Three more days

Three more days until the election. Turnout is expected to be low, that's the problem with runoff elections. But then again, only the people who care are voting, and that's not a bad thing.
It has been an interesting election cycle. My Bossier has had some record numbers. I've had several blog posts about the election, including a couple early on when it was just beginning to develop.
The blog posts about the race for Judge have had more than 26,000 views and as of right now 1,545 comments. 
I am encountering a problem; when the comment count reaches 200 comments don't always post. Apparently it is a problem with Google Blogger, which is the platform that I use. In ordinary circumstances, that is not a problem, because very few blog posts have that many comments.
A lot of money has been spent by the candidates. I haven't done anything in depth, but it appears that the total raised, borrowed and spent by all three candidates is between $400,000 and $500,000.
That's a lot of money for a local Judge's race.
Use this blog post to comment any general thoughts you have about the election, and to support your candidate.
It would really be nice if we could get some positives in here - rather than just running down the other guy, tell us what is good and positive about your candidate.

The Louisiana Tech - Indy Bowl fiasco

Everyone is talking about the Louisiana Tech – Independence Bowl fiasco. Here is a video with ESPN’s take on it. For a good, detailed account go over to Tim Fletcher’s blog and read this blog post.

Ethics complaint filed against Mike Nerren

This letter was sent to the Louisiana Ethics Board today. 

George Peyton Cole, Jr.
Brigadier General USAF (ret)
Bossier City, LA 71111

December 3, 2012

Louisiana Ethics Administration Program

P.O. Box 4368

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Dear Ethics Board Members,

I am writing for the purpose of filing an official ethics complaint against Mr. Michael J. Nerren, candidate for District Judge in the 26^th Judicial District Court in Louisiana. I am filing this complaint because I believe that Mr. Nerren has violated the Louisiana Election Code, Part II 18:1491.7. There are three ways that I believe Mr. Nerren has violated this code.

On September 17, 2012, Mr. Nerren issued a $2,000 payment for “Consulting” to Mr. Julian Darby. Mr. Darby is listed as the sole agent of United Independents for Democracy, a Bossier City Non-Profit Corporation. On and prior to Election Day on November 6, 2012, Mr. Darby’s group, illegally using the acronym “UID”, distributed a flier urging voters to cast their ballots for Presidential candidate Barack Obama, as well as Candidate for District Judge, Mr. Mike Nerren (see original flier enclosed). Mr. Nerren’s campaign never reported expenditure to United Independents for Democracy or an In-kind expenditure to Mr. Barack Obama’s campaign for President.

On November 27, 2012, when asked to address the Bossier Parish Republican Executive Committee regarding an endorsement of Mr. Nerren’s opponent based on the fact that Mr. Nerren paid for a ballot featuring himself and Mr. Obama, Mr. Nerren admitted to getting involved with Mr. Darby’s group. Mr. Nerren is quoted as having said the following, “My campaign made an attempt to have the black vote turn out and we got involved with a group to canvas the black community. Somehow that turned into a ballot which I did not authorize and I had never seen until it showed up in three places.”

The ethics violations that I would point out is the fact that Mr. Nerren violated Louisiana Election Code Part II 18:1491.7 (13) The full name and address of each person to whom an expenditure has been made by the committee during the reporting period.  The amount, purpose, and date of each such expenditure, and the name and address of and office sought by candidates on whose behalf each such expenditure was made shall be reported.

-          This first violation is that Mr. Nerren’s campaign reported having paid $2,000 to Mr. Darby, when in fact this money was used by United Independents for Democracy to create a ballot for canvassing the black community, as admitted by Mr. Nerren.

-          The second violation is that Mr. Nerren’s campaign reported that the purpose of the $2,000 was for “Consulting” when in fact, this money was used for the production of the enclosed ballot and presumably for manpower to distribute this ballot.

-          Finally, as there was no record found of Mr. Obama’s campaign paying for their portion of this ballot, Mr. Nerren’s campaign presumably paid for the entire ballot. If this is the case, Mr. Nerren’s campaign again violated the ethics code by failing to report an in-kind donation to the Presidential Campaign of Mr. Barack Obama. Mr. Nerren also violated the Louisiana Ethics Code by failing for report in-kind expenditures for the ballot initiatives that were supported by the ballot that he paid to have produced. Those initiatives include CA NO. 1 and the School District Local Option.

Please take these allegations into consideration, as I feel that the violation of the Louisiana Ethics Code by a candidate for District Judge is a very important matter. The citizens of this district do not take lightly the violation of state laws by a candidate who is seeking an office sworn to interpret the law. I expect a speedy response to this letter and I appreciate your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

George Peyton Cole, Jr.

Brigadier General USAF (ret) 

On the lighter side

There are a lot of videos being made about the Judge's race, and in a couple of cases questions about who made them. Here is the latest, provided to me by a Nerren supporter to lighten it up. It pretty much reflects everything that is being said in the comments on this blog.

