Central Area to Help Elect Two Judges To District Bench from Northern Parish

 Before qualifying began, political pundits said the election of two new District Court judges from the northern district of the parish (Baker, Central, and Zachary) would go strictly down racial lines, creating a virtual dead heat that could go either way.

Now that qualifying is closed and candidates are out there campaigning, something rather unexpected is happening. Candidates are reaching out very boldly to voters of another race or party.

One day recently, Beau Brock, the Republican candidate in Division A, was walking predominantly African American neighborhoods in Baker, and Metro Councilman Trae Welch, the Republican running for Division L, was doing the same thing in Zachary.

Meanwhile, Baton Rouge City Court Judge Tarvald Smith, the Democratic candidate in Division A, is moving around Central, meeting people.

A ride around Central shows signs for Ron Johnson, a Democratic candidate in Division L, in unexpected places. He’s out working.

It’s a good thing. Republicans might meet some good people and learn a thing or two in Baker, and Democrat candidates might do the same thing in Central.

The Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge Parish held a Candidates Forum for the five candidates running for those two judgeships. The QR Code for the video of the meeting is below. It’s worth watching.

The five candidates presented themselves well. They are all very bright, well spoken, and understand the law.

Things came apart a bit when Judge Tarvald Smith said that we must do something about “mass incarceration.” Your reporter challenged that statement, saying that he had been around for many decades and had never heard of such a thing around here, that the Constitution was still in effect and the courts were functioning. The judge backtracked a bit, and all the candidates had their say, illustrating to some degree the “racial divide” that we sometimes see on matters of justice.  The election is Oct. 12.