We urge our readers to use these endorsements as a guide to assist you in making your decisions in the upcoming election. We urge you to take time to conduct their own research into the backgrounds, records and positions of each candidate before making your final decision.
POLITICAL RACES
U.S. Senate Race
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu
U.S. 2nd Congressional District
U.S. Rep Cedric Richmond
Criminal District Court Section D
No Endorsement
Criminal District Court Section G
Paul Sens or Byron Williams
Civil District Court Section E
Lloyd Medley or Nakisha Ervin-Knott
Civil District Court Section F
Chris Bruno
Civil District Court Domestic Section 1
Bernadette D’Souza
Civil District Court Domestic Section 2
Monique Barial
Juvenile Court Section E
Ernest Charbonnet or Desiree Cook-Calvin or Yolanda King
The New Orleans Tribune Has Reviewed Select Constitutional Amendments along with Ballot Items and Charter Change Proposals for New Orleans and Offers the Following Recommendations
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
CA NO. 1 Medical
Assistance Trust Fund
This amendment would protect the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust and set a baseline compensation rate for nursing homes and certain other healthcare providers that pay a provider fee
AGAINST
CA NO. 2 Hospital
Stabilization Fund
This amendment allows an assessment on hospitals to draw down more deferral Medicaid dollars for the institutions and create a Hospital Stabilization Fund
AGAINST
CA NO. 3 Tax Sale
This constitutional amendment would allow local governments to hire private collection firms to assist collect delinquent taxes and assist in tax sale process.
AGAINST
CA NO. 4 Investment of Public Funds
This amendment would allow the state treasure to invest public funds into a Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Bank, in the event such a bank is created
AGAINST
CA NO. 5 Remove Mandatory Retirement Age of Judges
The amendment would eliminate the mandatory retirement age, which is 70, for judges.
AGAINST
CA NO. 6 Fire and Police Protection Orleans Parish
This amendment would raise the Orleans Parish special millage caps for police and fire protection from five mils to 10 mils, giving the New Orleans City Council the authority to levy additional mils with voter approval.
AGAINST
CA NO. 7 Disabled Veterans
This amendment would give a bonus homestead exemption to veterans rated with 100 percent employability in parishes where a similar tax break has been approved by voters.
FOR
CA NO. 8 Artificial Reef Development Fund
This amendment would establish the Artificial Reef Development Fund in the Constitution and prohibit the use of its money for purposes other than those outlined in the amendment.
AGAINST
CA NO. 9 – Special Assessment Level – Disabled
This amendment would eliminate the requirement that homeowners under the age of 65 who are permanently disabled must certify every year that there income meets the threshold for an assessment freeze.
FOR
CA NO. 10 Redemption Period, Abandoned Property
This amendment would require parishes (except for Orleans, where the redemption period is already 18 months) to shorten the redemption period for vacant blighted or abandoned property sold at tax sale from three years to 18 months after the sale has been recorded.
AGAINST
CA NO. 11 Executive Branch Departments
This amendment would allow the state government to increase its number of executive departments from 20 to 21, effectively creating the Department of Elderly Affairs.
FOR
CA NO. 12 Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
This amendment would change the membership of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to require that two at-large members come from parishes north of the line created by Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline and Pointe Coupee parishes
AGAINST
CA NO. 13 Lower Ninth Ward Property Sale
This amendment would create an exemption allowing the sale of property in the Lower Ninth Ward at a substantially lower rate than fair market value. Companion legislation would require the city to sell all of the vacant lots acquired through the Road Home program by January 1, 2015.
AGAINST
CA NO. 14 Tax Rebates Incentives and Abatements
This amendment would prohibit the introduction of legislation related to tax rebates, tax incentives or tax abatements in even-numbered years when the Legislature holds a general session and specifically allow such legislation in odd-numbered years during fiscal sessions.
FOR
ORLEANS PARISH PROPOSITIONS
PW Law Enf. Dist. – 2.9 Mills – Sheriff – 10 Yrs.
Shall the Law Enforcement District of the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana (the “District”), levy a special tax of not exceeding 2.9 mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $9,073,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2015 and ending with the year 2024, with said millage levied each year to be reduced by the millage rate levied that year for the District’s currently outstanding General Obligation Bonds, for the purpose of providing additional funding for the District and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, including the operation, maintenance and upkeep of jails and related facilities?
YES
PW HRC CA NO. Sec. 3 – CC – Sec. 3-102 & 4-201
Effective June 1, 2018, this proposition will change the inauguration date for New Orleans mayor and City Council members to second Monday in January next following their election except that a councilmember elected to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
YES
PW HRC CA NO. Sec. 6 – CC – Sec. 6-308(1) & 6-308(5)(b) (Select 1)
This proposition will amend the City Charter with regard to contracts for professional services by requiring use of a three-person selection committee composed of city government employees with expertise in the contract area; allowing the Mayor to authorize exceptions to that process in cases of emergencies that pose a threat to public health, safety, and welfare, as authorized by law; requiring that the City establish, maintain a disadvantaged business enterprises program; and designating the Chief Administrative Officer instead of the Director of Finance to sign such contracts on the City’s behalf in the mayor’s absence
NO
