JEFF BLOG: Contact Legislators NOW to Demand Fair Districting!

By Paul Anger, 2nd Vice Chair for Public Relations, Jefferson Parish Democrats

The most important action we can take right now on behalf of voting rights: Let Louisiana Legislators know – immediately, repeatedly, in no uncertain terms – that we demand every Louisianan be able to cast a meaningful vote.

         That’s not the case now. Many black and brown voters are in effect disenfranchised by rigged voting districts. That must change, and it WILL if legislators and Gov. John Bel Edwards approve districts that reflect Louisiana’s population shifts -- more folks in southern Louisiana, more in urban and suburban parishes, more people of color. Black voters make up 32.8% of state population, but only 1 of 6 Congressional voting districts – 16.6% -- has black voters in the majority.  

Similar imbalances abound in districts that elect state reps and senators, judges, Board of Education members and more. Legislators convene Tuesday, Feb. 1, in special session to consider new voting maps that must be on the governor’s desk by Feb. 20 for his signature – or veto. The time to contact legislators and the governor via email or phone call is NOW.  

++ SUGGESTED TEMPLATE for Email/Phone Call (Feel Free to Tweak):

Hi, my name is _____________, I am a resident of ______________ parish.

Please show your commitment to fair districting by signing the fair districts pledge at https://www.fairdistrictsla.org/pledge. I am asking you to vote for maps that ensure fair representation for minorities. This includes having 2 majority/minority competitive Congressional districts. This is fair, just, and complies with the law. Do you support 2 majority/minority districts? Are you committed to making ALL new voting districts for ALL elections fair? Thank you for your hard work, transparency and integrity going forward. Sincerely, ___________________.

++ TIPS ON GIVING FEEDBACK

          ++ Call or email each legislator individually, when you have time. A blast email has less impact.  Do so ASAP – and then again and again, based on progress or lack of it as the special session moves along.

          ++ Contact Gov. Edwards’ office, too. Tell him to approve maps that enfranchise voters in competitive districts – and veto those that fall short. 866-366-1121 or visit Office of the Governor for an email form.

          ++ Prioritize (1) Legislators from your home parish and. (2) Legislators serving on the Governmental Affairs committees for the statehouse and senate. They will recommend new maps to the full house and senate.

++ JEFFERSON PARISH STATE REPS

Joseph Orgeron, Dist. 54, R, hse054@legis.la.gov (985) 693-9000           

John Illg, Jr, Dist. 78, R, hse078@legis.la.gov (504) 736-7030      

Debbie Villio, Dist. 79, R, hse079@legis.la.gov (504) 468-8603      

Polly Thomas, Dist. 80, R, thomaspj@legis.la.gov (504)-837-6559  

Laurie Schlegel, Dist. 82, R, hse082@legis.la.gov (504)655-6887   

Kyle Green, Jr, Dist. 83, D, hse083@legis.la.gov  (504) 349-8788   

Timothy Kerner, Dist. 84, R, hse084@legis.la.gov (504) 689-7725  

Joseph Marino, Dist. 85, I, marinoj@legis.la.gov (504) 361-6013     

Rodney Lyons, Dist. 87, D, lyonsr@legis.la.gov (504) 510-5417      

Joseph Stagni, Dist. 92, R, stagnij@legis.la.gov (504) 465-3479     

Stephanie Hilferty, Dist. 94, R, hilfertys@legis.la.gov  (504) 885-4154       

Mack Marcel Cormier, Dist. 105, D, hse105@legis.la.gov (504) 356-3013 

++ JEFFERSON PARISH STATE SENATORS

Joe Bouie, Dist. Dist. 3, D, bouiej@legis.la.gov (504) 286-1033      

Karen Carter Peterson, Dist. 5, D, petersonk@legis.la.gov (504) 568-8346          

Gary Carter, Jr., Dist. 7, D, carterg@legis.la.gov (504) 361-6600    

Patrick Connick, Dist. 8, R, connickp@legis.la.gov (504) 371-0240  

Cameron Henry, Dist. 9, R, henryc@legis.la.gov (504) 838-5433

Kirk Talbot, Dist. 10, R, talbotk@legis.la.gov (504) 736-7299          

Gary Smith, Dist. 19, D, smithgl@legis.la.gov (985) 764-9122

++ LEADERS OF HOUSE AND SENATE

Senate President Page Cortez (R-Lafayette) 337-993-7430 or cortezp@legis.la.gov

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder (R-Gonzales) 225-473-6016 or  schexnayderc@legis.la.gov

++ HOUSE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PHONES

Chair John Stefanski (R-Dist. 42) 337-384-8999, Vice Chair Royce Duplessis (D-Dist. 93) 504-568-2740, Gerald Beaullieu IV (R-Dist. 48) 337-373-4051, Wilford Carter Sr. (D-Dist. 34) 337-491-2320, Les Farnum (R-Dist. 33) 337-625-8569, Foy Gadberry (R-Dist. 15) 318-396-8080, Valerie Hodges (R-Dist. 64) 225-791-2199, Dodie Horton (R-Dist. 9) 318-949-2463, Barry Ivey (R-Dist. 65) 225-261-5739, Sam Jenkins (D-Dist. 2) 318-632-5970, Mike Johnson (R-Dist. 27) 318-487-5377, Jeremy LaCombe (D-Dist. 18) 225-637-3803, Tanner Magee (R-Dist. 53) 985-858-2970, Candace Newell (D-Dist. 99) 504-240-3435, Malinda White (D-Dist. 75) 985-730-2147, Clay Schexnayder (R-Dist. 81) 225-473-6016, Daryl Andrew Deshotel (R-Dist. 28) 318-253-8891, Rodney Lyons (D-Dist. 87) 504-510-5417.

++ HOUSE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE EMAILS (Same Order as Above)

stefanskij@legis.la.gov, duplessisr@legis.la.gov, hse048@legis.la.gov, hse034@legis.la.gov, hse033@legis.la.gov, hse015@legis.la.gov,  hodgesv@legis.la.gov, hortond@legis.la.gov, iveyb@legis.la.gov, jenkinss@legis.la.gov, hse027@legis.la.gov, hse018@legis.la.gov, mageet@legis.la.gov, hse099@legis.la.gov, whitema@legis.la.gov, schexnayderc@legis.la.gov, hse028@legis.la.gov, lyonsr@legis.la.gov

++ SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PHONES

Chair Sharon Hewitt (R-Dist. 1) 504-278-6530, Barry Milligan (R-Dist. 38), 318-862-3100, Ed Price (D-Dist. 2) 225-644-6738, Jimmy Harris (D-Dist. 4) 504-243-1960, Franklin Foil (R-Dist. 16) 225-342-6777, Brett Allain (R-Dist. 21) 337-828-9107, Mike Reese (R-Dist. 30) 337-238-6435, Glen Womack (R-Dist. 32) 318-744-0005, Greg Tarver (D-Dist. 39) 318-227-1499.

++ SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE EMAILS (Same Order as Above)

hewitts@legis.la.gov, sen38@legis.la.gov, pricee@legis.la.gov, harrisj@legis.la.gov, foilf@legis.la.gov, allainb@legis.la.gov, sen30@legis.la.gov, sen32@legis.la.gov, tarverg@legis.la.gov.