[StBernard] Meet the candidates

[Westley Annis]

Meet the candidates 
 

Walter J. Boasso, 47


Democrat. Graduated Chalmette High School, 1978; bachelor's degree in
business management University of New Orleans, 1983; served more than 20
years as CEO and President of Boasso America Corporation; chairman Port of
New Orleans Board of Commissioners, 2001; elected to the Louisiana state
Senate, 2003. Serves as chairman of the Senate Select Committee for Disaster
Planning, Crisis Management, Recovery and Long-Term Revitalization and as
vice-chairman of the Retirement Committee; member of Transportation,
Highways, and Public Works and Agriculture committees.


Boasso's top issues:



Making insurance more available and affordable.


Revising health care delivery.


Making changes in education, like dropping LEAP exams and testing more
often.


Promoting economic development.


Fully funding coastal restoration.




Foster Campbell, 60


Democrat. Graduated Bossier High School, bachelor's degree in business
Northwestern State University; also attended LSU. Cattle farmer; former
teacher. Elected to state Senate in 1976, then Public Service Commission in
2002.


Campbell's top issues:



Instituting 6 percent processing fee on oil and gas and eliminating income
taxes.


Improving roads, bridges and ports.


Funding work to battle coastal erosion and protect against hurricane damage.


Restructuring health care delivery.


Strengthening education and making it readily available to adults.




John Georges, 46


Independent. Graduated Sam Barthe High School, 1979; Tulane University
bachelor's degree in management with emphasis on accounting, 1983; worked
for Imperial Trading Co. in Jefferson Parish 23 years, CEO for past 17
years; Board of Regents for state colleges and universities, 1992-99; owned
and operated several businesses.


Georges' top issues:



Stimulating economic development and better jobs.


Fighting crime.


Improving health care delivery.


Improving education and putting laptops in schools.


Requiring stronger ethics in government.

Bobby Jindal, 37


Republican. Graduated Baton Rouge High School at 16 in 1987; Brown
University, bachelor's degrees in biology and public policy, 1991; graduate
degree Oxford University Rhodes Scholar, 1994; appointed secretary,
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 1996; appointed executive
director, National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, 1998;
appointed president of University of Louisiana System, 1999; appointed
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of Health and Human
Services, 2001; unsuccessful bid for governor, 2003; elected to U.S. House
of Representatives, 2004; re-elected to U.S. House, 2006.


Jindal's top issues:



Changing the political culture of the state with stronger ethics laws.


Promoting economic development by eliminating business taxes.


Cracking down on crime.


Improving schools and instilling classroom discipline.


Improving health care delivery.