If elected Senator to represent District 22 how do you feel about:

Reducing taxes?

I have worked on and will continue to work on reducing taxes.  I voted and supported Senator Shaw on the Stelly Tax repeal that saved our state tax payers 300 million dollars annually.  I voted against a tax increase on cigarettes. I was proud to lead the charge on the elimination of a property tax in Hospital Service District #2 in St. Martin Parish.  

Supporting offshore drilling and the offshore drilling moratorium’s impact on the state?

The presidential moratorium will cost approximately $2.1 billion in economic loss to the Gulf States ($2.7 billion nationally), with some $487 millions to be expected in lost wages to employees ($707 million nationally) and in the neighborhood of eight-thousand lost jobs (12 thousand nationally), many in human capital intensive professional career fields.

I will continue to work with our congressional delegation, state leadership, local officials and the industry to bring back regulatory common sense as it relates to our offshore drilling industry.  We must restore oil and gas drilling in the gulf of Mexico We cannot afford to stand still on this issue.  This next session I will introduce legislation to create Highway 90 Workers Commission to focus on national importance of this transportation rouge.

Economic development in the district?

The Acadiana Regional Airport has been recognized recently by the Louisiana State Department of Economic Development as one of the major economic engines of the region. What will you do as senator to ensure that this local resource reaches its potential?

We must make sure that this prized asset of District 22 is truly being promoted, marketed and leveraged at a state level by The Department of Economic Development not only in Louisiana but worldwide.  We are in a global economic market with specific criteria for business.  I will work with our local officials to ensure that all Industry Requests for Proposals that are submitted on a state level filter back down to Acadiana Regional Airport when it is in our best interests.

What development do you envision seeing in the recently created TIF districts in Iberia Parish? What in your opinion needs to be done to capture the greatest potential there?

I envision continued commercial and industrial development in this district.  We must develop mutually beneficial economic partnerships with land owners and developers to attract new business opportunities.  To ensure that success that entire district must be regulatory friendly from all facets of government both on a state and local venue we must out recruit our neighboring Districts.  The key to reaching our potential in the TIF district also hinges on creating financing partnerships with our local banks and potential investors.  It is imperative that we create a one stop shop that sets us apart from our competition.

How will you ensure that the interests of both St. Martin and Iberia parishes are represented at the state level?

I will continue to reach out to everyone for the betterment of all.  I am a consensus builder. As a State Representative I have worked cooperatively with everyone.  As your next State Senator I plan to offer my leadership skills to prioritize our interests as a district and unite our legislative delegation to work as a team for our success.