October 15
October 15, 2007
Ruberta LaCoste
October 17, 2007Two newcomers to politics, Jerry “Truck” Gisclair and John Melancon, and former two-term representative Mitch Theriot are running for the 54th Representative District.
The district covers central and southern Lafourche. Incumbent Loulan Pitre announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election.
Republican Mitch Theriot, 44, is a Raceland attorney who represented District 54 from 1992 to 2000, running unsuccessfully for the seat in 2003.
The two principal issues in his campaign are homeowner’s and automobile insurance reform, and coastal restoration. He wants to improve transportation as well.
Theriot said insurance costs are prohibitive in southern Lafourche and Grand Isle.
He is realistic about coastal preservation, refusing to sign the Blueprint Louisiana document because it did not address coastal restoration.
The document was issued by business and community leaders in Louisiana, urging ethical, educational and economic reform in the state.
Theriot looks forward to the hurricane-protection money the state would receive if the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) becomes law.
However, he said, “The fight will be to see where the money goes. There’ll be a stream of money to Louisiana. I’d see that lower Lafourche gets the money. My experience will help.”
With Lafourche Parish losing both of its state representatives in 2008, Theriot said, “I have the knowledge and experience to face the issues of District 54.”
Democrat Jerry Gisclair, 59, owns three radio stations, a construction company, and a citrus farm. He is a U.S. Air Force and Vietnam War veteran.
His priorities are coastal restoration, and ethical and educational reform.
Gisclair signed Blueprint Louisiana, even though the document did not deal with coastal restoration.
“I supported the stronger ethics laws,” he said, “to give the rest of the nation a better, respectable picture of Louisiana.”
To rebuild the state’s wetlands, he said, “Don’t just start pumping sand. I’m for introducing fresh water into the estuary system.”
Gisclair wants to increase the flow of water in Bayou Lafourche and Davis Pond, the freshwater diversion structure on the Mississippi River built to direct the river’s waters to the Barataria estuary.
Because of the flow, waterlilies are growing in Davis Pond, he said.
Gisclair also wants full disclosure of campaign contributions, “to know where the money’s coming from, and who the special interest groups are giving to.” He would like to see an end to “slush funds,” and more money placed in coastal restoration and education.
He believes vocational-technical schools should teach more courses applicable to industries in the area.
Gisclair said he supports “specialty courses being taught at technical colleges,” and does not advocate “teaching to the LEAP test.”
“I’m 59,” he said. “I can represent well. I’m well-versed with the issues, and can take it to another level.”
Democrat John Melancon, 47, owns a ship-repair facility in Cut Off. He said he is running to improve levee protection and the economy, and fight coastal erosion.
He is on the right wing of his party.
“I’m the closest thing to a Republican for a Democrat,” Melancon said. “I’m a conservative Democrat.”
Melancon said he wants to bring economic development to Raceland, and address the local labor shortage.
“We’re very labor-oriented,” he said. “We have a battered workforce.”
He said his repair yard pays $12 to $14 an hour, and will hire you “if you can walk, talk, and pass a drug test.”
He would like to make young men and women aware of the job opportunities at Port Fourchon. Good training would allow them to begin work immediately.
“Not everybody wants to work on a boat,” but other jobs are available onshore at Port Fourchon, Melancon said.
“Not everybody will go to college,” he said.
Melancon feels that candidates for public office need the support of campaign contributions to help them convey their messages. He said he has accepted contributions from people who believe in his cause.
He also believes tax revenue can be put to good use.
“We (Lafourche Parish) taxed ourselves to build our own levees,” Melancon said. “We taxed ourselves to build the port.”
“I’m 47,” he said. “I’m established. I believe in term limits, but will do the (full) 12 years. (Politics) is a game for young people.”
