Qualifying Bringing Races into Focus

The Die Is Cast For Most Races During the Week Of Qualifications

Country Living in the City by Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — Qualifying for state and parish offices will continue until 5 p.m. today at the Secretary of State’s office and at Clerks of Court offices across the state.

State Senate District 6.  So far, there have been few surprises in the various races involving Central.  Perhaps the biggest news has been the decision by Central resident Mike Mannino to challenge State Rep. Bodi White who appeared to be unopposed for the vacancy in State Senate District 6.

This seat, which is currently held by Sen. Julie Quinn of Jefferson Parish, is one of those districts which the Orleans area lost as a result of falling population after Katrina.  The Florida Parishes gained the seat, and the district lines were pushed around quite a bit during the reapportionment process.

The district looks like a giant horseshoe hanging on the barn wall.  The left side of the horseshoe begins at the southeast corner of East Baton Rouge Parish where Bayou Manchac connects to the Amite River.  It includes the area around Woodlawn High School and Parkview Baptist.  It then heads north and takes in Shenandoah and Flannery Road.  Most of Central is in the district as is Baywood but not Pride.  The top of the horseshoe cuts east across the southern part of St. Helena Parish and picks up one precinct of Livingston.  Then the right side of the horseshoe slopes down Tangipahoa Parish, taking in Amite, parts of Hammond, and all of Ponchatoula.  The right side of the horseshoe ends at Middendorf’s at Manchac, a good place to complete a day’s campaigning.

This far-flung, highly diverse district is nevertheless overwhelmingly white and conservative.

A majority of the district is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the largest portion of East Baton Rouge Parish is centered in Central, although Central itself is less than one-fourth of the district.

Rep. White’s House district is mostly in Livingston Parish.  He currently represents only about 10 percent of the new Senate district.

Both White and Mannino are well known in Central.  White has represented the north part of Central for the past eight years in the House, and Mannino got known and did well in his race for the Central City Council last year.

The likelihood is that the two candidates will split Central.  The real challenge will be how to get their message to diverse areas such as Southeast Baton Rouge, St. Helena, and the various parts of Tangipahoa.  The candidates have a lot to do and very little time to do it.

House District 64. In the battle for Rep. Bodi White’s House seat, District 64, two candidates are running: Valarie Hodges and Barry Elkins.  Valarie Hodges is a native of Central and the first cousin to former Rep. Donald Ray Kennard.  Her ties to Central run deep.  She now resides in the Watson area, where most of the votes in the district are located.  Barry Elkins is an attorney who lives in Greenwell Springs.  He is developing an organization in the district.  Both candidates have a lot of work to do to get known before Oct. 22.

Senate District 13. Sen. Dale Erdey has a surprise opponent in Derek Babcock, a Livingston businessman.  Dale Erdey’s race appears to be tied to larger issues such as control of the Senate.  How this will unfold is difficult to predict.

No Opposition. Some incumbents from Central have no opposition.  If that holds up, congratulations to Rep. Clif Richardson, Assessor Brian Wilson, and Clerk of Court Doug Welborn.

Photo: Rep. Clif and Dianne Richardson at qualifying at the Clerk of Court’s office Tuesday.  Photo by Jolice Provost of Central City News