The INDsider -> Nathan Stubbs MON, MAY 4 5:27AM by Nathan Stubbs

St. Landry Parish gains senator, loses rep

Opelousas attorney and District 40 State Rep. Elbert Guillory is moving up to the state senate. Guillory defeated Patricia Cravins in Saturday’s runoff for the District 24 state senate seat, which covers most of St. Landry Parish and North Lafayette (The seat was vacated earlier this year by Don Cravins Jr., who took a job in Washington, D.C. as chief of staff for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship). With the Legislature already in session, Guillory is expected to be sworn into his new post this week. In the process, St. Landry Parish will be without a District 40 rep in the state House through the remainder of the session. State law requires a special election to determine Guillory’s successor in District 40. Even if the speaker of the house would call for an immediate election, there still likely would not be time to seat a new rep before the end of session.

Therefore, the District 40 seat won’t be on the ballot until Oct. 17, the next scheduled election. A runoff, if necessary, will be held Nov. 14. A legion of candidates is already forming for the race. St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court Charles Jagneaux says, “The question right now in St. Landry Parish is not who’s running [for District 40] but who’s not running.” Likely contenders include former police juror Allen Guillory, Opelousas city councilman Reggie Tatum, former District 40 candidates Ledrika Johnson and Bradford Jackson, and former Opelousas Mayor Anna Simmons. Another potential candidate, fresh off the state senate race, is longtime educator Patricia Cravins, wife of Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins.

Update: Analytical chemist and former District 24 candidate Kelly Scott tells The Independent he intends to run for the District 40 seat.

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written by Phil , May 04, 2009 - 08:31 pm

Fortunately, Elbert will be there as Senator, and able to keep an eye on his District 40 constituents interests for the remainder of the session.

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written by jake , May 04, 2009 - 10:21 pm

keep an eye on kelly scott on his district 40interests

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written by leahcim , May 05, 2009 - 07:20 am

Why is it that Opelousas is still prey to family dynasties in many professional occupations (medicine, law, etc.)? Is there a gene that makes some people innately better qualified?

Why don't we just have a monarchy.

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written by ambrose , May 05, 2009 - 03:36 pm

Mr. Kelly Scott appears to be the strongest potential candidate for the district 40 seat, he has shown that he holds the credentials as well as the direct focus needed to assist St. Landry Parish out of the hole its already faces. He would be my choice as well as many others choice to obtain the seat. During his candidacy he continued to show that he ran for public office for all the right reasons which is very odd in Louisiana. Mr. Scott I ask that you run for district 40 because what you stand for is what district 40 needs in Baton Rouge.

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written by prather , May 05, 2009 - 03:48 pm

Only one of the candidates from the district 24 field was announced in the article as potential candidates. Kelly J. Scott by far should run for this seat, The people of district 40 can rally around Mr. Scott. He is young, educated, full of energy, and his main purpose is public service. He is what we need to represent this district in Baton Rouge. I feel we can really make some headway under his leadership. We need someone who can hit the ground running and he has already shown that through his candidacy for state senate.

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