GOVERNOR: Foster Campbell
To read CenLamar’s full endorsement of Foster Campbell, click here.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Mitch Landrieu
During the past four years, Mitch Landrieu has proven himself to be a passionate and competent leader. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Landrieu faced a significant challenge– restoring faith in Louisiana’s tourism industry– and Landrieu met the challenge with aplomb and confidence. Landrieu has also engaged in important social activism work, facilitating conversations and networking between non-profit organizations and individuals committed to the future of our State. His work has already yielded incredible results.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Buddy Caldwell
Of all the candidates for Attorney General, Buddy Caldwell possesses the most impressive resume. As an attorney, Caldwell has a 99% conviction rate. He has trained assistant district attorneys, district attorneys, school boards, and sheriffs from all over the State of Louisiana. His competence and diligence as a prosecutor are precisely the qualities that befit an Attorney General.
CENTRAL LOUISIANA RACES:
SENATE DISTRICT 29: Joe McPherson
Joe McPherson has proven himself to be a consistent and honest leader who is unafraid of tackling controversial issues and standing up to powerful political and corporate interests. McPherson is also responsive to his constituents, and he has a unique understanding of the needs and demands of our district.
HOUSE DISTRICT 25: Chris Roy, Jr.
As an attorney, Chris Roy, Jr has built a career fighting for those in need, and although we are certain Mr. Beard would also make a fine representative, Roy’s experience as an attorney and his grasp of the issues will serve our community well in the state legislature.
HOUSE DISTRICT 26: Herbert Dixon
Herbert Dixon has proven his commitment to our community through his work as a School Board Member on the Rapides Parish School Board. Because of this experience, Mr. Dixon understands how to tackle one of the biggest problems facing our area, education. District 26 is also the location of the Sugarhouse Road extension, and we are certain that Mr. Dixon will work to ensure the proper funding for this and other important infrastructural projects.
SHERIFF: Chuck Wagner
Although both Mike Slocum and Bill Robinson possess the attributes and qualities of a good sheriff, Chuck Wagner stands out. Wagner brings fresh perspective, a unique business acumen, and a jolt of energy to a department that has remained under the faithful stewardship of William Earl Hilton for over 15 years. Some have criticized Wagner’s decision to leave the Sheriff’s Department and go to work in the private sector, but we believe this is one of his greatest assets. Mr. Wagner worked his way through college in the Sheriff’s Department, and afterward, he built on his experience and education in the private sector, learning important first-hand managerial and leadership skills, skills that he can easily put to good use as the next Sheriff of Rapides Parish.
BEST CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL (And our favorite for Senate District 28): Eric LaFleur
There are many good reasons to vote for Eric LaFleur. He’s a brilliant attorney who also has degrees in History, French, and Economics. He’s a competent leader who knows how to build coalitions and achieve compromises. But please forgive us for being superficial: Eric’s campaign commercials are, quite simply, the best and, by far, the most original in the State. Eric is proud of his Cajun French culture- a culture that is threatened by the forces of assimilation- and while other candidates have recently shunned the “Cajun” in “Cajun Country,” Eric has embraced it. And the best thing about Eric’s commercials: He made them himself on a home computer.
BEST CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Stephen Ortego, House District 39. Much like Eric LaFleur, Stephen Ortego, a young architect from Carencro, understands how to connect with Cajun Country. His website appears in English, Creole (Kreyol), and French (Francais), and it is slick, professional, and plain awesome. Click here to visit www.StephenOrtego.com.
For a full list of House and Senate candidates, visit The Daily Kingfish.
Oyster also reveals his endorsements, complete with a thorough analysis of each race.
CenLamar 
Wow Lamar, I’m worried now, because we actually agree on a few. LOL
Lamar, I have to disagree with your opinion that Chuck Wagner would make the best Sheriff. The key difference, to me, between Mike Slocum and Chuck Wagner is that Mr. Wagner has never supervised anyone. He has only been responsible for himself. For example, if the position of CEO for a hospital becomes available, do you think they would hire a person who has never supervised anyone, to become responsible for close to 600 employees? Absolutely not. Management and supervisory skills are learned through experience; not text books. Do we really want our “CEO” ; our Chief tax collector and law enforcement officer for the parish, to have to “learn” through trial and error the proper way to manage a multi-faceted organization such as the RPSO?
I am in sales, and I know what sales reps are responsible for, and it is NOTHING compared to the tremendous amount of administrative responsibity that comes with being Sheriff.
I also have a college degree, in business marketing and management, and I believe it is an important thing to have. But, I don’t believe it outweighs experience. Mr. Wagner’s degree is in criminal justice; not management. Mr. Slocum has managed to successfully lead his division, and he has also managed to run a successful business outside of the RPSO. He is a hard worker, and has many innovative plans for the future. Unfortunately, during debates, most of his time is spent correcting Mr. Wagner’s false claims regarding statistics of the department so he does not have time to talk about those innovative plans. I encourage you, before November 17th, to meet with Mr. Slocum and then decide who you feel is the person most capable to handle running the department during the most critical times; such as a crisis situation.
IWhile I admire Mr. Wagner’s ambition, I do not feel he is the best man for the job.
Nora, thank you for your comment.
I think it is important that we engage in an honest discussion.
Mr. Wagner actually does have experience managing employees. I am not sure where you received your information, but it is inaccurate.
In my personal opinion, a high school diploma and a college degree should be considered prerequisites for the job of Sheriff of Rapides Parish. Although I have the utmost respect for Major Slocum, Chuck Wagner is the only candidate who received both degrees.
Using your analogy, if the position of CEO for a big hospital became available, the hospital would not even consider a candidate without a college education, regardless of the experience a candidate had in the health care industry. In the private sector, the position of CEO of a hospital would require a college education. It’s literally written into the job description.
As I understand it, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department is a $38 million a year “company.” I believe that the position of sheriff requires both experience and a college education, and as I understand it, Chuck Wagner is the only candidate who possess both qualities. That said, I harbor absolutely no ill will toward Major Slocum, and though I admire his ambition, I believe Chuck Wagner is the best man for the job.
Can you please tell me what experience he has managing employees?
In the private sector.
I don’t mean to be rude, but your talking points are eerily similar to a group of people on the Town Talk’s website, particularly a blogger who goes by the name “Young Professional.”
The pro-Slocum crowd really seems intent on minimizing the importance of a college education, yet no one is addressing the most serious allegation made in yesterday’s paper:
Does Major Slocum have a HIGH SCHOOL diploma? Initially, he claimed to be a graduate of Buckeye, but all mentions of his high school education were suddenly removed from his campaign materials and website. Moreover, no one seems to be answering these very serious allegations.
Nora, I will keep an open mind, but lying to voters about your education is unacceptable.
I look forward to your response.
I went up to Tensas Parish and sat in criminal court for two days. the word trial was not mentioned one time. Everything pleads out. Of course, Buddy Caldwell gets to count this as a “conviction”. In the serious cases such as State v. Robert Todd Griffin, in which griffin stands accused of murder, Caldwell has let him roam free for over three years. And this with SIX FELONIES AND TWO CRIMES OF VIOLENCE on his record. Caldwell is lying about his conviction rate. Foti was right when he said he’d have to go up and watch some of the traffic cases Caldwell tries.