What’s On the Ballot for the New Orleans Area
Tuesday is election day, with polls opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. In addition to the presidential election, the ballot in the New Orleans area includes constitutional amendments, races for Congress, and a number of local races and propositions. The runoff election is Dec. 8. The information below is from the Louisiana Secretary of State Office’s web site.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Proposed Amendment No. 1
To prohibit the Legislature or governor from taking money from the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly to help balance the state’s operating budget.
Proposed Amendment No. 2
To provide that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right and any restriction of that right requires the highest standard of review by a court. The amendment also would delete a line in the state Constitution that says the right to keep and bear arms shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons.
Proposed Amendment No. 3
To require that bills affecting the state’s public retirement systems be filed no later than 45 days before the start of a regular legislative session — a month earlier than other types of legislation submitted prior to a legislative session — and to require public notice of such legislation no later than 60 days prior to the introduction of the bill, effectively doubling the public notice period for prefiled retirement bills.
Proposed Amendment No. 4
To allow the spouse of a deceased veteran who had a 100 percent service-connected disability rating to claim a higher homestead exemption, on the next $75,000 of value on the property owned and occupied by the spouse, even if the exemption was not in effect at the time the veteran died.
Proposed Amendment No. 5
To allow courts to require forfeiture of a portion of public retirement benefits for those public servants convicted of a felony associated with their office.
Proposed Amendment No. 6
To allow New Iberia to grant city property tax exemptions for owners of properties annexed into the city after Jan. 1, 2013.
Proposed Amendment No. 7
To adjust the membership selection process of the constitutionally created boards and commissions that in large part base their membership on the state’s congressional districts: the Board of Regents, the boards of supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, the Louisiana State University System, the Southern University System, the State Civil Service Commission and the State Police Commission. After the 2010 Census, Louisiana lost one of its congressional districts, and now has only six districts. Under this amendment, after Jan. 3, 2013, as board members finish their terms, vacancies would be filled first from a congressional district that either is under-represented or has no representation, and after each congressional district has equal representation, at-large members could be appointed.
Proposed Amendment No. 8
To allow the state Board of Commerce and Industry to grant local property tax exemption contracts to a targeted group of non-manufacturing businesses in parishes that choose to participate in the program.
Proposed Amendment No. 9
To increase the number of times that bills to create crime prevention and security districts must be advertised — on three days rather than two — and require that the notices state whether a parcel fee would be imposed and collected, whether the fee could be imposed or increased without an election, and what the maximum amount of the fee would be.
D = Democrat
R = Republican
L = Libertarian
O = Other party
N = No party
U.S. PRESIDENT
Ross Anderson, O
Jack Fellure, O
Virgil Goode, O
James Harris, O
Gary Johnson, L
Peta Lindsay, O
Barack Obama, D
Mitt Romney, R
Jill Stein, O
Sheila Tittle, O
Jerry White, O
U.S. CONGRESS
DISTRICT 1
Gary King, R-New Orleans
M.V. “Vinny” Mendoza, D-Ponchatoula
Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson
David “Turk” Turknett, N-Galliano
Arden Wells, N-Ponchatoula
DISTRICT 2
Dwayne Bailey, R-Donaldsonville
Gary Landrieu, D-New Orleans
Josue Larose, R-New Orleans
Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans
Caleb Trotter, L-New Orleans
DISTRICT 6
William “Bill” Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge
Rufus Holt Craig Jr., L-Baton Rouge
Richard “RPT” Torregano, N-Baton Rouge
JEFFERSON PARISH
Crescent City Connection Bridge toll proposition
(Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes)
To renew the toll collected on the Crescent City Connection Bridge — $1 in cash or 40 cents with a toll tag — until Dec. 31, 2033, with the revenue dedicated to U.S. 90Z, from Interstate 10 to U.S. 90, for operations, maintenance, lighting, police functions, inspections, motorist assistance patrols, and capital projects.
Kenner City Charter Amendment No. 1
To restrict political activity by nonelected Kenner city employees on behalf of a city candidate in city of Kenner elections.
Kenner City Charter Amendment No. 2
To require that contracts with a value of $100,000 or more be ratified through ordinance by the Kenner City Council.
