HomeWebster News MPH goes one-on-one with candidates for State Representative
MPH goes one-on-one with candidates for State Representative
Written by Press-Herald Staff
Tuesday, 09 October 2007
Webster Parish will make a decision on October 20 on its representation in the Louisiana House.
Incumbent Jean Doerge was elected to the House in a special election in 1998 to fill the seat vacated by the death of her husband Everett, who was elected to the District 10 seat in the 1991.
Ronnie Broughton
Jean Doerge
Terrell Mendenhall
Two candidates have stepped up to oppose Doerge — Webster Parish School Board President Ronnie Broughton and Cullen Town Alderman Terrell Mendenhall.
In anticipation of the election, the Minden Press-Herald identified key issues in the race and sent each candidate a list of 10 questions for their answers.
It is our hope that their responses provide the public better knowledge of the three candidates and their plans for keeping Webster Parish on the map in Baton Rouge.
As follows are the candidates responses to the newspaper’s series of questions.
One Briefly explain your platform. BROUGHTON: Conservative principles built this country strong enough to withstand liberal politicians. Years of bad politics have produced bad policy and stifled opportunity and growth for our hard working families. The world does not revolve around Baton Rouge and New Orleans. It is time for a change.
DOERGE: To run the business of our state in an ethical and fiscally responsible manner and to make sure the state services for the residents of my district are met by our state government and that our citizens get the opportunity to be a full partners in the growth of our state. Work to improve education, improve health care, and provide adequate funding for infrastructure, to stimulate economic growth and to make sure the needs of the elderly, children and disadvantage of the state are protected equally as those of all other citizens. To make sure our government works for us and to help make Louisiana a great place to live.
MENDENHALL: My platform reflects the things I see that will benefit the public or the people I may represent. I believe that now is the time to effect change in the lives of the people in Webster Parish. If elected, equal and affordable healthcare for all citizens will be a number one priority. I will work hard to make suitable educational opportunities a mandatory requirement for life preparations, making sure that all schools in Webster Parish get the tools they need to meet the needs of our young people and help them become productive law abiding citizens. I will work even harder for teachers to get the respect and pay they have earned and deserve. Job availability means a lot to me, along with the implementations of an annual minimum wage increase life expense accommodation. I believe that strong family units set the pace for community growth. I will work hard to strengthen our families and encourage Table Talk Communications.
Two Why do you want to hold this office? BROUGHTON: If we keep going in the same direction, we will soon get there. I want to serve all the people of Webster Parish and work to create the conditions that will allow all our children to receive a good education and all our young adults to have the opportunity for a quality job. We must not go a third decade with our population declining.
DOERGE: To do those things I mentioned in the platform. To complete several projects that I have worked to complete and as I approach my final term, I can legally serve, I want the opportunity to finish these projects for the citizens of Webster Parish.
MENDENHALL: As a child, I dreamed of making a difference. I started at any early age. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was my mentor. I wanted to be just like him. When I see the pain and suffering of a senior citizen, a family in trouble, a child acting out his or her aggressions, or a community with minimum or little growth stagnated by the lack of funding or poor representation. I don't see color or race or creed, I see a need, and I want to do whatever I can to improve those conditions and I want to make the world a better place to live. My time is now.
Three What separates you from your opponents? In other words, why should a voter cast a ballot for you rather than one of the other two candidates vying for this office? BROUGHTON: I am the only candidate with enough real world business experience to help make the right decisions for our economy. We must make Webster Parish competitive for the 21st century. I have the proven ability to work with people with other ideas and get things done for Webster Parish. Our schools will soon be newer and better, our teachers are in the top five in the state in salaries, and our facilities will be better maintained because of recurrent funding. The job ahead for our state is difficult and will require help from our federal delegation. I am the only candidate that has a strong working relationship with the majority of our federal delegation and their staffs. Webster Parish needs those relationships to begin to prosper and finally grow beyond 40,000 people where we have been mired since 1990. The right choices we make today make it better for those who follow us.
DOERGE: Experience, seniority, education and being a friend to and champion for local citizens.
