John Vance Endorsed for City Council

The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish has endorsed John Vance for one of five seats on the Central City Council.  Here are some of the public comments he has made in recent weeks:

• “I’m not a native of Central but my wife is.  We moved here 10 years ago to get back to her hometown, because we thought it was a great place to live and raise our kids.”

• “I was raised in a small town in Mississippi where the public schools were failing.  So my parents sent me to private school.  After graduating, I wanted to fly for the U.S.Army.  I completed helicopter flight school during Desert Storm but too late to be deployed.  Instead, they sent me all around the world on a variety of missions, including some that were very dangerous.”

• “After seven years in the military and marrying my wife, we decided to go into the private sector.  I was hired to sweep the floors in a wood chip manufacturing company.  After awhile, they named me plant manager.  Later, I was sent to build a plant in Natchitoches, which I did.  Then they had me manage the construction of a $20 million plant in Virginia and then a similar plant in Maine.”

• “We had our first daughter, and I was on the road all the time.  I came home one day, and I told my wife that I wanted to see my kids grow up.  So I quit my job, and we moved back to Central.”

• “I had a job in Baton Rouge but lost it when Katrina hit, and I was out of work.  To keep busy, I volunteered to fly for free anyone who needed help.  Not long afterwards, I was hired by Acadian Ambulance to fly their medical helicopters.  Today, I’m in charge of all their helicopters in this area.”

• “I feel I can bring my leadership experience as an officer in the military and as a construction manager, to the City Council in order to serve the people of Central.”

• “I have been disappointed in the way our city government operates.  It seems that private interests and personal relationships have become more important than doing what is right for the citizens of Central.”

• “I hope to return belief in local government to act responsibly and with integrity.  The purpose of local government is to enact the voice of the people.  It should protect and promote the safety, wellness, and prosperity of the citizens we represent.  All of the duties should be conducted within the laws of the state and federal government and most of all, within the Constitution.”