The following piece is in regards to the redistricting plan for Louisiana District 22, which passed the full Senate on 2/14:
Sen. Page Cortez, currently representing District 23, has removed the Youngsville area that was previously included in District 22 when he first filed his bill. This was done at the expense of part of the heart of Lafayette, which includes Lafayette Regional Airport, Women and Children’s Hospital, Comeaux High School and areas to the South of River Ranch. The reason behind this move? Stuart Bishop lives in that area.
As a result, Cortez can run for Lt. Governor, which allows Bishop to drop out that same race and frees Bishop to run for this Senate seat that Cortez personally carved out for him.
The flipside of this scheme is at the expense of the heart of the economic engines in Lafayette Parish. Our Lady of Lourdes, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Lafayette Regional and even Stuller Settings have been sacrificed to appease this new district layout.
To make matters even worse, Senator Fred Mills, which currently represents District 22 in the Senate, never spoke up when the bill was being debated and even voted for it. The duly named “Wal-Mart Greeter”, dubbed by Moon Griffon, did nothing to fight for Iberia/St. Martin Parishes.
Also, Bret Allain, current term-limited Senator for District 21, was able to take 25% of Iberia Parish’s population for his chosen successor, his own son.
With all of the backroom deals, they have effectively tried to kill any future representation by Iberia/St. Martin, which was represented for years by Sen. Troy Hebert, who they have drawn out of this new district, and to prevent Rep. Blake Miguez from being elected to the upper chamber.
However, there is talk of local Iberia Parish businessman Mark Romero running for this newly created Senate district, throwing a wrench into all of these plans.
The people being represented by the current Senate District 22 should be duly outraged by typical Louisiana politics.
