Rep. Valarie Hodges Endorses Kim Powers

In a letter to her constituents this week, State Rep. Valarie Hodges (R-Central) has endorsed Kimberly Powers for Central School Board, District 4 in a special election coming up on Saturday, Nov. 13. Rep. Hodges said:

“Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Louisiana House of Representatives the past 10 years!  All these years, I have been fighting for Christian values in state government and especially in our public schools.  The battle has intensified the past two years as the current President and Governor have exceeded their authority under the Constitution and tried to take away so many of our rights and liberties.”

“Today, everything we value is at stake, and we need men and women in government who will stand strong and fight for traditional values.  I’m always on the lookout for real leaders who are unafraid — leaders who can be counted on to stand for God and Country, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, free enterprise, lower taxes, and the rule of law — leaders who can’t be bought off, bullied, or silenced!”

“That’s why I am so excited that my friend Kim Powers is running for the Central School Board from District 4 in the special election on Saturday, Nov. 13.  I know Kim personally.  Kim stands for the same principles I do, and she is a fearless leader who is willing to stand against the powerful and make our voices heard!  Here are examples:

NO TAX INCREASES WITHOUT A VOTE OF PEOPLE

“•Kim has spoken strongly against the Central School Board rolling property taxes forward without a vote of the people!  This was a $3.75 million tax increase that takes effect Jan. 1.  Her opponent led the fight to raise property taxes without a vote of the people!  I was shocked!  Kim is clear: No tax increase without a vote of the people!”

“•In July, Kim also spoke out strongly at the BREC Board of Commissioners meeting against BREC rolling property taxes forward without a vote of the people!  This was a $24 million tax increase parishwide!”

“While others were silent and went along, Kim Powers has been representing us — even before being elected!”

OPPOSITION TO ILLEGAL MASK MANDATES

“• Kim has helped lead the fight against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ illegal mask mandates.  She helped organize hundreds of parents who attended the Louisiana Board of Elementary & Secondary Education meeting in August.  As a result, BESE failed to adopt a mask mandate.  Kim also spoke and organized scores of parents to speak against mask mandates for students at the Central School Board in late August.  The Central School Board said they will enforce the Governor’s mask mandate, because it is “the law”!  Well, it’s not the law! In fact, Attorney General Jeff Landry, the state’s chief legal advisor, has confirmed that JBE has no authority to mandate masks in two AG opinions!”  

“Kim’s opponent has supported masking students in Central schools 8 hours a day!  When you attend Wildcat Stadium and see students packed in together with no masks, it is clear what a fraud it is to require children to wear masks throughout the school day.  Students are not vulnerable to Covid except in very rare cases!”

OPPOSITION TO ILLEGAL VACCINE MANDATES

“• Kim has also been leading the fight against illegal vaccine mandates.  We know that these mandates are destroying our health care system and our supply chain, resulting in shortages, including in our supermarkets.  Such dictatorial “mandates” are a fundamental attack on our rights as Americans.  In August, when the Central School Board was considering changes to the school system’s Employee Handbook, Kim Powers proposed amendments to guarantee that no teacher or employee of the Central Community School Board could be terminated or disciplined for refusing to take a Covid vaccine.  The School Board heard Kim speak and debated the proposal.  However, they declined to give Central school employees even this basic protection!  Kim’s opponent refused to do a thing to pass this amendment to the Employee Handbook and protect our teachers from mandatory vaccines!”

“The time for public officials to sit quietly on the sidelines and allow our rights to be trampled is over!  We need leaders who will speak out strongly and make a difference.”

IMPROVEMENTS TO WILDCAT STADIUM, SCHOOLS

“Over the past two and a half years, Kim Powers has served as the Community Member of the Central School Board’s Facilities Improvement Committee.  In that capacity, Kim has been part of planning some of the most important improvements in the history of the Central school system.  These include the improvements to Wildcat Stadium, including artificial turf; the complete renovation of Central High School; the renovation of Tanglewood Elementary, and the new Central Schools Administration building.  These facilities will make a big difference for our children for generations to come.  Many thanks are due to Kim and the other members of the Facilities Committee!”

“Kim said she has high regard for the members of the Central School Board. However, she said that, if elected, she will push change some of the ways the board operates.  She said all meetings should be well publicized and open to the public.  Too often, she said, the real meeting is “the meeting before the meeting,” and these are not well publicized.” 

“Kim Powers is a graduate of Slidell High School and Delgado College.  Her step father, Alvin Singletary, served as Mayor of Slidell and was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1973 that wrote the current Louisiana Constitution.  If elected, Kim will be the only parent of school age children to serve on the current Central School Board.  Kim is Advertising Manager of the Central City News, and has played a key role in the Central City News being named Louisiana’s “Newspaper of the Year”.  Kim will be a big help to me on education issues.  I really need some strong allies on our school boards!  The election is Nov. 13th. Early voting is Oct. 30-Nov. 6 at the Central Library!  Please vote early!

“Please join me in supporting Kim Powers for Central School Board from District 4!”

“Rep. Valarie Hodges (R-Central and Watson)”