2014 Election Ballot- Read Ahead, Vote Early

 

Gatti Voter Guide for 2014

Many of you have texted or emailed about a voter guide for the amendments and a breakdown of Bossier Elections.  Here is a breakdown of the ballot for Bossier Parish.  I strongly suggest that you print and view a sample ballot by putting in your precinct at the following website:

http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/GetElectionInformation/ReviewSampleBallots/Pages/default.aspx

This is a full ballot on a Tuesday, so please have your cheat sheet ready.  Expect long lines because as most will not have read ahead of time.  You should be in an out of the ballot in less than a minute if you are prepared.  The only race not listed below is justice of the peace in your area.   A one page vote sheet is provided below.  Thanks in advance for forwarding this link to your friends. 

THE BALLOT

I.                   Candidates

US Senate:  This is a tough race.  Landrieu is a senior senator running for re-election. Cassidy and Maness are providing opposition.  This will be a close race, but Landrieu will most likely win in a three way race. 

US Representative:  John Fleming (R) should easily win re election. 

Public Service Commission:  Foster Campbell (D) should win this easily. 

District Attorney:  Schuyler Marvin is running for re-election.  He has served the district well and should win easily. 

City Marshall:  This is an open seat vacated because Lynn Austin is not running for re-election.  This position was held by Johnny Wyatt for many years.  Jim Whitman will win not only because he has been with the Marshall’s office but mainly because his wife cooks all the ribs, brisket and turkey at Silver Star. 

II.                Amendments: 

Many people think the legislators are trying to make the State Constitution so convoluted and confusing through the amendment process that one day soon a Constitutional Committee will have to be called and rewrite it.  As such, all amendments should receive a NO vote.  Only three of this year’s amendments correct issues that should rise to the level of a change or amendment to the constitution.  Full breakdown of amendments here: 

 http://www.parlouisiana.org/dynaengine/loadDocument.cfm?site=1002087&doc=par2014amends1stedition.pdf

Constitutional Amendment 1:  Trust fund.  Vote NO.  This law is an admission that we cannot budget as a state.  We have to tell legislators not to raid Medicaid as a way to pay for festivals.  We should not have to tell the legislature that the elderly and disabled are a top priority.  This is much like Pontius Pilate letting the crowd decide.  A no vote should send a message that the legislature needs to fix our budget process and not use the constitution amendment system as a vehicle to do so.

Constitutional Amendment 2:  Trust fund.  Vote NO .  This is a not proper for a constitutional amendment.  This would fund some providers but not all providers. 

Constitutional Amendment 3:  Privatizing tax collections.  Vote NO.  This is an area of government that should not be privatized.  Motive for profit could interfere with due process rights. 

Constitutional Amendment 4:  Creating a State Bank.  Vote NO.  Last thing we need in our state is a state run bank.  If state cannot budget and get it financing through regular channels, then it sure as heck should not be allowed to create its own bank. 

Constitutional Amendment 5:  Change mandatory retirement age.  Vote NO.  70 is the current limit.  The law wants to eliminate the retirement age meaning a judge can serve until death.  There are no term limits on judges, the 70 year rule is the only restriction and it is a fair restriction. 

Constitutional Amendment 6:  Orleans Parish Millage Rates.  Vote NO.  If this passes everyone that pays taxes will suffer in New Orleans. 

Constitutional Amendment 7:  Homestead Exemption for Veterans Clarification.  Vote YES. This is proper and should pass.    

Constitutional Amendment 8:  Artificial Reef Fund.  Vote NO.  This would elevate another part of the budget to constitutionally protected status.  Vote no. 

Constitutional Amendment 9:  Disabled and Taxes.  Vote YES.  This is a clarification of the tax code to protect the disabled. 

Constitutional Amendment 10:  Steal your home act.   Vote NO.    This would reduce your chance to redeem your property from three years to 18 months.  This is being pushed by those that want to steal family land to get the mineral rights. If this passes, it means your could lose title to family land before you even know that you owe the taxes.  Currently if you or your heirs don’t pay for local and parish property taxes for three years, then you could lose TITLE to that property.  This law would shorten that period to 18 months. 

Constitutional Amendment 11:  Increase size of Government.  Vote NO.  We don’t need a Department of Elderly Affairs with 100 bureaucrats running it to take care of the elderly.  The elderly in our state would be better off if we just took that money we are going to waste on a agency and divide by the number of elderly and give it to them.  We just need the state to do the job with what it has.  No creation of a new government agency. 

Constitutional Amendment 12:  Wildlife Commission Membership.  Vote NO.  This should not be in the constitution in the first place. 

Constitutional Amendment 13:  Ninth Ward Property. Vote YES.  State must sell this devastated property.  Private investors can make it work. 

Constitutional Amendment 14:  Tax Issues.  Vote NO. 

III.            LOCAL TAXES: 

Vote NO on all Parish Taxes

PW Millage Renewal - 7.57 Mills - PJ - 10 Yrs.

PW Council on Aging - 1 Mill - PJ - 10 Yrs.

PW Shreveport-Bossier Conv. & Tour. Bur. - 2% Tax - BOD - 24 1/2 Yrs.

Cypress-Black Bayou Rec. & Wtr. Dist. - 1.54 Mills - BOC - 10 Yrs. 

IV.            School Board

 

          Tammy Smith (Benton Area)

          Eric Newman (Parkway Area)