GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE WDSU NEWS HOT SEAT. I’M TRAVERS MCCALL. TONIGHT, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR DEBATES AND WE HAVE A BIG ONE. THE RACE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AT LARGE, DIVISION A THREE CANDIDATES HAVE QUALIFIED TO RUN. ALL THREE ARE HERE TONIGHT. THEY ARE INCUMBENT RICKY TEMPLET AND HE HAS TWO CHALLENGERS, JAY FRANK, FRANKIE HIRES AND CURRENT COUNCILWOMAN FOR DISTRICT FIVE, JENNIFER VAN VRANKEN. THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE. WE DO HAVE A LOT TO GET TO, SO WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL A CHANCE TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT. YOU HAVE 60S. WE’RE GOING ALPHABETICALLY. SO MR. HIRES, WE START WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US. MY NAME IS FRANKIE HIRES AND I’M A CANDIDATE FOR DIVISION EIGHT COUNCIL AT LARGE. I BELIEVE IN A FRUGAL AND SIMPLE GOVERNMENT. AS A JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN, I BELIEVE THAT THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE ARE IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE THAT TO HAVE A BODY THAT’S A LEGISLATOR, A BODY THAT CAN REACH IN OUR WALLET, REACH, IMPOSE TAXATION, OUGHT TO BE APPORTIONED ACCORDING TO LAW. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WAY TO START US OFF COMING IN UNDER 60S COUNCILMAN TEMPLATE YOU HAVE 60S TO MAKE AN OPENING AND LOOK, I’M COUNCILMAN RICKY TEMPLET. I AM COUNCILMAN AT LARGE FOR DIVISION A. I REPRESENT THE WHOLE PARISH ABOUT 440,000 PEOPLE. I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH EXPERIENCE WITH GOVERNMENT WIDE. I HAVE SERVED AS A CITY COUNCILMAN AND A CITY OF GRETNA. I HAVE SERVED AS A STATE LEGISLATOR. I HAVE SERVED AS A COUNCILMAN OF DISTRICT ONE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND CURRENTLY SERVING AS A COUNCILMAN OF DIVISION A REPRESENTING THE WHOLE PARISH. I BELIEVE JEFFERSON PARISH IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT. AND I’M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON OCTOBER 14TH. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, YOU NOW HAVE 60S TO MAKE THE FINAL OPENING STATEMENT HERE. I’M A CURRENT COUNCILWOMAN AND LIKE TO SAY I BRING LOTS OF DIFFERENT SKILLS TO THE TABLE. I STARTED LIFE AS A LAWYER WITH LEGAL TRAINING AS A LEGISLATOR. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. OF COURSE, WAS A JOURNALIST HERE IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER KATRINA, AND THAT SKILL IS LISTENING, UNDERSTANDING WHAT PEOPLE NEED. I THINK THAT’S AN IMPORTANT ONE. WHEN YOU’RE SERVING A PARISH AS DIVERSE AS JEFFERSON PARISH AND OF COURSE, THEN PUBLIC SERVICE. I SERVED THE ENTIRE PARISH AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OVER 40 DEPARTMENTS, 2400 EMPLOYEES AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, THEN MOVED ON TO THE COUNCIL WHERE WE’VE MADE METAIRIE THE OUTLIER IN A LOT OF GOOD AND AND POSITIVE WAYS. I HOPE TO DO THAT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY IN JEFFERSON PARISH. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START THIS QUESTION. BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS, ALL OF YOU CAME IN UNDER 60S. WE LIKE THAT. WE GET MORE MATERIAL AND COUNCILMAN TEMPLER WILL START THIS WITH YOU. IT’S TOP OF MIND RIGHT NOW. WE WEREN’T TALKING ABOUT THIS SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT LET’S TALK SALTWATER INTRUSION IN 60S. IF REELECTED, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS FIGHT? BECAUSE WHOEVER TAKES THIS SEAT, WE’RE GOING TO BE IN THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO IN 60S, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGEST TOPIC RIGHT NOW, SALTWATER INTRUSION AND SALTWATER INTRUSION. LOOK, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR AREA. IT HAPPENED IN 88. I HATE TO SAY I WAS AROUND FOR THAT AND WE WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE IT THEN WE’LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT, SOLVE IT NOW. JEFFERSON PARISH IS BEING PROGRESSIVE OVER WHERE WE’RE LAYING ALMOST 50 MILES OF PIPE TO ACTUALLY GO UPRIVER AND SUCK FRESH WATER INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND INTO OUR INTAKES. I WAS OUT THERE LIVE YESTERDAY MYSELF, BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHEN WE WERE ROLLING OUT THOSE PIPES AND WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEER GIVING US PERMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME OF ANY REGIONAL AREA DOING SO. SO JEFFERSON PARISH IS LEADING THE PACK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BRING FRESH WATER TO THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH DAILY. IT’S GOING TO BE WHERE WE’RE GOING TO HAVE ON THE WEST BANK, WHERE WE COULD PUMP 40 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY FOR THE WEST BANK. AND ON THE EAST BANK, WE’LL BE ABLE TO PUMP OVER 50 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER ON THE EAST BANK. I’M NOT GOING TO SAY WE’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE POSSIBLY SOME MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, BUT WE’LL BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH WITH FRESH DRINKING WATER. