October 15
October 15, 2007
Ruberta LaCoste
October 17, 2007Four candidates are vying for the state representative seat left vacant by Warren J. Triche, who had to step down due to term limits.
Triche’s 20 years as state representative left some big shoes to fill, but Michael “Mike” Matherne, “Jay” Caillouet, Jerome “Dee” Richard and Alfred “Al” Carter think they are up for the task.
Matherne wants to work to make homeowner’s insurance more affordable in south Louisiana.
And on the topic of coastal restoration and hurricane protection, he joked, “How can you be against coastal restoration?”
He said he wants to look at the state’s budget surplus and perhaps use some of it to help homeowner’s insurance. One idea he has is to give a tax credit for the difference between insurance rates pre- and post-Katrina and Rita.
This idea was originally proposed in a bill by gubernatorial candidate Walter Boasso, but it was defeated.
As far as the state’s $14 billion road maintenance backlog, he said he thinks the legislature needs to take a real, serious look at licensing fees. And the motor vehicle registration fee should be dedicated toward road maintenance and not just dumped into the general fund, he said.
Caillouet’s campaign revolves around what he calls the “Five Es,” which include education, economic development, energy, environment and ethics.
While coastal restoration and hurricane protection are not specifically mentioned, Caillouet explains this is the case because both factor into all five of the “Es.”
For example, education isn’t limited to the public and higher education system. For Caillouet, it refers to educating everyone about the problems facing the state.
He suggested what might happen to natural gas production if a storm were to take out a Liquefied Natural Gas plant in southern Louisiana.
“If we lose one of the plants, they’re going to wonder how to keep warm during the winter months,” Caillouet said.
And the environment, obviously, plays a role.
“You can’t restore the coast and not be a poster child for environmental causes around the nation,” he said.
If elected, Richard wants to focus on education, ethics, insurance reform and coastal restoration.
While continuing with Morganza is a priority, Richard wants to work to get federal funds to rebuild the barrier islands by possibly piping sediment in from the Mississippi River or up from the Gulf.
“If people out of the state do not see us improving our education, ethics and rebuilding our property, they aren’t going to want to insure us,” he said.
Insurance reform is important for Richard, who wants to look at possibly requiring some insurance companies that offer auto insurance in south Louisiana to start offering homeowner’s insurance.
He also wants to consider setting up incentives to entice insurance companies to come back.
“It won’t happen overnight,” Richard said. “But it’s got to start.”
He said he signed his support to Blueprint Louisiana, a document outlining reforms in education, ethics and the state’s economy, and mostly agrees with the group’s approach.
But a schism exists between him and the document over the state’s charity hospital system.
“I’m in total disagreement with shutting down the charity hospital system,” Richard said.
He believes there are ways to repair and improve the system, some of which may involve making private and public partnerships.
But for now, he said the uninsured in the state rely on the system.
Carter has never held public office, but if elected he wants to turn Louisiana around by focusing on education.
He said the state spends millions on education, but only 61 percent of its high school students graduate.
He would like to emphasize technical and vocational education, citing the fact a plumber can make more money than a college professor right now.
And he put forth the fact the New Orleans recovery would be further along and better served if the city had three hundred or more skilled laborers.
He also wants to reduce home owner’s insurance and business owner’s insurance rates.
And in order to tackle the state’s $14 billion roadway maintenance backlog, he wants to reevaluate the budget.
“First thing we need to do is evaluate what we’re spending in state government right now,” Carter said. “There’s really no strong control. So, we do the things we’ve always done.”
He signed his support to Blueprint Louisiana, but took issue with the fact it didn’t include anything related to coastal erosion and land loss.