Benton Christmas on the Square next Saturday

Benton Christmas on the Square is next Saturday (December 8th). Bring the family up for a good time; the parade rolls at 3PM.

Christmas on the Square Website 

A Video inspired by My Bossier Commenters

Rex Moncrief, who publishes the blog Conservative Drink, has put up a video that was inspired by something I have also addressed, the comments on My Bossier.
This is not particularly a pro-Nerren or pro-Graves video, it just address some of the more outrageous comments from My Bossier.
Disclaimer: Rex, through his company, manages Whit Graves' campaign website. 

Keeping perspective in Judge's race

Check out the new post at Conservative Drink
The comments on My Bossier have gotten very heated, in some cases extreme. 
Regardless of what some commenters will tell you, I have presented the Judge's race in an unbiased manner, giving all sides an opportunity to present themselves. I have kept it open to the candidates to send me press releases in order to present their case. 
What is it about a race for District Judge that causes people to get so bent out of shape? Well, a couple of things.
Bossier Parish, at least the politicians, seem to be divided into two camps; the pro-Schuyler Marvin and the anti-Schuyler Marvin.
That's fine for the politicians and the power brokers, but I don't believe that the vast majority of people fall into either category. I think that people try to inform themselves about the candidates and vote accordingly, regardless of their affiliations and friendships.
I also believe that extreme rhetoric results in hard feelings for years to come, and that's a shame. We will all be living here together when the election is over. In the very first post about this potential race (back in March), I noted that both candidates are qualified and that it would come down to personal preference. 
We will know next Saturday night who will serve as Judge. In the meantime, let's all try to agree to disagree in a civil manner.
You know, for the old people and the kids.

RPEC meeting gets heated

The Bossier Parish Republican Executive committee met yesterday to discuss the endorsement of Whit Graves by the State Republican Party. Both Mike Nerren and Whit Graves were present. I'm told that the proceedings got a little heated at times.
The end result was a vote to send a letter to Baton Rouge asking the state party to either rescind the endorsement of Graves or to endorse Nerren also.
I don't know that the electorate at large is paying much attention. This is primarily stuff for the politicians and for political geeks who enjoy the inner workings of the system.
Bismarck once said that 'laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made'. This is the sausage making of the election process.
If the state party does take action, Mr. Nerren won't have much time to take advantage of it, but with the election just a week away I don't think it will affect the results one way or the other. Personally, I believe that most people know who they are going to vote for at this point, and the folks who go out to vote in an election for just this one office definitely have an opinion.
With all of that said, so far as it goes it is an advantage to Team Nerren.

The Bossier/Webster Judge's race: an Update

Since the primary election on November 6^th, the race for 26^th JDC Judge has taken some twists and turns.
For anyone who is not aware of everything that has happened and is happening, this is an attempt to help you sort it out.
In case you have really been hiding under a rock, the candidates remaining are Michael Nerren. Nerren is an Assistant DA and has a private practice in Bossier City.
Whit Graves is a former State Trooper turned lawyer who served at one time as an Assistant DA, and is now in private practice.
Nerren has the endorsement of DA Schuyler Marvin, Mayor Lo Walker, Marshal Lynn Austin, and other public figures.
Graves has the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party.
Eleven years ago Whit Graves was sanctioned by the State Supreme Court for failing to file a sentencing memorandum in a timely manner. He received a nine-month suspension, deferred, and two years supervised probation.
You can read the Opinion here.
Earlier this week, the Nerren campaign sent out a flyer stating that Graves had been suspended. In response, the Graves campaign released this letter from the State Supreme Court.
In the meantime, the Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Whit Graves for the position. The reason was a flyer that had been distributed by Julian Darby prior to the November 6^th election. The Nerren campaign paid Darby $2,000, of which at least part was for the flyer.

The State Republican Party didn’t take kindly to issuing campaign material supporting Barack Obama for president, thus their endorsement of Graves.
The Bossier Parish Republican Executive Committee has a meeting scheduled for late next week, but I have no idea if this will be discussed.
I’ll keep you posted.

Whit Graves Endorsed by Republican Party of Louisiana

Whit Graves, candidate for District Judge in the 26th Judicial District in Bossier and Webster parishes, today announced that he has been formally endorsed by the Republican Party of Louisiana.

"I am happy to have earned the support of the Republican Party and look forward to serving all of the people of the 26th District with honor and fairness," Graves said.

Following the primary election in which Mr. Graves' opponent, Mike Nerren, issued payments from his campaign to the owner of a group who produced and distributed a flier supporting liberal Democrat Barack Obama, Mr. Graves is the only candidate who upholds the values and platform of the Republican Party.

Whit Graves has served honorably for 35 years as a decorated state trooper, prosecutor and private attorney. He has spent years serving as a Shriner, helping to ensure critical medical care for our children.

Whit Graves is the most experienced and honest candidate running for District Judge. On December 8, please vote for Whit Graves to be the next District Judge from the 26th Judicial District Court.

(Press release from the Graves campaign)