Political landscape changing in 3rd District House seat

The political landscape in the Tri-parish area is likely to change this year, as a result of the 2010 census and an open-seat House race in the 3rd District that includes Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Experts say losses in population since the last census could result in the district being swallowed by either the 2nd District, which includes New Orleans, or the 7th, which is ruled by Lafayette and St. Charles.

“Even if a state doesn’t lose a congressional district, population changes within a state can result in the district lines being very redrawn,” said Robert Hogan, an associate professor of American Politics at Louisiana State University. “It’s unsettling to incumbents. It’s not a secure position to be in.”

The professor added, “…During a redistricting period there’s even greater uncertainty.” The candidates vying for the position this year will be standing on unstable ground. In 2012, campaigns could face changing constituencies and an assembly line of ramifications. “They’re probably going to have to spend more money to acquaint voters with themselves,” said Hogan. Candidates may even have to build a voter base from scratch depending on the outcome of the census.

So, who would want to run for office in such a dramatic environment?

According to the Federal Election Commission, Jeffry Landry of New Iberia, Kristian Magar of New Iberia, Nickie Monica, a Garyville native, and Ravi Sangisetty, a Houma lawyer. While not officially throwing in a bid for the seat, Maj. Gen. Hunt Downer of the Louisiana National Guard, a Houma native, has also expressed strong interest. The general said voters could probably expect to see a “thumbs up” in the coming months.

A palette of issues divides the candidates and not all are simple. From coastal erosion to oil and gas, the 3rd District is “…at the tip of the spear,” said Maj. Gen. Downer. The general has served as a liaison for nearly 300 trips to storm damaged areas in Louisiana for members of congress, ambassadors and state and local officials. “I understand the social and economic impact [these issues can have on the parishes]”, he explained. And although the 3rd District may soon face elimination, that doesn’t deter Maj. Gen. Downer.

The general is currently engaged in hurricane recovery efforts throughout the state, something he has been heavily engaged in since 2005. “Family’s and lives are being lost,” he said. “Our culture and our heritage is also being lost and scattered.

“I used to be able to park on the side of the road on Isle De Jean Charles. There’s no side of the road anymore, its eroded,” added Maj. Gen. Downer. “Your not going to beat Mother Nature, but by preparing, you can lessen the impact of the storms,” he continued. “We need to stop studying [coastal erosion] and start building [barrier islands and levies].”

However, the general has yet to officially declare whether or not he will run.

Sangisetty announced that his campaign had raked in $250,000 by the Dec. 31 2009 year-end reporting deadline. Sangisetty has expressed confidence in his campaign efforts. In a press release issued on Jan. 14 2010, he said, “People are excited for a new generation of leadership in coastal Louisiana and our fundraising successes so far are clearly showing this.”

The lawyer matched Maj. Gen. Downer’s thoughts on the issue of coastal erosion. “[The voters] know political games and partisanship won’t reform the Army Corps of Engineers to get them off of our backs so we can save our vanishing coast and get real protection from hurricanes for all of our coastal communities,” added Sangisetty in the release.

The future political makeup of the region is uncertain. But for residents of the 3rd District, the issues are clear. For politicians, it’s becoming quite the opposite. If the district sprawls into the helms of New Orleans after the census, a new set of candidates will be vying for office the next go around. The issues that campaigns put on the front lines would also likely change.

In March 2010, census forms will be mailed or delivered to households. Census takers will visit households that did not return a completed form from April to July.

By March 2011, the Census Bureau will complete the delivery of redistricting data to states across the U.S.