From the Desk of Jeremy Alford April 27, 2021 — Issue 268
[email protected] / www.LouisianaTracker.com _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ ELECTIONS BEGET ELECTIONS Another special election coming — and maybe yet another _____________________________________________________________ If you’re starting to think these elections are never going to end, that may be due to the fact that these elections never seem to end. President Joe Biden claimed his seat last year, which in turn prompted the resignation of former Congressman Cedric Richmond, who is now working for the White House. The special election to replace Richmond concluded this past weekend, with voters siding with Congressman-elect Troy Carter, who, as a result, will soon resign from his state Senate seat, which will require another special election. Now there are three sitting state representatives (Gary Carter of New Orleans, Mack Cormier of Belle Chasse and Rodney Lyons of Harvey) and one former state senator (David Heitmeier of Algiers) who are considering running in the special Senate election to replace Carter. Should any three of the state representatives win, yet another special House election will need to be called this year by the legislative leadership. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has increasingly expressed concern over the growing number of elections put before voters, but there’s only so much he can do when those races are connected to the Legislature. “While it’s true that we seem to have several elections in Louisiana, it’s not the job of the secretary of state to call them,” said Ardoin. “We just conduct them in a fair, accurate and transparent manner.” If you don’t believe elections beget elections in Louisiana, just look at the runoff ballot from this weekend — particularly the bottom of the ballot.