Livingston Parish tax assessor endorses Ricks

Livingston Parish Tax Assessor Jeff Taylor, once a supporter of Parish President Mike Grimmer, says he’s throwing his support behind challenger Layton Ricks in the run-up to Saturday’s runoff election between the two. “I was not going to endorse anyone, but I just decided after so many negative things have been said about Layton Ricks that I couldn’t stand by anymore and watch without saying something,” Taylor says. “Livingston Parish needs someone who is going to roll up their sleeves and go to work for the people, and I think Layton Ricks is the man for the job.” Grimmer led the three-man field in the primary last month with 45% of the vote. Ricks had 40% and Donald Burgess—who is also endorsing Ricks—had 15%. Taylor was elected to his fourth term in office as parish tax assessor with 77% of the vote in the Oct. 22 primary. Read a recent column by Business Report Executive Editor JR Ball on the heated nature of the race for parish president here, and a recent Business Report story by David Jacobs on the debris debacle influencing the race here. —Steve Sanoski