Tomorrow is
primary Election Day.
Here in Louisiana,
the biggest contest
on the ballot is the U.S.
Senate seat
being vacated by retiring
Senator Russell Long.
14 candidates
are vying for that job.
Tonight,
we will be taking a closer
look at that race
along with the contest
for the U.S.
House of Representatives
and the seven
proposed amendments
to the state constitution.
Election 86.
The Louisiana primary.
Hello everyone.
I'm Robin Hinton
and I'd like to welcome you
to Election '86,
the Louisiana primary.
Come next January,
Louisiana will have a new face
in the U.S.
Senate,
and that face will come
from a list of 14 candidates.
They are Sherman
Bernard, Democrat.
John Breaux, Democrat.
Robert Briggs, Democrat.
Fred Collins, Democrat.
Vincent Giardina Independent.
Nelson Anthony Independent.
J.E.
Jumonville Junior Democrat.
Ken Lewis better known
as Cousin Ken a Democrat.
Frank McCarthy an independent
Henson Moore, Republican.
Johnny Meyers, Democrat.
Sammy Nunez, Democrat.
Robert Max Ross, Republican.
And Eli Williams, Democrat.
Now, although
there are 14 candidates
running for senator,
the major focus of the race
has centered on five of them
Republican Henson Moore
and Democrats Sherman Bernard,
John Breaux,
J.E. Jumonville, Jr.,
and Sammy Nunez.
Of the five major
candidates, Congressman Henson
Moore is the only Republican.
He was the first candidate
to enter the race
and is considered
to be the front runner.
The National Republican Party
has been working hard
for Moore's election
and big name Republican leaders
like President Reagan
and Vice President George
Bush have campaigned
in Louisiana
on the congressman's behalf.
Recently, Moore
conducted a whistlestop
campaign across the state.
His campaign has focused
heavily on the state's
economic woes
and a 14 point plan Moore
says, would create
jobs here in Louisiana.
The Moore
campaign sees
Congressman John
Breaux of Lafayette
as their chief opponent,
Breaux to enter the race soon
after Senator Russell Long
announced his retirement.
The seven term congressman
has the backing of the state's
Democratic Party.
Economics is a central theme
in Breaux's campaign, too.
But he blames Louisiana's
economic problems
on the Reagan administration,
which is backing
Congressman Moore,
as if the Moore campaign
was not enough
for Breaux to deal with.
He is also facing opposition
from three Democratic state
officeholders, state
senators Sammy Nunez and J.E.
Jumonville Jr.
And Insurance
Commissioner Sherman Bernard.
Bernard is a familiar name
in Louisiana politics,
and he is banking heavily
on name recognition
in his bid for the U.S. Senate.
Bernard doesn't have much
in the way of campaign funds
and has not been campaigning
as heavily
as the other major candidates.
This is his second attempt
to become
a United States senator.
He ran
unsuccessfully in 1974
against Russell Long,
Sammy Nunez
as president
of the Louisiana Senate.
And he blames both
Democratic Congressman
John Breaux and Republican
Congressman Henson Moore
for shaping policies
in Washington
that have devastated the state's
economy.
Nunez has served
in the Louisiana legislature
for more than 20 years.
Its campaign for the U.S.
Senate is centered around three
major issues
energy, foreign trade
and the federal debt.
He has the backing
of many of his colleagues
in the state legislature
and sees himself
as an alternative candidate
who is more attuned
to the problems
here in Louisiana.
Like Nunez, J.E.
Jumonville is a state senator.
Unlike most other candidates
who solicit campaign
contributions.
Jumonville is running his campaign
primarily out of his own pocket.
Some political observers
say Jumonville entered
the Senate race
to build up
name recognition for the 1987
gubernatorial race.
But Jumonville says
that isn't true,
and he is a serious candidate
for the U.S. Senate.
With so many
well-known candidates
seeking the Senate seat,
the primary contest is expected
to lead to a runoff.
