Cantrelle unseats Randolph in Lafourche
November 22, 2015
Duplantis-Prather wins re-election
November 22, 2015
By JOHN DeSANTIS
Senior Staff Writer
A Houma attorney unseated an incumbent state legislator after a bitterly fought campaign Saturday, according to complete but unofficial election results.
Tanner Magee bested fellow Republican Lenar Whitney for the District 53 seat by a margin of 22 percent, marshaling 4,978 votes to Whitney’s 3,206, or 61 percent to 39 percent.
District 53 covers much of Terrebonne Parish and portions of Lafourche.
On Oct. 24, both candidates prevailed – each with 34 percent of the vote, in a primary that included Brenda Leroux Babin, who garnered the remaining 31 percent.
Magee gave his first statement as a legislator-elect on Houma television station HTV, shortly after the final but unofficial results were complete.
“We sent a clear message that what we wanted to do was put Terrebonne Parish first. That’s what this whole campaign was about and it really resonated,” said Magee, whose primary margin over Whitney amounted to 29 votes, a far cry from the mandate voters expressed Saturday, and in early voting. Magee made several references to the slew of advertisements that Whitney’s camp tossed at him, which included accusations that as a trial attorney he had represented “child molesters” and domestic violence perpetrators.
“I always trusted in the intelligence of the voters of Terrebonne Parish and I have nothing but thanks and appreciation for them.”
Whitney’s anti-attorney advertisements drew strong fire during the runoff campaign from members of the local bar.
On the campaign trail, Magee enjoyed strong support from state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, who held on to his seat despite strong attacks from businessman Mike Fesi. Chabert did not have to wage a runoff campaign, having won the primary by more than 50 percent. Newly-electedTerrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove also supported Magee.
Magee said that he looks forward to working with the local delegation on behalf of the parishes he will represent.
