Special election underway for Louisiana House District 60 seat

IBERVILLE PARISH, La. (WAFB) – A Democrat and Republican are competing in a special election for Louisiana House District 60, the seat left vacant after Governor Jeff Landry appointed Democrat Chad Brown to Commissioner of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

Democrat Chasity Martinez, an Iberville Parish Council member, and Republican Brad Daigle, an insurance agent, are seeking to represent the rural district.

“If we want to make things change and make things different, show people politics is not about the old regime and the old way of things, get out and vote,” Martinez said.

Daigle said he wants to focus on common ground.

“I want to be a voice of reason and focus on the 90% of the issues that unite us and leave the 10% to Washington,” Daigle said.

Affordability drives voter concerns

Affordability in the rural parishes is driving voters to the polls this week, with both candidates addressing the issue.

Daigle said his insurance background gives him insight into affordability problems. He emphasized the historic nature of the race.

“No republican has ever occupied this district, so what I’m asking the voters: we have an unprecedented opportunity to flip this seat to a conservative,” Daigle said.

He said joining the Republican supermajority would give the district more influence.

“If I’m in the super majority, we are going to have a seat at the table, we are going to have a loud voice, but the relationships I have built not only help me on the local level, the state level, but also the federal level. I have relationships with every statewide elected official right now and I think I can really deliver for district 60,” Daigle said.

Martinez said she represents frustration with traditional politics in Iberville and Assumption parishes.

“They see promises made and things are not changing, and I tell everybody all the time there is power in numbers — I’m just one person, one council member, but seeing the things that my people deal with on a daily basis at a local level, I want to change that, but it has to be taken to a state level,” Martinez said. We have people that live off of the basin; they make ends meet like that — that is their livelihood, crawfishing, fishing — there are people at the state level making decisions and not taking to those people who live it every day. That’s a problem,” Martinez said.

Both candidates expect voter turnout between 15 to 20 percent in the election. Early voting ends Jan. 31 and election day is Feb. 7.

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