THE JEFFERSON PARISH DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BACKS JEWETT, LEE, MUSHATT, BELLOCK, GREEN, MANUEL, LYONS AND CORMIER
JPDEC met Tuesday night, Aug. 29, to evaluate candidates at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Harvey – candidates appeared in person to make opening and closing statements and answer questions. Candidates had earlier submitted questionnaires about their backgrounds and policy priorities.
After the open meeting, JPDEC went into executive session to consider candidates to endorse (for local races) or recommend (for races that elect officials to serve state or federal offices). A two-thirds vote of JPDEC members present was required. The results:
++ For BESE (State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) District 1 – JPDEC recommends Lauren Jewett of Metairie.
She’s a nationally certified exceptional needs specialist with 13 years teaching in Greater New Orleans. “I’m a born and bred teacher,” she says. Jewett has a strong record of collaboration with families and school officials, has led teacher workshops and also volunteered with Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners and as president of the New Orleans Track Club. Her policy priorities include permanent salary boosts for teachers and staff, plus transparency and accountability in BESE’s interactions with the public.
++ For Jefferson Parish Council District 3 – JPDEC endorses Councilman Byron Lee of Marrero.
Councilman Lee has been in office three years and previously served on the council from 2004-2012. Lee has been a business owner with a history of community activism, including food-distribution projects. He’s been instrumental in the creation of a farmers market and two libraries under construction in under-served neighborhoods. His priorities -- quality-of-life development and job creation. Lee will fight to ensure that District 3 -- both West Bank, East Bank -- “gets its fair share of development projects.”
++ For State Senate District 9 – JPDEC endorses Mary Anne Mushatt of New Orleans.
This is her first try at public office. She’s opposing Republican Cameron Henry because he’s “had 16 years to get us off the bottom rankings for education, job creation and health outcomes for women and infants. He’s done nothing.” Mushatt has an MFA from UNO, has authored three novels, and has worked for Tulane University and its School of Medicine. She will prioritize public health and safety for women and children, education at all levels, the environment, and quality of life to attract new businesses.
++ For State Senate District 19 – JPDEC endorses Marilyn Bellock of St. Rose.
Bellock is a professional realtor, a member of the St. Charles Parish Council and a vice chair for military/veterans with the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. Bellock says Democrats and Republicans must work together, and state government needs to be “redirected to make sure it’s moving in the right direction -- for everybody.” Her priorities include criminal justice reform, lower taxes and more economic opportunities. Her most urgent goal will be affordable home and flood insurance.
++ For Statehouse District 83 – JPDEC endorses Rep. Kyle M. Green, Jr., of Marrero.
Rep. Green, an attorney, has had success reaching across the aisle since being elected four years ago and worked with Rep. Rodney Lyons to get state support for Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office body cameras. He has pushed to end the death penalty, says legislators need a “moral compass” and Louisiana is held back by “good people who don’t do the right thing because of fear” they’ll get political backlash. His priorities -- criminal justice reform, insurance reform, more education funding from early childhood to higher ed.
++ For Statehouse District 85 – JPDEC endorses Andrea Manuel of Gretna.
Manuel is a Xavier University grad with a Master of Arts/Forensics Psychology from Argosy University. She’s run a small-business, done foreign missionary work, taught for years in area schools, and coached tennis and cheerleading. She jumped into the District 85 race “to bring new leadership to a diverse community.” Her priorities – reduce crime, fight for affordable insurance rates, increase the minimum wage and push for education funding in the statehouse. “I will be the teacher on the floor,” she says.
++ For Statehouse District 87 – JPDEC endorses Rep. Rodney Lyons, Sr. of Harvey.
Rep. Lyons has served the community in many roles – Jefferson Parish Streets Dept. (retired supervisor), high-school and youth basketball coach, Woodmere Civic Association president and District 87 rep since 2016. He’s vice chair of the House & Governmental Affairs Committee, pushed for the JPSO cameras and wants to move political discussion from “culture wars” to quality-of-life issues. He’ll focus on bringing investment home -- plus affordable insurance, education funding, health care access, higher minimum wage.
++ For Statehouse District 105 – JPDEC endorses Rep. Mack Cormier of Belle Chasse.
Rep. Cormier has been treasurer of the Algiers Development District, taught science at Chalmette Alternative School, and has represented District 105 since 2020. His father and brother both served as president of Plaquemines Parish. Cormier has pushed for a bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Belle Chasse south of New Orleans to create, he says, “thousands of jobs.” Other priorities include family medical leave, equal pay and permanent raises for teachers and school staff.