State Senate Dist. 13

Long-time legislator Sen. Dale Erdey will face perhaps his biggest reelection challenge Oct. 24 against insurance executive Derek Babcock.  Erdey has served for 16 years — eight as a state representative and eight as a state senator.  He handily defeated Babcock four years ago.  However, Derek Babcock has a bigger, more formidable campaign this year than four years ago.  Last week, Louisiana Association of Business Industry endorsed Babcock, a serious blow to Erdey.  The Tea Party of Louisiana and former Rep. Tony Perkins also endorsed Babcock.  Both candidates are running as conservatives.  One of the centerpieces of Babcock’s campaign is his promise to build a new bridge by extending Hooper Road from Central across the Amite to Watson.  Babcock says Erdey has failed to produce the bridge after 16 years on the House and Senate Transporation Committees.

In Central, only Pcts. 3-6 and 3-14 get to vote in Senate District 13. Coincidentally, those precincts are on either side of the intersection of Hooper and Greenwell Springs roads at the site of the proposed bridge.