Allain, Guidry define Dist. 21 issues before SMIG

As declared state senate candidates for Louisiana District 21, Bret Allain and Darrin Guidry agree about most things that are needed in St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes. It is a matter of how to meet those needs where they differ.

Both are first time contenders for elected office. Both are registered Republicans. On Monday, both met face-to-face before the St. Mary Industrial Group at the Petroleum Club in Morgan City.

Allain, 52, conducts business in agriculture, oil and gas and real estate, while Guidry, 45, has spent most of his career in the news media. Allain owns a family-based sugar cane farm and is vice president of St. Mary Sugars. Guidry is owner of the Tri-Parish Times and Gumbo Entertainment Guide.

“You have two equally good candidates here,” St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin said following the session. “Either one would be good.”

Infrastructure needs, income taxes, insurance costs and state spending highlighted Guidry’s remarks as he led off in presentations, based on the toss of a coin. “The problems and issues [when I started my career] are many of the same problems and issues we have today,” he said.

“We must tell the nation and the world that Louisiana is open for business,” Guidry said. “We must also fill the necessary infrastructure to help business.”

Guidry noted that infrastructure n including access to water, power grids, and being at least 20 miles to an interstate highway n tops the list of requirements when businesses look to relocate.

“Our community is immediately eliminated when people are looking to relocate here, as a result of not being near an interstate highway system,” Guidry said. He said that completion of the proposed Interstate 49, which runs the route of U.S. Highway 90 and has been under consideration for expansion and designation since 1984, would be up to local investment through alternative use funding.

“The federal government is not going to build it for us,” Guidry said. “We are going to have to build it ourselves by using various forms of revenue.” He said that having a state senator involved in pushing for designation would make a difference.

“I set on the I-49 Task Force and I’ve seen the politics of I-49,” Allain said. “It’s not pretty. There are other areas that have better held up sections of I-49 because they want sections built the way they want it … and they are not going to concede to us until they get it built until they get [what they want]. People are going to relocate … where they have access to I-49. They are not going to do it without it. I plan to go to the governor and ask him to make a new council and champion for I-49 and get it going.”

Allain and Guidry agreed on the need to have a permanent structure on Bayou Chene and noted the structure put in place during May saved St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes from flooding when the Morganza Spillway was opened into the Atchafalaya River.

“Not only would I support [a permanent flood control complex on Bayou Chene],” Guidry said. “I support dusting off the barrier plan. That would have protected … five parishes [from flooding].”

“One of the first things I will try to get done is [secure] a permanent structure for the Bayou Chene,” Allain said. “Not only to provide flood protection, but when it is open quickly after the flood danger is gone to restore commerce as soon as possible.”

Along the line of infrastructure needs, Guidry called for the maintaining of a 20-foot dredging level for the Atchafalaya River. Such a requirement can benefit the region by being able to handle larger vessels. “The way we do that … is cut the Corps of Engineers out of dredging,” he said. “Let the port commission do the dredging. … When the [corps] touches something it [costs] three times as much to do a project.”

“We also need to make our [state] income tax more competitive. Or perhaps even eliminate it,” Guidry said. “What happens is all that venture capital moves out of our state. People tend to invest close to where they live. So we don’t want capital moving out of our area.”

Guidry, citing Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy, said that the income tax system could be phased out in 10 years by freezing government spending. “Just the growth alone in our economy would make up the difference in an income tax,” Guidry said. “It sounds like a good idea to me.”

“I think the entire tax structure of Louisiana need to be looked at,” Allain said. “It is too burdensome on industry [and] I think the regulations that go along with it actually detour people from coming here and locating here.”

The cost of insurance in Louisiana is a significant in turning away business, according to Guidry. “I think all the states in the southern region where hurricanes are important should get together and form our own re-insurance program,” he said.

Guidry blamed waste in spending in Baton Rouge for many of Louisiana’s financial woes. “State spending has increased over 50 percent in 10 years,” he said. “For a 10 year period we have taken our budget and added 50 percent to it. There is room to cut.”

Allain stressed his deep roots in St. Mary Parish with a family history in business and agriculture dating back to the 1840s. “We also have a long history in St. Mary Parish government,” he said. Allain’s grandfather and great-grandfather were members of the police jury.

“St. Mary Parish has given me so much and this is my opportunity to give something back so that all the young people can still call St. Mary Parish home,” Allain said describing his rural working experience as giving him the ability to recognize opportunity and bring it back to the district.

Allain said that vision and growth outside District 21 have taken away from the industrial base of that area. “They have played the game better than we have,” he said. “I believe we need to have a vision of where we need to be in 5 years, 10 years and 20 years down the road.”

Responding to questions, Allain was specifically asked if he would support a constitutional convention to address tax codes with ordinary citizens being able to participate in the process.

“I think that is a great idea,” Allain said. “I think [reform is] the only way that we are going to unburden the tax structure. We also need to look at the protected spending in the Constitution.”

Guidry said he would also support a constitutional convention but warned that “the governor is not in favor” of it.

The board asked Guidry if he would continue being an active participant in the news business if elected.

Guidry explained that upon his public announcement for state Senate, he turned over daily operations to the existing managing editor, now publisher, and staff. “I completely stepped away from the business as of announcing for this and I know once elected, it is going to have to stay that way.”

Noting that he has spent the bulk of the past year traveling the district and listening to residents, Allain said that he has learned that people want a state senator they know they can trust. “People want a senator that they know will work hard for them … and people expect a senator to show leadership,” he said.

After the luncheon, Allain said he and Guidry are in basic agreement but approach the issues from different angles. “I’m not running against Darrin Guidry,” he said. “I’m running for the position.”

Guidry agreed the difference between the two is not one of intention. “Knowledge of the issues and the fact that I’ve served on the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority Board and the [Terrebonne] Levee District and various organizations [give me the edge],” he said. “There is one thing to have the desire to do it. It is another to have the knowledge of how to do it.”

“I think we could work with either one of them in the parish,” Naquin said. “And we could get the job done.”