Our Work’s Not Done

Hazel Abernathy
November 12, 2007
Homer Watts, Jr.
November 14, 2007
Hazel Abernathy
November 12, 2007
Homer Watts, Jr.
November 14, 2007

Voter turnout has traditionally been strong in Louisiana.


That is, until this year.

Only 46 percent of registered voters went to the polls on Oct. 20.


Perhaps some voters felt less compelled to make an appearance since Bobby Jindal was considered a veritable shoo-in to win the governorship.


Politicians often blame low voter turnout on the success of LSU football. If LSU plays on the same day of the election, voters in Louisiana often choose pigskin over politics.

Since the Tigers play Ole Miss (3-7), a team that isn’t exactly at the top of the football food chain, why not make a conscientious effort to register your vote in this Saturday’s runoff election.


Locally, the parish president race is the most tense and taut, as Jerry Larpenter and Michel Claudet offer vastly different platforms to Terrebonne voters.

In addition, there are five runoff races for Terrebonne Parish Council with two incumbents chasing their challengers in the primary.

In Lafourche Parish, three council seats are up for grabs.

Three state house seats in the Tri-Parish area are also in contention.

Whoever wins these seats will have to be willing to assist Jindal’s efforts to restore our coastline, which could erode entirely away in eight years according to data compiled by Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.

This year, the stakes are at an all-time high.

And the outcome might even be more critical than LSU’s pursuit of a national title.