ORLEANS PARISH
4th Circuit Court of Appeal
1ST DISTRICT, DIVISION H
Sandra Cabrina Jenkins, D
Charles R. Jones, D
Criminal District Court
SECTION B JUDGE
Tracey Flemings-Davillier, D
Glen A. Woods, D
2nd City Court
JUDGE
Kiana Aaron-Mitchell, D
E. “Teena” Anderson-Trahan, D
Martin L. “Marty” Broussard Jr., D
Edward Markle, R
Kim M. O’Dowd, D
Marie Williams-Brigandi, D
CLERK
Van Howenstine, D
Adam Lambert, D
Darren Lombard, D
CONSTABLE
Ennis Grundmeyer, D
Edwin Shorty Jr., D
City Council
DISTRICT B
LaToya Cantrell, D
Marlon J. Horton, D
Dana Kaplan, D
Eric Strachan, D
DISTRICT E
Austin Badon, D
Jerrelda Drummer Sanders, D
James A. Gray II, D
Dana Henry, D
Mary Fontenot Smith, D
School Board
DISTRICT 1
Heidi Lovett Daniels, D
Ira Thomas, D
DISTRICT 2
Cynthia Cade, D
Durrell L. Laurent, D
Dwight McKenna, D
DISTRICT 3
Brett A. Bonin, R
Sarah Newell Usdin, D
Karran Harper Royal, N
DISTRICT 4
Leslie Ellison, D
Lourdes Moran, D
DISTRICT 6
Jason Coleman, D
Woody Koppel, D
DISTRICT 7
Nolan A. Marshall Jr., D
Thomas Robichaux, D
Kwame A. Smith, N
Crescent City Connection Bridge toll proposition
(Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes)
To renew the GET AMOUNT toll collected on the Crescent City Connection Bridge until Dec. 31, 2033, with the revenue dedicated to U.S. 90Z, from Interstate 10 to U.S. 90, for operations, maintenance, lighting, police functions, inspections, motorist assistance patrols, and capital projects.
School Board term limits proposition
To limit the terms of office for school board members to three consecutive four-year terms.
Parishwide City Charter Amendment
To amend the number and terms of council members so the council would have seven members, of whom five would be elected from districts and two elected at large. The terms would be four years, beginning on the first Monday in May next following their election.
New Orleans Regional Business Park Proposition
To levy a 20-year, 20-mill property tax — estimated to generate $218,500 a year — within the boundaries of the New Orleans Regional Business Park, except owner-occupied residences.
Lake Vista Crime Prevention District proposition
To levy an annual fee for four years on residential parcels in the district, from the interior sides of Robert E. Lee Boulevard, Marconi Drive, Beauregard Avenue and Lakeshore Drive. The fee, estimated to generate $142,000 a year, shall not to exceed $220 a year per parcel.
Gentilly Terrace & Gardens Security District proposition
To levy an annual fee three years on each parcel zoned for residential or commercial use in the district, from the east side of Elysian Fields Avenue, the south side of Filmore Avenue, the west side of Peoples Avenue, and the north side of Gentilly Boulevard. The fees, which shall not exceed $260 per residential parcel or $360 per commercial parcel, are estimated to generate $343,967 a year.
North Kenilworth Improvement and Security District proposition
To levy an annual fee for eight years on each parcel of land, except special-assessment parcels, for beautification, security and overall betterment of the district, from the intersection of Morrison Road and Malvern Drive, north to the south side of Curran Boulevard, then to Afton Drive, then south to Aberdeen Road, then west to Dartmoor Drive, then south to Morrison Road, then west along Morrison Road. The fees, not to exceed $300 per parcel per year, are estimated to generate $64,200 a year to promote beautification, security and overall betterment of the district.
Orleans Levee District proposition
To extend and rededicate for 30 years a 6.07-mill property tax, generating about $15.4 million a year, for levees, levee drainage, flood protection and hurricane flood protection.
ST. TAMMANY PARISH
School Board Term Limits proposition
To limit the terms of school board members to three consecutive four-year terms.
Parishwide Health Unit Tax proposition
To renew the 10-year, 1.84-mill property tax — generating about $2.91 million a year — supporting the parish Health Center and related public health activities.
Covington Sales Tax proposition
To rededicate the proceeds of a 1 percent sales and use tax — generating an estimated $3,750,000 a year — for any lawful purpose of the city, including, but not limited playgrounds and recreational facilities, public roads, streets, bridges and crossings, sewerage, garbage disposal, water works, public safety operations and facilities, and other public improvements.
Waterworks District No. 2 proposition
Authority to issue up to $985,000 in 20-year bonds, to be repaid with property taxes, to improve the waterworks system.