Local voters still have full ballot

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 19, 2011

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although many high profile races have already been decided, there is still a sizeable amount of state and regional races on the ballot in the runoff election today.

Five state congressional seats, one Board of Elementary and Secondary Education seat, various parish-level positions and an assortment of propositions are up for vote Saturday in the River Parishes. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. With no major races on the ballot, turnout is expected to be low.

One state Senate seat and four state representative seats are up for grabs in the region. The senate race, District 2, pits former state Rep. Elton Aubert against attorney Troy Brown. The district includes portions of all three River Parishes. The four state representative races up for grabs are in districts 56, 57, 58 and 81.

In District 56, Destrehan attorney Gregory Miller will face off against former St. Charles Parish Councilman Ganesier “Ram” Ramachandran. The district includes the entire east bank of St. Charles except for St. Rose, west bank communities outside of Boutte, Hahnville, Taft and Killona, and a small portion of eastern LaPlace.

District 57, which includes all of LaPlace, the entire west bank of St. John and the St. Charles Parish communities of Boutte, Hahnville, Taft and Killona, pits St. John School Board member Russ Wise against LaPlace attorney Randal Gaines.

The race for District 58 includes Democrats Dwayne “Gully” Bailey and Ed Price. The winner will represent the entire west bank of St. James Parish and the east bank communities of Paulina, Hester, Convent, Romeville and Union.

Finally District 81, which includes Garyville and Mt. Airy in St. John Parish, plus Gramercy, Lutcher and Grand Point in St. James Parish, pits Gonzales resident Clay Schexnayder against Kevin Hull of Denham Springs.

In the District 2 BESE race, which includes all three parishes, incumbent Louella Givens will face off against Teach for America New Orleans Executive Kira Orange Jones.

Local races in St. John Parish include runoff elections for five council districts, plus one at-large seat. In District 1, St. John Housing Board member Art Smith will face LaPlace Resident Norward “Norm” Johnson. District 2 pits Demetria Robinson Carter against former council member Ranney Wilson. The District 3 race includes Reserve residents Lennix “Tweet” Madere and LaToya Julien. In District 4, former St. John School Board member Matthew Ory will face political newcomer Marvin “Butch” Perrilloux. The District 5 seat includes LaPlace residents Michael Wright and Clifford Hebert. In the Division A at-Large seat runoff, current At-Large Councilman Lucien Gauff will face off against former Councilman Richard “Dale” Wolfe.

Local races in St. James Parish include one council runoff in District 7, where incumbent James “Jimmy” Brazan will face Donald J. Nash, and a proposition for an extra homestead exemption for disabled veterans.

The one local race in St. Charles Parish is for Clerk of Court, where incumbent Charles “Charlie” Oubre will face Lance Marino.

There is also one statewide constitutional amendment on the ballot. It pertains to a ban on additional taxes on real estate transfers. The amendment prevents state and local governments from imposing additional transfer taxes on the purchase and sale of immovable properties.