take a look at their résumé—and campaign materials—but I put most value on references because the ‘proof is in the pudding,’” McCollister writes. “I appreciate the candidates here who offer to serve the public. There are no ‘bad’ people here, just those who will be better in the job. That is a choice we all have to make when we vote.”
As detailed in the current issue of Business Report, McCollister makes the following recommendations for the Oct. 14 elections:
• State treasurer: Angele Davis
• Public Service Commissioner, District 2: Craig Greene
• EBR School Board, District 7: Michael Gaudet
• City Court Judge, Division E: Endorsement deferred
Constitutional amendments:
• Amendment 1: Yes
– Establishing a property tax exemption for construction work in progress
• Amendment 2: Yes
– Establishing a property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of first responders who die while on duty
• Amendment 3: No
– Establishing a “Construction Subfund” of the Transportation Trust Fund
To find out the reasoning behind these endorsements read the full column, and visit parlouisiana.org for that group’s overview on the three amendments. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
