Recent events in Iberia Parish Politics tell the tales of two different stories.

On one hand, you have District 48 State Representative Beau Beaullieu and District 22 State Senator Blake Miguez leading the charge on voter and election integrity for the State of Louisiana. The two legislators authored and passed 4 bills protecting citizens’ rights and maintaining fair elections.

On the other hand, the Iberia Parish Council was swayed by a calvary of political figures pushing for a special Early Voting Location to be created in Jeanerette.

Summary 117 introduced by Iberia Parish Councilwoman Lady Fontenette Brown, made the motion to pay $10,000 from the Iberia Parish General Fund in order to open a second early voting location to be located on the far eastern side of Iberia Parish.

Currently, all Iberia Parish voters can vote at the Iberia Parish Courthouse, a central point from anywhere in the parish. Bottom line, all voters in Iberia Parish had equal and fair opportunities to vote. Now, Jeanerette residents will be provided greater access to the ballot than the Iberia Parish residents in Lydia, Loreauville, Rynella, Coteau, and Delcambre, who will have to help foot the bill.

It cuts even deeper for those who want their government to be fiscally responsible. This vote comes only moments before the Iberia Parish Council approved taking more money from residents, to fund the General Fund. The Iberia Parish Council approved keeping the milage rate the same, but based on higher assessed property values. On the surface it looks like nice, but in reality, you will be paying more in taxes. Despite a late attempt by newly elected Council Member Brock Pellerin, the Iberia Parish Council passed what can only be described as, a slight of hand.

The mission of good governance should always be to provide for “the greatest good, for the greatest number.” This resolution misses that mark and interjects its own agenda. The party politics is evident. One only has to be aware of two things, the fact that the area chosen has the highest concentration of democrat voters in the parish (at 63% based on statistics from the Louisiana Secretary of State) and that the original verbiage called for this location specifically for the 2024 Presidential Election.

“The Iberia Parish Republican Party Executive Committee believes that the Constitution and the Electoral Code provides for all registered voters to have equal access to voting regardless of a resident’s location, political party or financial resources. We wish to express our profound disappointment in our Parish Council Members who voted to approve this measure, especially those who tout their supposed conservative principles and identify themselves as Republicans. Contrarily, the RPEC wishes to express their gratitude and support to those Iberia Parish Council Members who saw through this charade and voted to protect Iberia Parish registered voters rights and pocket books.

Sincerely,

The Iberia Parish Republican Party Executive Committee

Ryan Boudoin, Chairman

Voted In Favor of NO. 117:

District 1. Tommy Pollard Sr.

District 2. Michael R. Landry

District 4. Loyd Brown

District 5. Warren Gachassin, Jr.

District 8. James Trahan

District 9. Scott Ransonet

District 12. Lady Fontenette Brown

District 14. Chad Maturin

Voted in Opposition of NO. 117:

District 6. Natalie Broussard

District 7. Dustin Suire

District 10. Brock Pellerin

District 13. Caymen Crappell

Absent:

District 3. Marcus “Bruce” Broussard

District 11. Brian P. Napier