Endorsements are expected soon from the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce’s newly formed political action committee, EMPOWER PAC, for the Oct. 2 Lafayette Parish School Board elections. Comprising members of the chamber as well as non-chamber members, the PAC interviewed candidates in the contested districts — 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 — on Friday and Monday.
GLCC President Rob Guidry told The Independent last week that once the interviews were completed, the PAC planned to announce its endorsements quickly in order to allow the selected candidates time to campaign, endorsement in hand, before the election should they chose to do so; it’s worth noting, however, that in some rural and inner-city districts in Lafayette Parish, a chamber of commerce endorsement may not carry much weight and could even be seen as a negative. A source close to the process says EMPOWER PAC is likely to announce its endorsements on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation heard presentations from the school board candidates in the races in districts 3 and 4. However, Jan Swift, the group’s executive director, says they will not issue endorsements in those races.
... written by CuriousOne , September 16, 2010 - 04:36 pm
Do you think that there is a remote possibility that Greg Davis will receive the endorsement? Nah......probably not huh?
... written by RCajunRunner , September 16, 2010 - 04:50 pm
Word is the Lafayette Chamber is also going to support and (via PAC) help fund a candidate to challenge William Theriot on the Lafayette City-Parish Council.
I guess voters in that majority Republican district will need to be reminded, over and over again during the campaign, that quite a few of the Lafayette Chamber's Executive Committee gave money to the re-election of Pro-Obama care, Pro-Obama Stimulus Mary Landrieu.
... written by ragin_cajun , September 16, 2010 - 05:02 pm
" it’s worth noting, however, that in some rural and inner-city districts in Lafayette Parish, a chamber of commerce endorsement may not carry much weight and could even be seen as a negative."
Elaborate?
This is the kind of statement that makes me wish I'd been following all this for years, now. There's some backstory that I don't know as a new spectator.
... written by Walter Pierce , September 16, 2010 - 05:09 pm
It's a bit of a generalization, I'll admit, ragin. What I'm referring to is the perception that some people in rural areas have of ANY chamber of commerce — that it is a "city" enterprise with city interests at heart. Likewise in inner-city, majority-black districts the chamber is often viewed as "white." These aren't hard and fast rules, but even some of my contacts in the Lafayette chamber acknowledge that a chamber endorsement may not be a good fit for some candidates. One source tells me that Greg Davis was advised against putting "Past President, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce" on his campaign materials in District 2, which spans north Lafayette, unincorporated parish and Carencro.
... written by neutral party , September 16, 2010 - 06:29 pm
The Chamber should represent everyone that it serves.Thats why they should remain neutral on all races so as not to be viewed as parcial to one party or person.Political affiliation and demographics are to varied to please every member setting your self up for disent the way I see it.
... written by EXISTENTIALIST HOMME , September 16, 2010 - 06:38 pm
TERRIBLY WRONG OF ME, To omit the one blemish on Greg Davis record, that being, " PAST PRESIDENT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE .
... written by ragin_cajun , September 16, 2010 - 07:46 pm
The Chamber's PAC can only give $2,000, right? the same amount that an individual can give, right?
... written by Walter Pierce , September 16, 2010 - 08:09 pm
The PAC can contribute no more than $1,000 to a candidate.
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MAY 20 This post by blogger CB Forgotston draws parallels between Gov. Bobby Jindal and two individuals he probably doesn't want to be aligned with: President Obama and former governor Edwin Edwards. CB says Jindal's trying to jack up the debt ceiling (an Obama play, according to CB) and buy votes from GOP leges who normally wouldn't go for that (an Edwards play, CB says).
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