Senate
District 24
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Made Runoff
Patricia "Pat" Cravins
327 E. Grolee St.
Opelousas, La. 70570
337-789-5048
Democrat
Bachlor of Science--Speech/Theatre and English
Thirty-six years educator, Small business owner (Pat's Cafe Creole) and Don Cravins Insurane Agency Lafayette and Opelousas. |
Made Runoff
Elbert L. Guillory
633 E. Landry Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
337-942-6328
Practicing attorney
Seattle Human Rights Department, Director
Maryland Commission on Human Relations, Executive Director
Rutgers Law School, Clinical Faculty
Education: New York Theological Seminary; Rutgers Law School, Newark, New Jersey
Chairman, Maryland Association of Human Rights; charter member, Urban Coalition, Norfolk, Virginia; member, Board of Directors, Campus Christian Foundation
Religion: Member, Holy Ghost Catholic Church |
Quincy Richard, Jr.
Did not respond to requests for information |
Lincoln "Link" Savoie
648 Thelma Drive
Sunset, LA 70584
337-662-7283
Cell: 337-344-9109
linkvfwla@aol.com
Fax: 337-662-6516
Republican
1956 – 1978 United States Military (retired)
1978 – 2002 owner/operator, Washateria’s Inc.
Member, Rotary, Sunrise Chapter, Opelousas;
Member, VFW Post 5153, Arnaudville; Member, St. Landry Parish Chamber of Commerce;
member, American Legion Post, Sunset;
Past State Commander, Dept. of La. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); Chairman Board of Directors, St. Landry Parish Council on Aging;
Chairman Board of Directors, St. Charles Church, Grand Coteau;
member, Acadiana Apartment Association, Lafayette;
Member, St. Landry parish Veterans Memorial Committee;
Member, appointed by Gov. Jindal, La. Veterans Transition Team |
Kelly J. Scott
Did not respond to requests for information |
EDUCATION:
More than 30% of the juveniles who enter 9th grade in Louisiana each year will either go to jail or drop out before graduating, placing an extreme economic burden on the state. What sort of non-traditional educational opportunities would you be willing to support for these young people entering high school in order to help them become productive members of their communities, and how would you pay for such programs?
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More attractive educational options should be made available for the student who is not university bound. Options which can give this student a career choice as early as eighth grade so the high school curriculum sets him in the right direction for a Vo-Tech career. During high school he should be allowed to attend classes at a vo-tech school and upon graduation he should have dual diplomas and is job ready.
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We need to offer career-technical equation with certifications to junior and high school students as part of our normal education system.
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I support both private and public institutions regarding opportunities to educate our young. The main point is that we need to get more children involved in the education process and still make the learning environment enjoyable. This type of process will include many of our educational associations, such as yours. I believe the money needed to create such a needed program wouldn’t be hard to find. Who in the government can afford to take the risk of not wanting to be seen as someone not supporting our children’s initiatives?
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ENVIROMENT:
How would you use the state’s existing programs to improve protection for the state’s swamps and marshes? What new programs or policies do you think may be necessary? |
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries does a good job of policing our swamps and marshes. Often weather conditions devastate these beautiful areas, but as nature goes it replenishes itself quickly. For a more scientific approach to caring for these areas, I would like to see more participation from LSU in the fields of research and preservation.
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DEQ should be a big part of such protection, along with upgraded enforcement by our LA Wildlife force.
We should use some stimulus money for coastal restoration.
We should convince the Obama Administration that Louisiana’s coast is America’s Energy Coast and America should invest in its restoration.
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Although I believe in protecting our wetlands and coast; I also believe that we should also be looking at preventative measures. Technology exists in this state that can detect ground disturbances hundreds of miles away. Wouldn’t you agree that this type of information would be great to have in the event there’s a 400 miles across hurricane barreling at our state? Our ability to react to natural disaster is greatly diminished by not having the real time data needed to create an almost perfect contra-flow system.
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TRANSPORTATION:
How would you propose the state fund its $14 billion backlog in highway construction and maintenance? Would you support an increase in the gas tax, vehicle registration and license fees or other transportation-related revenue? |
I would not support any additional taxes. Possibilities for funding could be through Toll Roads and/or Stimulus Money, creating not only more funds for the building of roads but also more jobs for our La. workers. Congress also needs to be lobbied to return more of our tax dollars back to our state.
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No new taxes or fees. Better prioritization and better management of our resources. Our DOTD administrative costs can be cut so more money can be used on roads. |
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Who knows? With the stimulus package in limbo. Maybe I should defer on this question. |
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HEALTH CARE:
Among the many options for improving access to primary care for the state’s poor and uninsured population, do you prefer expanding private insurance coverage, expanding Medicaid coverage or some other approach? |
One way, not the only way, would be to expand access to the Federally Qualified Healthcare Clinics, thereby providing primary care in local communities which would be even better care. This would lessen the burden on larger or private hospitals which could handle more critical care and have fewer indigent patients which we all pay for in the long run. |
Less money to New Orleans. More money to local hospitals and clinics. |
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I don’t feel comfortable answering this one without further in depth research.
How do we define the state’s poor? Are they poor because they are sick, cannot do physical work, no education to hold a job, unable to move away from the welfare situation they have grown accustomed. Are these people considered uninsured and uninsurable, by living in a welfare state they may feel that they don’t have to pay insurance premiums. This question may never be answered completely until we have clearly defined who is officially declared without a doubt a person in need of help. Our state welfare system has gotten out of control, but with proper re-working of the guidelines, it is salvageable. |
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