Let's now take a look
at the races for the U.S.
House of Representatives.
Louisiana has eight
congressional districts.
District one is represented
by a Republican congressman,
Bob Livingston.
He is running
unopposed this year.
District two,
which includes
New Orleans,
is currently represented
by Congresswoman Lindy Boggs.
Boggs, a Democrat,
has token opposition
this year from two candidates.
They are Landi Dyess,
an independent from Metairie
and Roger Sea
Captain Johnson, a
Republican from New Orleans.
Boggs is expected to win
this contest easily.
Congressman Billy
Tauzin, a Democrat
from Thibodaux, is running
unopposed and District three.
The same holds true
for Democratic
Congressman Buddy Roemer,
who represents District four.
There are three candidates
seeking to represent
District five,
which includes the Monroe area.
Thomas Bud Brady,
a Democrat from Olla.
Incumbent Jerry Huckaby,
a Democrat from Ringgold.
And Fred Unified,
a Democrat from Monroe.
But I understand.
Jerry Huckabee is the incumbent
and is said to be leading
the three man race for Congress.
Opponent Bud
Brady is completing
his third term
in the Louisiana House
of Representatives.
Brady says government
should return to the basics
and that charity
should begin at home before
any aid is sent overseas.
The third man in
the race is Fred UNIFIL.
He blames the problems
with the economy in general
and American agriculture
in particular
on the nation's abandonment
of regulating
the value of its money.
An outstanding foreign
debt owed to the
International Monetary Fund.
Three candidates are
seeking the sixth
congressional seat currently
held by Senate candidate
Henson More.
They are Richard Baker,
a Republican from Baton Rouge.
Wallace Blackwell,
a Democrat from Holden.
And Tommy
Hudson, Democrat
from Baton Rouge.
Hudson and Baker
are other major contenders.
Both are state legislators
and the themes of
their campaigns have centered
around economic development
and jobs.
Baker has been endorsed
by Congressman Moore
and assured
in campaign appearances
by President Reagan
and Vice President Bush.
Hudson is a former aide
to Senator J. Bennett Johnston.
He also has
the senator's endorsement.
Six candidates are seeking
the district seven House seat
now held by Senate
candidate John Breaux.
They are Phil
Bell, Democrat from Lafayette.
James
David Cain, a Democrat
from Dry Creek,
William Carter,
Independent from Dawson,
Jimmy Hayes, Democrat
from Lafayette.
Margaret Lowenthal,
Democrat from Lake Charles.
And David Tibbett,
a Republican from Lafayette.
I know within.
The power bill is an accountant
and businessman.
He says he represents
the little guy.
And as Congressman Bell says,
he would work
to get the economic engine
moving again in Louisiana.
Cain is a state legislator
and farmer.
As a farmer, Cain
says he sees a major danger
in foreign interests
buying up American farmland.
Hayes is an attorney
and real estate developer.
He was commissioner
of financial institutions
before he entered the race.
He says his background
as a developer
will help him attract
new industry to District seven.
Margaret Lowenthal
is the only candidate
from the Lake Charles area.
She is currently
a state legislator
and subscribes
strongly to the free
enterprise system,
economic development
and a strong America,
both home and abroad.
Carter is the youngest candidate
in the race at age 29.
He says the country must end
its current free trade
policy overseas.
And Antipater
is the only Republican
in the District seven race.
Not only is he
the only Republican,
but he says that
he is the only Cajun
in the contest.
Last spring, Tipper Gore
was endorsed for the District
seven seat by the
state Republican Party.
District eight is currently
represented by Congresswoman
Cathy Long,
but she is not
seeking reelection.
Five candidates are running
for that congressional seat.
They are Morgan Goudeau,
Democrat from Opelousas,
Clyde Holloway,
Republican from Forest Hill.
Carson Killen,
Democrat from Cinnamon.
Joseph Ario, a Democrat
from Gonzales.
