Seven statewide races, four amendments on ballot

In addition to the 2015 gubernatorial election, six other statewide races and four constitutional amendments will be on Saturday’s ballot.
Statewide races include the governor’s race with candidates Scott A. Angelle, R-Breaux Bridge; Beryl Billiot, No Party-Kentwood; “Jay” Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge; Cary Deaton, D-Metairie, John Bel Edwards, D-Amite; Jeremy “JW” Odom, No Party-Natchitoches, Eric Paul Orgeron, Other-Metairie; S L Simpson, D-Shreveport; and David Vitter, R-Metairie.
Candidates for lieutenant governor are Elbert Lee Guillory, R-Opelousas; Melvin L. “Kip” Holden, D-Baton Rouge; “Billy” Nungesser, R-Belle Chasse; and John Young, R-Metairie.
Secretary of state candidates include “Tom” Schedler, R-Mandeville; and “Chris” Tyson, D-Baton Rouge.
Attorney general candidates are Geraldine “Geri” Broussard Baloney, D-Garyville; James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, R-Baton Rouge; Isaac “Ike” Jackson, D-Plaquemine; “Jeff” Landry, R-New Iberia; and “Marty” Maley, R-Baton Rouge.
State treasurer candidates are John Kennedy, R-Baton Rouge; and Jennifer Treadway, R-Baton Rouge.
Commissioner of agriculture and forestry candidates include “Charlie” Greer, D-Natchez; Adrian “Ace” Juttner, Green-Abita Springs; Jamie LaBranche, R-LaPlace; and Michael G. “Mike” Strain, R-Covington.
Candidates for commissioner of insurance include “Jim” Donelon, R-Metairie; Donald Hodge Jr., D-Baton Rouge; Charlotte C. McDaniel McGehee, D-Baton Rouge; and Matt Parker, R-West Monroe.
There are four proposed state constitutional amendments on the ballots.
According to the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council, Proposed Amendment No. 1 creates a new transportation projects fund and restructures the rainy day fund. A vote for this proposition would steer state mineral revenue to a new transportation projects fund and restructure the Budget Stabilization Fund, while a vote against would leave the current revenue flow and Budget Stabilization Fund intact, according to the research council.
Proposed Amendment No. 2 allows the state treasurer the option of investing in the state infrastructure bank, the research council said. A vote for would allow the state treasurer to invest public funds in a state infrastructure bank, while a vote against would require the newly created infrastructure bank to rely on other financing, the research council says.
Proposed Amendment No. 3 provides new guidelines for legislation in a fiscal session, the research council said.
A vote for would broadly define what kind of tax and revenue bills can be filed in a legislative fiscal session, while a vote against would leave in place the specific list of allowable tax legislation for a fiscal session, the research council says.
Proposed Amendment No. 4 allows local governments to tax property within their jurisdictions that is owned by local or state governments outside Louisiana, the research council said.
A vote for would require states or local governments outside of Louisiana to pay taxes on properties they own in Louisiana, while a vote against would leave the question to the courts, which recently ruled that state local governments outside Louisiana are exempt from property tax, the research council said.
More information on the constitutional amendments can be found at the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council’s website parlouisiana.org.