Editor’s Note: The numbers initially printed in the story were incorrect. The story has been corrected. We apologize for the mistake.
State Republican and Democratic parties both held closed primary elections Saturday to fill the vacated seat of Richard Baker, a 22-year Republican congressman for the sixth congressional district. Baker announced in January that he would leave his post to become the president and CEO of Managed Funds Association. In the Democratic primary, state Rep. “Don” Cazayoux led the race with 35 percent of the vote. Cazayoux will be forced into a runoff with state Rep. Michael Jackson, who received 27 percent of the vote.
Former state congressman Louis “Woody” Jenkins won the Republican primary with 49 percent of the vote. Jenkins will face Laurinda Calongne in the second Republican primary. Calongne received 25 percent of the vote. District 6 consists of East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes. It also includes parts of Ascension, Iberville and Pointe Coupee parishes. The second round of party primaries is scheduled for April 5. It will determine the Democratic and Republican candidates to face off in the May 3 special general election.
Jenkins is endorsed by the EBR Republican party. Tommy French, EBR Republican Party member at large, said the organization endorsed Jenkins for his name recognition and history of legislative action, including never voting for new taxes. “Woody [Jenkins] has such a long track record of positive work for the people that he should have no problem winning in the general election,” French said. French said Jenkins is set apart from the other candidates by his public service record. The state Democratic Party has not yet endorsed a candidate. The AFL-CIO and the Baton Rouge Police and Firefighters endorsed Cazayoux. Voters also approved the EBR school system’s 1998 penny tax renewals. The tax includes a 0.51-cent tax for school construction, a 0.08-cent tax for improving school discipline and a 0.41-cent tax for employee salaries and benefits. All propositions passed with more than 60 percent of votes. The tax proposition ballot excluded residents of Baker, Central and Zachary, who voted on taxes for their own school systems. The Secretary of State’s office unofficially reported 24.7 percent of registered voters participated in the primary. French said he is extremely disappointed with the turnout and cannot understand why it was not greater. Danny Ford, executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, said the Democratic voter turnout was 18 percent, which he said is high for a special election. Ford said 47,641 Democrats and 29,782 Republicans voted in the District 6 primary. “That’s a clear indication that a Democrat can win that seat and a Democrat will win that seat,” Ford said.
—-Contact Emily Holden at [email protected]