MENDENHALL: I have the initiative and strong desire which motivates me with a drive to want to meet the needs of the people. I believe in early bird good works. Now is the time and not later. I am a good listener and I am a strong believer that actions speak louder than words. The fact that I am a young man allows me to see things differently and it gives me a brand new perspective. All of the above reasons great reasons why a voter should vote for me. A vote for me is a small step for Terrell Mendenhall but a giant step for Webster Parish.
Four What is the single biggest issue facing the state? How will you assist in rectifying the problem? BROUGHTON: Out-migration and loss of population is the biggest problem facing Louisiana over the next decade. We are the only state in the southern region that has lost population since 2000, and then came the storms. The causes of out-migration revolve around bad policy from Baton Rouge that has created poor economic conditions especially for small businesses that create over 90% of new jobs in America. I will support all efforts that (1) create recurring funding for our road and highway needs, (2) reduce business taxes to a competitive level with our regional neighbors,(3) eliminate the "Stelly Tax" that is very harmful to 50% of our families, (4) create a strong ethics package that is second to none, (5)continue to reform education beginning with pre-k to our high schools to our technical schools to our universities and all with work force development and our children's education as the agenda and (6) reform our health care delivery system to one that the money follows the patient instead of the facility and features regional clinics that can partner with public, private, clinics, hospitals, and all with the ability to accept insurance payments. The 1930's charity system is no longer working.
DOERGE: Making sure the Government of Louisiana is operated in a fiscally responsible manner while still providing the necessary services. Listening to the concerns or my constituents and making sure these concerns are addressed and that spending is placed on those important issues with the overall goal of sound management of our tax dollars.
MENDENHALL: Healthcare. I will dedicate my time to explore ways to help make healthcare more affordable for our senior citizens, our children and all of our citizens in need of assistance, and make quality health care a number one priority.
Five How can Louisiana improve its image in the eyes of other states? BROUGHTON: Louisiana image can be improved in the eyes of other states by enacting a very strong ethics package that prevents the corruption that seems to abound in our state. I do not know how much worse we are than other states but I know the perception is we are the worst. If that is the perception we can no longer pretend we don't have a problem because others believe we do. We can enact a package with real oversight and real powers and begin a real change in that perception.
DOERGE: We can improve our image by providing the necessary tools to improve the lives of our citizens and promoting Louisiana as a place people will want to come and live. Improved lives of our citizens are our best advertisement.
MENDENHALL: Take care of her people - provide a better healthcare system, increase employment, make family number one, respect our teachers and the workers who make a difference in our lives of our children, implement a reward system, activate an annual minimum wage life expense accommodations and promote the three R's )Re-instill, Restore and Re-enforce.
Six What steps should be taken to improve the state education system? BROUGHTON: The fourth "R" in education is reform and we must find more and more ways to reform the way we deliver education to our students. One size fits all methods can't work in today's market place. Dual track high schools, voluntary pre-k for all at risk children, work force specific training, music and art courses along with extra curricula activities can all contribute to the lowering of the nations worst drop out rate and teach our children not only how to make a living but how to live. All of our educational efforts must be linked to insure we have the competitive work force needed in this modern economic environment.
DOERGE: To assure the opportunity for each child in Louisiana to receive a quality education that prepares them for life and career. Protect and increase the funding, when a need occurs, into the classroom to assure quality teaching and teachers, redesign of curriculums and programs to meet the needs of the 21st Century economy. To make sure that education is focused on the students and their education.
MENDENHALL: Include programs or classes with life preparational skills to better educate or improve the life quality of those students who choose not to go to college. When a student graduates, he or she should be ready to enter the work force with positive attitudes and capabilities to be a productive law abiding citizen.
Seven How will you assist the efforts to turn Camp Minden into an industrial epicenter? BROUGHTON: I am concerned that Camp Minden may become a domain of state bureaucrats instead of the job making plum as was envisioned by everyone. I will work very hard with the folks that are making real efforts to bring new jobs that produce economic benefits, not just consume tax dollars. We can not let this opportunity get by us and I think it will need additional leadership and vision to make Camp Minden a job epicenter.
