Two Vie for Seat on Central School Board

Two Central residents who serve on important committees of the Central Community School System have qualified to run in a Special Election to fill the unexpired term of Will Easley on the Central School Board from District 4.  Both are Republicans in the heavily-conservative district, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 3 to 1.

Baton Rouge CPA Phillip J. Graham serves on the Finance Committee, while Central City News advertising director Kim Powers serves on the Facilities Committee.

Mr. Graham was appointed to the Central School Board in February 2021. In May 2021, he was the author of rolling forward property taxes without a vote of the people.  That resulted in a $750,000 a year property tax increase, or $7.5 million over the next 10 years.  It was the first time the Central School Board has raised property taxes without a vote of the people since the Central school system was formed in January 2007.  The higher property taxes will show up on property owners’ tax bills in December 2021.

Former Central School Board member Will Easley served on the Central School Board since its formation.  He was known as a fiscal hawk who fought to hold down spending and unnecessary tax increases.  For the past 14 years, Mr. Easley spoke at school board meetings and in public to make sure the Central School Board never raised property taxes without a vote of the people.  However, after Mr. Easley resigned in January of this year, Mr. Graham replaced him and took a different approach, ultimately convincing the school board to change its long-standing policy.

Ms. Powers, who opposed rolling property taxes forward, said she opposes any effort to increase property taxes without a vote of the people.  “It’s important to realize that property tax collections by the Central Community School System have been increasing every year based on normal growth.  There was no need for a tax increase, and if there were a need, it should be decided by the voters of Central, not the school board.”

Mr. Graham, whose office is located at 7732 Goodwood Blvd. in Baton Rouge, has no prior political experience.  In December 2020, Ms. Powers was elected to the Republican State Central Committee from a district that includes Central, Pride, and parts of St. Helena and Livingston parishes.  She is a strong supporter of President Trump and worked for his reelection.

Mr. Graham has served for several years on the Central School Board’s Finance Committee, where board members say his experience as a CPA has come in handy.  Ms. Powers serves on the Facilities Committee, which planned the $23 million renovation plan for Central High School, the improvements to Wildcat Stadium including the artificial turf, the Central school system’s new administration building, and improvements to Tanglewood Elementary School.

Ms. Powers has won statewide recognition from the Louisiana Press Association with 1st Place Awards for Best Featuring Writing, Best Feature Photography, and Best News Video.

She said her main goal is to represent parents on the Central School Board.  She said, “No member of the Central School Board has children in the system, and it is important that our perspective be represented.”  Ms. Powers has 12- and 13-year-old girls who attended Central schools since kindergarten and the 1st grade respectively.

Ms. Powers said she will work to have textbooks in Central schools that reflect traditional values, the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights.  She opposes using materials that support Critical Race Theory.

She said masks should be optional for students and faculty in Central schools this fall. Mr. Graham supported mandatory masks.