And Faye Williams,
Democrat from Alexandria.
Morgan Goudeau
is the district attorney
in Saint Landry Parish.
He is also a farmer.
And in that role, Goudeau
says he is aware of the problems
facing Louisiana farmers today.
Joseph Severio
is a state senator
from Gonzales. As congressman,
and he says he would work
for a balanced budget,
an adequate farm bill,
an immediate cleanup
of all hazardous waste sites,
and a strong national defense
for ten years
Carson Killen was the top aide
to the late Congressman
Gillis Long.
Killen is banking heavily
on that association and his bid
for the District eight seat.
Faye
Williams is the only woman
and the only black in the race.
She is an attorney
who has spent time
working on Capitol Hill.
If elected, Williams says
she wants to serve on the House
Agriculture Committee
because Louisiana
farmers need
a strong voice on issues
such as agricultural
production levels,
foreign credit policies
and export markets
for commodities.
Clyde Holloway of Forest
Hill was the only Republican
in the District eight race.
He describes himself
as a working man
who is congressman
would work
toward increased
job opportunities
through industrial growth,
assistance for needy
senior citizens
and protecting
the Social Security program.
There are also a number
of judicial contests
where the candidates
are running unopposed,
with the exception
of the special election
for judge
in the Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeal,
First District Division
B, a contest
that pits Douglas
Allen of Metairie
against Sole Gothard,
also of Metairie.
Lewis Lambert of Gonzales
is seeking reelection
to the Public Service Commission
representing the third district.
His opponent is Archie
Miller of Luling.
Three candidates
make up the race
and the fourth Public Service
Commission District,
Ricky Conway of Krotz Springs,
Edward Nadal of Vinton
and Tommy Powell,
senior of Eunice.
In addition to the
mini statewide contest,
voters will also be asked
to vote on seven
proposed amendments
to the State Constitution
Amendment number
one would dedicate
all but $100 million of the $640
million windfall
that the state is scheduled
to receive
on October 1st
from a settlement
of the so-called eight
G money
derived from mineral activities
in the federal outer
continental shelf
area within three
miles of Louisiana's boundary.
Amendment number two
was set a five mile property
tax limit,
which levee boards
would have to levy in order
to pay property owners
for land
destroyed
or used for levee purposes
after other resources
are exhausted.
Amendment number three
will replace the president
of Saint Mary's
Dominican College,
which is closing with presidents
of two public universities
to nominate persons
to serve on the New Orleans
City's Civil Service Commission.
This proposal
only affects New Orleans,
but it must be approved
in Orleans Parish
as well as statewide.
Amendment number four
would allow the legislature
to increase the license
tag fee on private cars
from $3 to a maximum of $25.
Amendment number five
would allow state government
to convert short term
debt to long term
at a higher interest rate.
Amendment number
six would give the Louisiana
Supreme Court
sole authority
to provide
for the appointment of lawyers
as temporary judges
of lower courts.
The purpose of this proposal
is to clarify
the constitutionality
of temporary
judicial appointments
and overcome
complaints of abuses.
An amendment
seven would shorten
the lame duck period
for statewide elected
officials and legislators
by allowing
newly elected officials
to take office
two months earlier.
The second Monday in January.
Instead of the second Monday
in March.
The proposal would
give new state
officials more time
to prepare
for the legislative session,
which convenes in April.
Two of the amendments
are receiving
a lot of attention.
They are amendments
one and four.
Correspondent Lynda Roedts
tells us why.
It's called Amendment One,
because supporters feel it's
the most important
constitutional amendment.
Louisiana voters
have faced in years.
If this amendment is
defeated,
I shudder
to think of the consequences
for the state.
Essentially,
the measure would set aside
about $540
million in oil revenues
from federal offshore
tracks for education.
The government has
been holding the money
since 1978,
until the state and the feds
could settle their dispute
about how much money Louisiana
would get.
