Ellender enters state House race

Small business owner Theresa Ellender has announced plans to seek the state house seat for District 53, which is being vacated by state Rep. Damon Baldone and sought by Terrebonne Parish Councilman Billy Hebert.

Ellender, a Republican, said she intends to run on a platform of fiscal and social conservatism to promote responsibility in Baton Rouge.

“The people of the Bayou Region deserve honest, responsible, conservative leadership from their state representative,” she said. “We need someone who will champion both sound fiscal policies and social conservative values. There is a clear distinction between the policies of the left and the traditional values cherished by our community. Progressive self-interest politicians have been running this state out of business for years, and we’re finally turning the stagnant tide with fundamentally conservative ideas. I’m running for the state house to keep taxes low, government small and in the hands of the people, not vice versa.”

Ellender said she intends to promote a business friendly atmosphere in the state capitol and expand educational options in Louisiana.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. She worked in Dallas as a business manager and now operates an electrolysis business in Houma. Gov. Bobby Jindal appointed her to the Louisiana State Board of Electrolysis.

Active with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Ellender also founded the Bayou Region Council of Republican Women and is an associate member of the Lafourche Republican Women’s Club.

Ellender and her husband, Wallace, live on their sugar cane farm near Bourg, and attend the First Baptist Church of Houma.