Two Members of Louisiana House Seek Senate Seat Held by Sen. White

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge

Two incumbent members of the Louisiana House of Representatives are running for State Senate District No. 6, which includes Central, in the Oct. 14 primary — Rep. Barry Ivey, who has represented Central in the House since 2013, and Rep. Rick Edmonds, who has represented the St. George area in the House since 2015.

The two are vying to succeed Sen. Bodi White, who is term limited.

The Senate district begins in the southeast portion of East Baton Rouge Parish, continues to Central, then to St. Helena Parish, and finally to the eastern edge of Livingston Parish.

Both Ivey and Edmonds have conservative voting records.

Although the district is spread over three parishes, most of the voting population is found in the St. George area and in Central.

Ivey is better known in Central, and Edmonds is better known in St. George. St. George has significantly more of the district than Central.

Edmonds got on early start on the race and appears to have made inroads with Central voters. He is endorsed by the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish. Outgoing Sen. Bodi White has also endorsed Edmonds.

Rep. Edmonds is a retired Baptist pastor who has worked with the Louisiana Family Forum in recent years. He is chairman of the House Committee on Municipal & Parochial Affairs and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Ivey is a businessman.  He is president of Pinnacle Precision Services.  He is considered an independent Republican who sometimes crosses the aisle.

Both candidates are family men.

One interesting thing they have in common is that fact that each have a family member running for their House seat.  Barry Ivey’s twin brother Brandon is running to replace him from House District 65.

Rick Edmonds’ son Richie is running to replace him from House District 66.