People are so fired up about Edwin Edwards joining the 6th district congressional seat race they are failing to see the real issue.
None of the current candidates will give Baton Rouge – and the other places that comprise the 6th district – the change in policy it needs to get better.
The truth is, while the current top contenders are packed with colorful personalities and deep pockets, they are all still the same stick-to-the-status-quo politicians who won’t do what it takes to improve the district.
Dan Claitor and the young Paul Dietzel II are currently the top contenders in the battle for the congressional seat.
Edwards is also a contender, but let’s be realistic, he’s not going to win. So I’ll focus on the Republicans.
While they aren’t the only ones running for the seat, these three have the money, the resources and the name recognition to actually make it to Congress.
But which one would actually improve the 6th district of Louisiana?
Chances are, none of them.
Dietzel is the new player in the campaign.
Dietzel founded the online donation processing company Anedot, and his campaign was recently reported to have the highest donation mark in the race, which means his face will be all over Baton Rouge by the time November comes around.
Running on the principle that it’s time for a new generation to take over, Dietzel, 28, could be the youngest congressman in Louisiana history.
Claitor, currently a member of the Louisiana State Senate for the 16th district, is your run-of-the mill candidate.
Claitor has a lot going for him. Being a republican candidate is a leg up in the red district, and the fact he is a fervent LSU advocate gives him a lot of popularity points in the Baton Rouge area.
The only problem for Claitor is Dietzel at this point.
Edwards will represent the democrats in the election. The real fight will be to decide who the republican majority will support: Claitor or Dietzel.
All three candidates have a lot going for them in terms of personality, but as far as policy is
concerned, they won’t bring a lot of change to the 6th district.
Ultimately, I think it’ll be a close race.
I’d like to believe Dietzel might have a chance. I may not agree with some of his beliefs, but a younger perspective might help the Baton Rouge area.
Dietzel also has the money, which will allow him to make his name known all over the district.
However, Dietzel doesn’t have anything innovative to add to congress besides his youth.
Who will actually win the 6th district seat?
I believe in the end, it will go to Claitor.
He’s not a new face in the game or a famous ex-governor, but Claitor has being a standard Louisiana politician on his side.
In a community where continuity is favored over change, Claitor is the perfect candidate to continue this trend.
The truth is, these two candidates are still too similar. So whatever the outcome is, the district won’t have a radical change in policy.
Therefore — no matter who wins — things will stay the same, and that’s how the community likes it.
Jose Bastidas is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from The Woodlands, Texas.
Senator Dan Claitor has his portrait taken at Claitor's Law Books & Publishing Div.