A quarter of the money
stays in a trust fund,
which could grow
to a maximum of $2 billion.
The rest would buy
textbooks, pay salaries,
fund research
and new programs at all
educational levels.
Every expert
who has examined
the Louisiana economy,
every economist,
every business consultant
will conclude
that the first thing
we need to do to get ourselves
out of this terrible
economic slump
and this morass that we're in
is to improve education.
Winston Day,
chairman of the Coalition
for a Better
Louisiana, says
the defeat of this amendment
would send a message
to legislators in other states
that Louisiana doesn't
really care about education.
U.S.
Senator J. Bennett
Johnston agrees.
Johnston worked in Washington
to release the funds
to Louisiana,
and now he feels
a responsibility to see
they are used properly.
He calls the amendment
a moral test
and says if Louisiana voters
turn it down.
We've kind of proved to
ourselves and others that
we're
where
we really want to be
a banana republic.
The other amendment
that would have an impact on
most of us would raise the fee
for license
tags from $3 to a maximum of $25.
A spokesman
for the state's Public
Safety Department
says it costs Louisiana
more than it
charges motorists
to process each application.
Until now,
money from oil
has made up the difference.
But now with
with the oil revenues
down, the state
basically in dire
financial trouble,
we can no longer afford
for the state to supplement
the motorist responsibilities.
Drivers here pay
less than any other state
in the country.
Raising the fee
would bring Louisiana into line
with others
and add $57
million to state coffers.
But whether voters
will accept either
amendment is questionable.
Historically, most
have not fared well.
So we're afraid more that that
apathy and confusion will be
the case rather than
that there's any opposition.
We don't know
of any opposition to this
this amendment.
We decided to take
our own informal poll
to see if people
actually knew about either
the eight G money
or the proposed
$25 license tag fee
and see how they'll vote.
As I understand
is the windfall
is going to go 12,
if not all of it.
A large portion of it
is going toward the
education
of our future generations.
What do you think about that?
I think it's a marvelous idea.
You know what
the money would be used for?
No, not really.
No. Are you registered to vote?
No, not. No.
I hadn't really
heard anything about it.
What about raising license
tags from $3 to $25?
I don't know
if the proper place to do
that is in the Constitution,
but since it is in
there now, I guess
they just feel like it's the
right place to raise it.
$25 doesn't
seem that exorbitant,
but how Louisiana voters
want to spend the windfall
and whether they are
willing to raise money
through fees
may indicate voters
have new priorities
and may
send a new message
to the Louisiana legislature.
Joining us now
as we take a closer
look at some of the contest
and issues on tomorrow's
ballot are John Hill, Capitol
correspondent
for Gannett News Service,
and C.J.
Blache, attorney, lobbyists
and political consultant.
Gentlemen, thank you both
for being with us this evening.
Amendment.
Amendment One,
the proposed trust
fund for Education.
No one seems to be against it,
but does that mean it'll pass?
Well,
most people think it will pass.
I've talked to
a number of people
around the state
and everybody's for it.
But some people
are worried about.
A couple of things.
One of them
that is on the New Orleans
ballot. Proposition number one.
Is an unpopular $195
property service fee.
And people are concerned
about voters in New Orleans
where their
turnout is
expected to be pretty high
going in
and voting against amendment
number one and Proposition one
because they'll confuse the two.
So and then other people
are worried about the voters
being the negative
feeling about voters towards
what's been happening in Baton
Rouge, in the capitol.
And and amendment number four,
the auto license,
tax increase, fee increase
in going in
and just voting
against everything.
So there is some danger
that it might fail. Yes.
Well,
you know, at the same time,
you know, we hope that
with the level of support
that's out there
from the various
interest groups,
you have interest groups
that have historically
been adversaries
who are all teaming up
to try and get the message
across of the importance of
a constitutional amendment,
number one.
And hopefully
with the TV commercials
and the other support
that's out there
from the teachers,
from the business community,
from just about everyone
who's interested in education,
I think that this
amendment should pass.