DOERGE: Camp Minden can become a mega industrial park with improvement in its infrastructure and acreage set aside for the development of such a park. Partnering with the National Guard can only enhance its ability to attract industry. I shall continue to introduce legislation, if necessary, and seek funding to move this development forward. With I-69 schedule to come near Camp Minden, increases its ability to attract industry to this site.
MENDENHALL: First, I will have to listen to the Camp's administrators and find out what their plans are and what I can do to help as their State Representative. From that point, I will lobby on the Camp's behalf to secure funding and support for a well deserved program.
Eight Who are you supporting in the election for Louisiana governor and for president in 2008 and why? BROUGHTON: I am supporting Bobby Jindal for governor, as I did in 2003. I am certain he has the ideas and the skills to make the real changes that are desperately needed in our state. He recognizes, as I do, that Louisiana should not be at the bottom of almost every good category and at the top of many bad ones. We have too many resources and abilities to always be last. I have not been persuaded by any of the presidential candidates thus far but I always support conservative candidates who demonstrate the core values of faith, family, and life.
DOERGE: No endorsement because my race for State Representative is my top priority in the upcoming election. I do not have a problem working with individuals in fair and equal bases; therefore, I know that I can continue to work with whoever our next governor will be. It's much too early for a choice for 2008. Voting should be about the person running and their qualifications, not about party.
MENDENHALL: Casting a vote for either is a private and personal choice. Therefore, in my best interest and in the interest of the nation's privacy act, I honestly think that my choices should be kept private and expose only behind the curtains at the poles.
Nine How have term limits, positively or negatively, affected the legislature? BROUGHTON: I believe it is yet to be seen how term limits affects the legislature in how it decides policy. I do know some legislators "play politics". Politics is not a game it is about real decisions that affect real people, you and me. I am hopeful that term limits will produce a positive effect in our state and parish but will do so only if folks believe change is necessary to make our state better. I do not agree with those that say experience is needed to offset the lack of experience available because of term limits. I look at the results of that experience and know we can't afford much more of the same.
DOERGE: Term limits will negatively affect the legislature because of the individual legislator experience that will be lost.
MENDENHALL: Term limits can have both negative and positive effects. A representative who represents his or her people well ended term effects not only the public, but also affects the legislative body in its effectiveness to initiate laws with the best interest of all concerned, including the affairs of the people whose well being had been so entrusted in the hands of the representative they so confidently place their trust. On the other hand, a representative who has never had the best interest of the people he or she represents at heart has no right to continue to misrepresent.
Ten What is your vision for Webster Parish in the next 20 years and how will you go about aiding in the realization of that vision? BROUGHTON: My vision for Webster Parish is we have succeeded in creating the conditions that all of our children have the quality education that teaches them how to make a living and how to live and our young adults have the opportunity for a high paying job and the promise of a Louisiana tomorrow if they choose. I will consistently offer legislation and support legislation that cuts taxes, which has proven will grow the economy, and legislation that brings more tax revenue back to our parish such as removing the cap on severance taxes so Webster Parish will get 20% of that revenue like 35 other parishes do, and legislation that begins to address our roads, health care, work force development, ethics and education. I am the only candidate that can that can help this vision become a reality.
DOERGE: USHwy371 with improvements (preferable four-laning) throughout the parish which will begin within the year with passing lanes between Cullen and Sarepta; Northwest Technical College with a significant increase in enrollment, all our schools in the parish recognized as top performing schools with the number of dropouts decreased significantly; Camp Minden with a larger National Guard operation with the industrial section full to capacity; adequate health care for our citizens and Lake Bistineau free of Sylvania. Working with local and state officials, by passing necessary legislation and working for funding where it is needed.
MENDENHALL: My vision is that Webster parish will become a model parish for all of Louisiana and the nation. As Webster Parish State Representative, I will make sure that we will have a number one healthcare system in place. I will provide helping hands programs for families and seek ways for our young people to become productive law abiding citizens with the hope and assurance of getting better paying jobs, because I truly believe that big businesses will find this most attractive. I will take care of Webster parish. Now is the time for a brighter tomorrow. Views: 1900
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