With current Congressman Charles Boustany running for the U.S. Senate, a full dozen contenders are looking to fill his seat. Eight are Republicans, as is Boustany; two are Democrats; with one Libertarian and one Independent filling out the field. All are male.
Republican Greg Ellison, the owner of Kitty Hawk Energy -- a Lafayette-based oil business, is a retired Army Lt. Colonel.
“My candidacy is a stark contrast to the other candidates,” Ellison says. “I’m the only one that took up the call of our nation to serve.”
That’s not exactly true. While not military service, Grover Rees served as former U.S. Ambassador. Herman Vidrine and Kenny Scelfo are both retired state civil service. And Clay Higgins is also an Army veteran.
The former St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s captain says, “I’m certainly not a politician. I’m going into Washington as a patriot.”
Many of the candidates are taking aim at fundraising leader Scott Angelle, branding him as a career politician. Angelle frames his vocation differently.
“I’ve chosen to devote my life to public service,” Angelle states.
The former state Natural Resources Secretary, former gubernatorial candidate and current Public Service Commissioner says, “There’s a difference between a career politician and a career public servant. A career politician worries about serving himself and embraces the status quo.”
Yet in the next breath Angelle promises, “I am prepared to make sure that our way of life is not altered.”
Also in this race, former state Rep. Brett Geymann, physician Bryan Barrilleaux, healthcare executive Gus Rantz, insurance agent Larry Rader, and artist/musician Jake “Dorian Phibian” Hebert.
The election is November 8.