Early Voting Is Key to Dec. 8 Elections

bt Woody Jenkins

BATON ROUGE — Voters in the Baton Rouge area face three crucial judicial races on Dec. 8, and there is plenty of reason for concern about the outcome of those three races.

The Nov. 6 election will probably be the highest turnout in a four-year period.  But the Dec. 8 election will probably be one of the lowest.

For all practical purposes, the Dec. 8 runoff is a special election — with the expectation of extremely low participation by the voters.This could easily put the election in the 15 to 20 percent turnout range.

Unfortunately, we will have on the ballot one of the most important races in recent memory — the election of a new Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

This is our opportunity to elect the first-ever Republican member of the Supreme Court from the Baton Rouge area and create a 4-3 Republican majority on the court.

But whether the ordinary, taxpaying citizens who should be fired up about this election will even show up to vote is highly questionable.

We see a lot of moaning and groaning about the results of the Presidential election.  But while we’re moaning, we need to realize that something very important is happening — we are electing judges to the highest courts in our state.

In Judge Jeff Hughes, we have a fine conservative Republican candidate who will stand for Constitutional values in the state Supreme Court.  In all likelihood, he will provide the deciding vote in many key cases.  We need him there, working for the cause of justice.

Likewise, Judge Mike McDonald has been a pillar of strength and integrity on the Court of Appeal and should be returned to that important post.

Finally, City Judge Suzan Ponder has done a wonderful job and is deserving of reelection.

Probably the most important thing we can do to elect these fine candidates — and also Smokie Bourgeois, who has been an outstanding voice on the Metro Council — is vote early!

Dec. 8 will be a busy day, filled with Christmas shopping and social events.  So vote early — between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 — and get the job done!