Sanford pins Supreme Court hopes on reaching independent voters

Baton Rouge attorney Jeffry Sanford knows he’s a long-shot candidate in the hotly contested race for the 5th District Louisiana Supreme Court seat, which includes a candidate field of six sitting judges and prominent local lawyer Mary Olive Pierson. Sanford has never held an elected seat—or even run for one—and he’s the only independent in the race. “I think it gives me a competitive advantage due to the fact that one-third of voters in Louisiana are independents who are tired of the partisan politics,” says Sanford, who cut ties with the Republican party in 1996 and has been an independent ever since. Sanford says he’ll primarily self-fund his campaign, but that the grassroots effort is beginning to garner some donations, albeit very small ones. “I just got one of my first campaign contributions here, in the amount of $35, and there’s another one around here for $15,” Sanford says. “That’s the way it’s going to happen for me. It’s going to be hard, certainly, with so many people running and all the money that’s going to be spent. But I’m not worried about money, because when you tell the truth, people like it and they’re going to support it.” Sanford is a Baton Rouge native, a graduate of University High School at LSU, as well as LSU, and has been principal attorney at Sanford & Associates law firm since 1996. Learn more about Sanford at his campaign’s website here. —Steve Sanoski