Do you think the voters feel
that if
Amendment One passes,
that will be a cure
all for education?
Do you think there's
that misconception among voters?
Well,
I hope they don't think
that it's a cure all.
I don't think there's
any one
particular measure
could be considered a cure
all for the problems
that we have
in our educational system.
Even though
what the plan is
as it relates to the 8g monies.
I think that it's a step toward
addressing the problems
and I think it will go
a long way, particularly
to addressing the situation in
on higher education level,
which we feel is necessary
at this time.
I don't think anybody
would think it's a cure
all either.
I think people realize
how major
the problems are in education
that no
no single
solution is doing work.
But this is an important
step forward.
Okay, let's
assume the worst and Amendment
One fails.
What would that mean
for education
and the people of Louisiana?
Well,
it's time that
the Louisiana
Association of Business
and Industry
said something
interesting to me.
He said that
if it fails, he's afraid
that a lot of people
will give up in Louisiana.
Already, we've lost.
80,000 people
over the last three years,
and that's a pretty
old statistic.
That's about a 66 months
old statistic.
So it's probably around 100,000.
And a lot. Of people just.
Give up on Louisiana
in general and say.
You know, I'm
just tired of this place.
I want to leave.
And I've heard
a lot of people say that.
And then also that
the money will just disappear.
S.J., don't you think that's
that's inevitability?
Well,
I think that history has shown,
for instance, with the lifeline
that was around before,
when we got a windfall,
it was unfortunately spent.
It should have been held around
for a rainy days
that we're facing right now.
The problem, again, is
if amendment number one fails,
I'm sure that this money
I don't want to use
the word raided,
but would be raided to address
some of the present
budgetary problems
being faced by the state.
I think that the
the prudent approach,
of course, would be to go
ahead and pass
amendment number one
and do the responsible thing
that we truly need
to do in Louisiana
at this time,
particularly in the education
area.
Amendment number four
is another popular proposal.
That's the one that would raise
the auto license tax from
$3 to a maximum of $25.
Are the voters ready
to approve that hike?
I doubt it.
I seriously doubt it. If you
look at all the
polls and people
like Bennett Johnston
say there's.
The there's the revolution.
Has already occurred
in the mind.
I don't think
the people are ready
to hand over that money
to the legislature,
get into this administration,
this governor.
I really don't.
I think they'll reject it.
And I think that's unfortunate
when you really look
at the statistics
as it relates to
the license tax,
we have the lowest
in the nation.
The national average
is somewhere around $25
and I think it's actually
$23 is the national average.
Maybe I'm off by a few dollars,
but the point of the matter
is that
this is something
that we have to pay here
in Louisiana.
We have to get the people
in Louisiana
understanding that
there is no more free ride,
that we have to pick up
some of the cost of government.
And I think
until the voters in Louisiana
start picking up
the cost of government,
we will continue to have
the lack of proper interest
on the way to know.
Spend
$3 would cover
the price of the license tag.
And that $3 was set in 1940.
And an interesting.
Statistic
is the Public Affairs Research
Council says that
that $3, 19 $40, if.
Adjusted for.
Inflation,
which would be nearly $24.
So we're really.
Not raising it. We're just.
Bringing it up
to where it should be, where it.
Should be,
what would defeat
of that proposal?
What kind of message would that
sent to the legislature?
Well, I think that
it would
be particularly
a message that there
that the voters out there
don't feel
that there is a problem
in lack of dollars
for administering the state,
but more a matter of improper
spending of available dollars
and
and there may
be some accuracy to that.
Is there anything North
noteworthy about the other five
proposed amendments?
Only if they fail.
I think
that would be an
interesting message
if they reject everything.
I think that's another
if I were in
public office right
now, I'd be very nervous
if I received that message
from voters.
There's nothing in there
that's significant.
They're all sort of
fine tuning here and there and
and really.
