It will be a busy special election season for 2017. The winners of the fall elections are producing vacant seats that must be filled as soon as possible. The special election date has been set for March 25, 2017 and qualifying rounds will run from January 11th – 13th. The following will provide you with an inside look at how these races are shaping up…
Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Why it’s vacant: Justice Jimmy Genovese was successful in winning a seat on the La Supreme Court.
Candidates rumored to be considering running:
Judge John D.Trahan – elected to the 15th Judicial District bench in 1996.
Judge Douglas Saloom – elected to the Lafayette city court in 1994.
Judge Charlie Fitzgerald – elected to the 15th Judicial District bench in 2014.
David A. Blanchet – elected to the 15th Judicial District bench in 2002
Roger Hamilton – Vermilion Parish Assistant District Attorney
Candyce Perret – General Counsel at The Perret Group. Clerked for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Representative Nancy Landry – elected to House of Representatives in 2008
First Circuit Court of Appeals
Why it’s vacant: Judge E. Drake has retired from the bench.
Candidate rumored to be considering running:
Judge Allison Penzato – elected to 22nd Judicial District bench in 2008.
House District 92
Why it’s vacant: State Representative Tom Willmott has just been elected to the Kenner City Council at-large seat.
Candidates rumored to be considering running:
Joe Stagni (Republican) – Kenner Councilman and chiropractor.
Greg Carroll (Democrat) – Kenner Councilman.
Marilyn B. Bellock (Democrat) – St. Charles Parish Councilwoman.
Jahada Lewis (Democrat) – plaintiff attorney, daugher of Kenner Justice of Peace Roscoe Lewis.
House District 8
Why it’s vacant: State Representative Mike Johnson has won the Fourth Congressional District race against Democrat Marshall Jones.
Candidates rumored to be considering running:
Duke Lowrie (Republican) – runs an oil & gas trucking company and a mortgage company. He had unsuccessful run against Rep. Jeff Thompson in 2011. – Announced
Doug Rimmer (Republican) – Bossier Parish Police Juror – Announcing on Wednesday 12/21
Jack “Bump” Skaggs (Republican) – Bossier Parish Police Juror and owner/operator of Smashburger. Former ULM baseball player
Robert Gatti (Republican)- therapist and brother of Sen. Ryan Gatti
Walt Bigby, Jr. (Republican) – business owner
Recent news on race:
Lowrie stands by Facebook posts
State Treasurer
Why it’s vacant: U.S. Senator-elect John Kennedy’s win has opened up the State Treasurer’s office. Set for fall of 2017.
Candidates rumored to be considering running:
Senator Neil Riser
Senator Mike Walsworth
Senator Eric Lafleur
Senator Norby Chabert
Representative Julie Stokes
Representative John Schroder
Representative Paul Hollis
Former House Speaker Chuck Kleckley
Former Congressman John Fleming
Angele Davis – worked under Gov. Jindal, Gov. Foster and Lt. Gov. Landrieu
Gus Rantz – Lafayette businessman, just ran for 3rd Congressional District
Derrick Edwards – New Orleans attorney
Senate District 10
Why it might be vacant: The recent election of Ben Zahn as Mayor of Kenner has created an open local seat in Jefferson Parish. Senator Martiny is rumored to be considering running for the open seat this fall. If Martiny is successful, there will be a special election to fill his spot in early 2018.
Candidates rumored to be considering running:
Representative Kirk Talbot
Councilman Dominick Impastato – personal injury attorney
Representative Julie Stokes – also considering State Treasurer for fall 2017.
Public Service Commissioner 5th District
Why it might be vacant: Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell may be offered a state post left by Charlie Melancon’s resignation as Secretary of Wildlife & Fisheries.
Candidates rumored to be considered running:
Keith Gates (Republican) – Winnfield attorney, ran against Campbell in 2014.
Representative Allan Seabaugh (Republican)
Tony Davis (Republican) – BESE member, real-estate developer.
Mike Wolfe (Republican) – consultant, former executive with Weyerhauser.
Rick Nowlin (Republican) – engineer, former state represenative, current Natchitoches Parish President.
Marshall Jones (Democrat) – attorney, just lost 2016 bid for 4th Congressional race.
Other Potential Elections
Rumor mill: Representative Alan Seabaugh and PSC Eric Skrmetta could be offered appointed positions under President Donald Trump.