Fesi seeking Senate seat

Local oil pipeline businessman Mike Fesi, Sr. announced last week that he is challenging Sen. Norbert “Norby” Chabert in the upcoming October election for Senate District 20, which represents parts of both Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

Fesi is a businessman who works in the oil and gas industry. He said in his campaign announcement that Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes would be best served by a senator who works in the industry.

“I will focus my efforts in Baton Rouge on protecting the oil and gas industry and fixing our eroding coastline,” Fesi said in the announcement.

Fesi owns Pipeline Construction and Maintenance, Inc, which builds and maintains 1000s of miles of oil and natural gas pipelines throughout the United States and employs 300 people. He said in the announcement the company has created 50 new jobs since January “despite the downturn in oil prices.”

Fesi said that the state legislature filled a $1.6 billion budget shortfall in this year’s legislative session “on the backs of business and industry and, worst of all, it was only a temporary fix.”

“Economists currently project that we will be facing a $1 billion deficit again for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016,” Fesi said. “Our state budget faces problems that are systemic. We need innovative solutions that address the foundational problems. We need to balance the state budget by cutting wasteful spending without raising taxes.”

Fesi ran for Terrebonne Parish president in 2007 and 2011 earning 8 and 11 percent of the vote, respectively.