District 39 candidates square off in ArnaudvilleBy Alexandria Burris
aburris@dailyworld.comARNAUDVILLE - Candidates competing for the District 39 House seat took part in a political forum at the Arnaudville Town Hall Wednesday, and discussed issues ranging from education to insurance.
Candidates Stephen Ortego, Bobby Badon and Raymond "La La" Lalonde attended. Tommy Angelle did not make the forum.
One issue that drew debate from the candidates was finding money to fix Louisiana's crumbling, pothole filled roads. "The only way we're going to correct the road problem is if we have dedicated funds," said Bobby Badon, a two-time Carencro city councilmen.
Badon backed a proposal to dedicate a 4-percent sales tax from motor vehicle sales to fix roads in the state.
But Lalonde said dedicated money does not mean it is being spent well.
The money can still end up in the hands of bureaucrats, he said. The state needs to change the way it spends money, he said.
Ortego said there are too many state roads - double the amount of Florida, a bigger state.
Each candidate said new opportunities for Louisiana can arise from the October election.
Term-limited candidates will allow new representatives and senators to control the House and Senate.
Ortego said the election provides the opportunity to bring in elected officials who will work to improve education, the environment and industry.
Ortego said his main efforts will be increasing teacher pay, exploring Louisiana's economy for alternative energy sources and plugging the state's brain drain.
"The last three teachers of the year in Texas where from Louisiana," said Ortego, a Carencro High and Tulane graduate.
Education also is an issue for Badon who said he would like to see the state offer incentives, such as reducing the debt of college loans, in order to keep college graduates in the state.
Badon said creating jobs for college graduates to stay in Louisiana would help fuel the economy and fight poverty.
"If we take care of education everything else will fall in line," said Badon, whose platform also includes pressuring insurance companies to lower premiums for senior citizens and issue premiums based on zones.
In the area of health care, Badon said he supports passing legislation that would bring affordable prescription drugs to Louisiana citizens.
"I say let's get them from Canada. I'm all for cheaper drugs," he said.
For Lalonde, improving health care means dismantling the Charity Hospital System.
"We are last in the country for health care for the elderly," he said.
He said the state needs to create a health care system that will be much more beneficial for citizens.
Once things got going - we really had a good time. The place was packed and I am so thankful to all of you who attended.