Should pass
housekeeping type measures
in particular.
When you look at the
the lame duck amendment,
I think that's something
that we need to address.
Having that waiting period
all the way from
November to March before
newly elected officials
take office,
I think that does
need to be shortened.
The rest of them
really aren't of much interest
to most voters.
But the bottom line is,
I agree with John and rejection,
but I think would send
a message of
of a lack of confidence
in the legislature.
Let's quickly
take a look at the Senate
and congressional races.
Are there five
major candidates for Senate
or there are two?
Actually,
I think they're probably three.
It's why it's shaking down
here at the end.
It's it's it's
somebody put it there.
It's barely two races, it seems.
Henson Moore running
as high as he can run
at the top.
And it's John Breaux,
the likely candidate
coming in second spot.
And Sammy Nunez,
the president of the Senate
from New Orleans suburban area,
fighting in there
and some people say
might surprise everybody,
including John Breaux
and it's sort of a fight
between John Breaux
and Sammy Nunez,
I think for that second spot
that most people seem
to think John Breaux has it.
How would you characterize
this race?
Well, you know, it's
a very interesting race.
From my perspective,
I think one of the major things
that I'm looking to see
is exactly
what will be the breakdown
of the black vote statewide.
When you consider
the fact
that John Breaux
has been out there
for some time now,
he's had the support
of the of you
establish Democratic machine,
and then you have Sammy Nunez,
who comes out of the legislature
with a close relationship
to the Black Caucus
and many members
of the Black Caucus
supporting Nunez's candidacy.
He has former Mayor Dutch
Morial present Mayor Sidney
Barthelemy in New Orleans area.
And I think the big
question is exactly,
will there be a monolithic black
vote like we usually have
for a particular candidate
endorsed by the
Democratic Party?
I'm waiting to see
just how much fragmentation
may take place
at this point in time.
And I think that
it's it's
a very interesting situation
from our perspective.
Let's quickly
take a look at the
congressional race in District
six with Hudson and Baker.
Any thoughts there?
Horse race
see it as neck and neck
and possibly
the black vote
being a difference.
Both those candidates say
their polls are showing them
they're pulling ahead
and I wouldn't
call that in the least
except that I would favor
both states and Baker.
I'm not forget that
there is a third man out there
and maybe some people
will vote for him
and maybe they'll both Democrats
and Baker will show up
with like 49.8% of this vote,
this other candidate, 2.4%.
And they'll have to do it
all over again.
That'd be a real nightmare,
wouldn't it?
Okay.
District seven
in the Lake Charles
Lafayette area
with Lowenthal, Cain, Hayes,
thoughts there?
What we're hearing
is that Lowenthal Hayes
possibly in a runoff
with James David Cain running
third. The
question is, of course, after
in a runoff,
what would happen at that point
is anybody's guess.
That's a real.
Interesting race
because you have
two legislators in there, both
who voted for those unpopular.
Taxes
and one member of the Edwards
administration in there.
That's
that is an interesting race.
Finally, district eight,
where the seat now
held by Cathy Long.
Boy, that's a wide open win.
Who knows?
That's right.
Again,
another another
questionable race.
I'm hearing that
Faye Williams, who is
a female black
candidate in the race,
is leading in the polls
in the low twenties.
And then you have
a grouping of folk like,
uh, Severio and Goudeau and, uh,
who's the third guy?
Holloway,
running in the high teens.
The question is, right now,
it appears
who will make the runoff
against Faye Williams?
Okay. Our time is just about up.
Thank you both
for sharing your thoughts
with us and to you, our viewers.
We hope that we have been able
to shed some light
on the candidates and issues
at the state level.
There are also
a number of contests
and issues at the local level.
Be sure to check them out.
And by all means, vote
next week on the season
premiere of Louisiana,
the State We're In, which airs
in the same timeslot.
We'll have a wrap
up of tomorrow's election.
We'll see you then.
Bye bye.