Louisiana Political News Service

LOUISIANA REPUBLICANS BUCK NATIONAL TREND

"Baton Rouge-bred Jindal won by the biggest majority in the state’s congressional races Tuesday – 88 percent against three challengers." ADVOCATE


ASSOCIATED PRESS

Incumbents coast to overwhelming victories in most races
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/116295360619310.xml&storylist=louisiana
By MELINDA DESLATTE

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — While the national scene was dominated by election upsets and political change, Louisiana voters embraced their incumbent congressmen, giving six of the seven lawmakers overwhelming election victories.

Weakened Jefferson faces runoff; 1 Demo, 5 GOP reps return
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/116294819091950.xml&storylist=louisiana
By CAIN BURDEAU

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Despite a well-stocked campaign chest and big name support, embattled U.S. Rep. William Jefferson was forced into a runoff Tuesday, unable to overcome allegations in an FBI affidavit that said he hid bribe money in his freezer.

Jefferson led the multiparty field of 13 and won about 30 percent of the vote, well short of the majority needed for outright victory. He'll face state Rep. Karen Carter, an up-and-coming New Orleans politician, on Dec. 9. Carter got 22 percent of the vote. Both are Democrats.

Another consolidation of New Orleans government
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1162950574200920.xml&storylist=louisiana
By DOUG SIMPSON

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — This city's political class continues to shrink, as voters approved a ballot proposal to merge its seven elected tax assessor jobs into one.
Seven other changes to Louisiana's Constitution, ranging from tax breaks to new judgeships, also passed Tuesday.

Glover wins mayoral race in Shreveport
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1162994366241620.xml&storylist=louisiana
The Associated Press

(AP) — Democratic state Rep. Cedric Glover was elected Shreveport's first black mayor on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Jerry Jones.

Glover had trailed Jones after the Sept. 30 primary, picking up 32 percent of the vote to 39 percent for Jones. But Glover captured 53 percent of the vote in the runoff.

In a victory speech, Glover pledged to unify the city and continue seeking economic development and solutions to Shreveport's crime problem.


ADVOCATE

Other incumbent Louisiana representatives retain jobs
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4589187.html
By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON AND MARK BALLARD
Advocate Capitol News Bureau

Boustany, Jindal and Melancon said their job today is to start working at shifting to state coffers the some of the royalties the federal government receives for oil and gas produced off Louisiana’s shore.

But both Baker and Jindal helped their campaigns by criticizing federal response to last year’s hurricanes and advocating aid programs, he said. “They actually created enough distance between themselves and the White House,” Samuel said.

Baton Rouge-bred Jindal won by the biggest majority in the state’s congressional races Tuesday – 88 percent against three challengers.

Central district adopted
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4589172.html
By CHARLES LUSSIER
Advocate staff writer

The effort to create a fourth public school system in East Baton Rouge Parish in the Central area was winning statewide and leading by an even greater margin in the parish Tuesday with most precincts reporting.

Marty Guilbeau, a leader of the Central effort, said he is happy that voters appear to have disregarded what he considered biased local news coverage of the Central movement.

“The voter saw through it,” Guilbeau said. “They voted for what was best for their community.”

Lafayette taxes flounder
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4588967.html
By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Advocate Acadiana bureau

LAFAYETTE — Voters ignored a litany of official endorsements and resoundingly defeated Tuesday both a series of 1-cent sales taxes for roads and drainage and a property tax increase to fund a new parish courthouse.

City-Parish President Joey Durel said the lopsided results appear to be a backlash against new taxes.

“This community has spoken loud and clear that taxes trump traffic,” Durel said.

Guidroz elected sheriff
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4588937.html
By RICHARD BURGESS
Advocate Acadiana bureau

OPELOUSAS — Former State Police Trooper Bobby Guidroz was elected St. Landry Parish sheriff on Tuesday, winning over interim Sheriff Laura Balthazar in a tight and closely watched election.

Guidroz won the seat with 20,210 votes, or 51 percent, to Balthazar’s 19,345 votes, according to complete but unofficial returns.

The race between a black female interim sheriff and a white male challenger also garnered some unwelcome attention for fears of possible racial intimidation of voters.

Those fears attracted poll watchers from both the Justice Department and the NAACP to monitor Tuesday’s elections in the parish.


TIMES PICAYUNE

Tax on Orleans vehicles is struck down
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1162973311147630.xml&coll=1
By Bruce Eggler

Louisiana voters Tuesday easily approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting local governments from imposing a property tax on motor vehicles.

New Orleans is the only city that has been collecting the tax, and the amendment ends yet another revenue source for the financially hard-pressed city.


SHREVEPORT TIMES

No majority black City Council
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/ELECTION/611080321/1002&GID=+W+sn6AwEdvsqntcOFv8PN6gN6/BHZdfTmraNYqCCoI%3D
By Joel Anderson
joelanderson@gannett.com

In an election night victory that came down to the final votes, incumbent District B councilman Monty Walford pulled out an extremely narrow victory over political newcomer Sheva Sims on Tuesday.

Walford got 2,887 votes compared to Sims' 2,881 with all 21 precincts reporting, preventing Shreveport from having its first majority black City Council for at least another four years.

Shreveport mayoral race influences level of voter turnout
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/ELECTION/611080318/1002
By Mary Jimenez
maryjimenez@gannett.com

Shreveport's mayoral race seems to be the ballot item that brought people to the polls locally on Election Day.

By 10:30 p.m., results were complete but unofficial figures showed a 45 percent voter turnout in Caddo Parish and 24 percent in Bossier Parish for the 4th Congressional District seat and eight state constitutional amendments.


TOWN TALK

Roy roasts Brewer
Captures more than three-fourths of votes iin landslide victory
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/NEWS01/611080318
By Billy Gunn
bgunn@thetowntalk.com

Alexandria on Tuesday chose as its next mayor 36-year-old lawyer Jacques Roy, who soundly defeated longtime city executive Delores Brewer in the race to fill the seat held for 20 years by Mayor Ned Randolph.

According to complete but unofficial results, Roy received 9,116 votes, or 76 percent, to Brewer's 2,928 votes, or 24 percent. The 12,044 votes represent 41.2 percent of Alexandria's 29,220 registered voters.


ADVERTISER

Low voter turnout still a problem
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/OPINION01/611080307
EDITORIAL

We salute those who went to the polls yesterday. It was an important election, and the citizens who made their voices heard deserve high praise. Tallying up the number who stayed home, however, is depressing.

The issues on the ballot touched every citizen, but far too many saw no reason to try to influence the outcome of the election.

Citizens didn't forget that Tuesday was Election Day. With the flood of campaign advertising that swirled around us that would have been impossible. Yet at both the state and local level, an incredible number of registered voters found things to do that they felt were more productive than voting.

CHECK OUT ALL THE LOUISIANA ELECTION RETURNS HERE:

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcinq&rqsdta=start