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, SAME QUESTION IN 60S. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE WITH SALTWATER INTRUSION IN JEFFERSON PARISH? TO CONTINUE WHAT WE’RE DOING? I’M REALLY PROUD TO SAY JEFFERSON IS EFFICIENT, JEFFERSON IS SOLUTION ORIENTED. AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. SO WHEN WE HAD THIS PROBLEM APPROACHING, WE CHALLENGED ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND DIRECTORS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, THINK CREATIVELY. THE PARISH PRESIDENT CHARGED ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS TO DO THAT. THEY CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION. THIS FLEXIBLE LINE IS THE FIRST TO GET PERMITTED. IT IS GOING OUT IN PLACE AS WE SPEAK. IT WILL BE ESSENTIALLY A STRAW FROM A PORTION OF THE RIVER AND KENNER TO OUR WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND BRING SAFE, DRINKABLE WATER TO YOUR HOME. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT IS MAYBE A FOURTH OF THE COST OF THE PLAN THAT NEIGHBORING PARISHES NEW ORLEANS HAS, AND WE FURTHER OUR NOT JUST BECAUSE WE COULD GET THIS PIPE OFF OF STATE CONTRACT, BUT FURTHER NEGOTIATED WITH THE VENDOR FOR A BETTER PRICE. SO A SOLUTION EVEN AT A GOOD COST. I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. HIER. SAME QUESTION AT 60S. WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE FOR SALTWATER INTRUSION IF ELECTED? SO SALTWATER INTRUSION WAS ACTUALLY A CASE STUDY IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSES THAT I TOOK 30 YEARS AGO. SO I DON’T THINK THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM THAT WE’RE FACING. THIS IS SOMETHING BETWEEN THE SUBSIDENCE AND THE WETLANDS LOSS. WE’RE GOING TO FACE THIS AND IT’S GOING TO GET WORSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT’S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT. SO THERE’S NO EASY FIX FROM BUILDING WATER TOWERS TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE FOR FRESHWATER TO HAVE HAVING DESALINATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE. I SPOKE WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, MR. VALENTE, JUST A WEEK AGO ABOUT THIS, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BLADDER SYSTEMS REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE FIRE TRUCKS SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST RELIEVE THE CITIZENS PRESSURE AND THE ANXIETY RELATED TO THIS. THEY HAVE PLENTY OF PLANS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE FURNISHED FOR FRESH WATER. DRINKING WATER WILL BE COVERED. SO I’M IMPRESSED WITH THE WITH THE MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS APPROACH. AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THIS FOR A LONG TERM. ALL RIGHT. I THINK I THINK YOU’RE RIGHT. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WE START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. IT ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN YOUR DISTRICT. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN IN 60S FOR THE OLD HEINZ SCHOOL SITE? OBVIOUSLY, A BIG TOPIC FOR ALL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, BUT IN 60S, WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE FOR THAT SITE? I’VE PUT OURSELVES ON RECORD WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT LEGISLATION IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO SAY THAT SITE NEEDS TO COMPLETELY BE RESIDENTIAL AS IT IS TODAY. SO MAINTAIN SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING, MAINTAIN TREE PROTECTIONS, MAKE SURE IF SOMETHING IS DEVELOPED, RESIDENCES ARE DEVELOPED, THAT THEY LIVE UP TO OUR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND THAT THEY DON’T OVERWHELM OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM. BUT EVEN FURTHER, THIS PAST WEEK, I COMMITTED $10 MILLION OF DISTRICT FUNDING TO TRY TO BUY AS MUCH OF THAT PROPERTY AS THE PARISH CAN TO KEEP IT GREEN. SO I’M PUTTING MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS AND WE HOPE TO NEGOTIATE A HUGE PORTION OF THAT SITE OR ALL OF THAT SITE POTENTIALLY BE BOUGHT BY OUR PARISH AND KEPT GREEN. ALL RIGHT, MR. HIER, SAME QUESTION IN 60S. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE OLD HEINZ SCHOOL SITE IN OLD METAIRIE? WELL, WHEN THIS IS BROUGHT UP AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, I ACTUALLY IMPOSED SPOKE TO THIS. THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CITIZENS THEY WOULD NOT SUSPEND THE RULES AND ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO SPEAK FURTHER THAN THREE MINUTES. SO THEY WERE SOMEWHAT CHOKED OFF. THAT’S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I’VE ADDRESSED WITH THE COUNCIL IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ACCOMMODATE THE CITIZENS WHEN WHEN WE HAVE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES COMING UP. I’D MAKE A DOG PARK IF IT WAS MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IT’S REALLY UP TO THE CITIZENS, I BELIEVE, TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED OR NOT DEVELOPED WHEN IT COMES TO FRESHWATER COLLECTION. THAT’D BE AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN TEMPLE, YOU GET TO WRAP US UP ON THIS IN 60S. WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE FOR THE OLD HEINZ SCHOOL SITE? WELL, LET ME BE HONEST. FROM DAY ONE, WHEN I WAS CONTACTED BY RESIDENTS OVER THE HEINZ NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT I STOOD BY THEM. I DON’T REPRESENT A CONTRACTOR OR A DEVELOPER OR OR SOMEONE TRYING TO DEVELOP THE LAND. I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I STOOD BY IS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WITH THAT PROPERTY. WE INSTITUTED WHAT COUNCILMAN IMPASTATO, A LAND USE STUDY TO MAKE SURE IT EITHER STAYS R-1A OR ONE BE ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. MY OPPONENT AT THE TIME IN JUNE 4TH PAPER STATED THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WERE IN FAVOR OF THAT PROPERTY BEING COMMERCIAL. NOW THAT STORY HAS CHANGED TO NOW TO WHERE IT WANTS TO BE MADE, RESIDENTIAL AND PARK AND WILLING TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. MY STANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME IS TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE. REALLY QUICKLY, IN ABOUT 10S, SINCE HE DID MENTION THAT YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT REALLY QUICKLY? LOOK, I AM A JOURNALIST. I RESPECT JOURNALISTS, BUT I WAS MISQUOTED IN THE PAPER AND I WAS MISQUOTED LAST WEEK. I MEAN, IT’S NOT THAT EVERY WORD AND EVERY STORY IS CORRECT AND THAT WASN’T I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT I AM IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE HEINZ TRACT AS IT IS RESIDENTIAL. ALL RIGHT. WELL, BOTH OF YOU ALL ARE ON THE RECORD NOW ON TELEVISION HERE, SO WE CAN ALWAYS CUE UP THE TAPE HERE. ALL RIGHT, MR. HYERS, LET’S START THIS ONE WITH YOU. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH? A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US AND WE GOT THIS QUESTION FROM PEOPLE, THEY CONTACT US. THEY FEEL LIKE PARTS OF THE EAST BANK RIGHT NOW ARE BOOMING. BUT THE WEST BANK IS FALLING BEHIND IN 60S. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFICALLY ON THE WEST BANK? PREDICTABLE TAXATION. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT I’VE SPOKEN WITH OR RELATED WITH IS IS IN DISMAY OVER THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL PERSONS ARE GIVEN. HAVING RELIABLE TAXATION REPRESENTATION. THAT’S HOW WE BEGIN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF GRANT MONEY THAT WE CAN’T COUNT ON THAT IS BASICALLY A THEFT FROM GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. IT JUST UNDERMINES THE CAPITALISTIC ECONOMY THAT I FAVOR. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN TEMPLATE IN 60S, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFICALLY ON THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH? YOU KNOW, WE JUST INTRODUCED A PHENOMENAL PLAN TO DEAL WITH UNDER THE OVERPASS OF THE WEST BANK EXPRESSWAY. THERE’S BASICALLY SEVEN MILES OF OVERPASS THAT THAT IS LIKE DESOLATE LAND UNDERNEATH THERE. JUST TWO YEARS AGO, JEFFERSON PARISH TOOK OVER THE GRASS MAINTENANCE UNDERNEATH THAT FROM THE CONTRACT FROM THE STATE TO WHERE NOW WE’RE CUTTING THE GRASS EVERY THREE WEEKS COMPARED TO ONCE A MONTH TO IMPROVE THE LOOK, WE HAD APPLIED WITH THE STATE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH TO TAKE CONTROL UNDERNEATH THAT OVERPASS TO WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES WITH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO DEVELOP THAT UNDER THE EXPRESSWAY, TO BEAUTIFY AND TO ENHANCE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ON THE WEST BANK. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN IN 60S, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFICALLY ON THE WEST BANK? WE CAN REPLICATE SOME OF WHAT WE’RE DOING POSITIVELY ON THE EAST BANK. METAIRIE HAS BEEN FLOURISHING, HAS BEEN GROWING. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE THINGS WE’VE LEARNED WORKING WELL THERE AND SEE HOW THEY FIT. I’LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. ON THE WEST BANK RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE WORK I’VE DONE AT BENTON HARBOR, WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH WESTWEGO TO CONNECT WESTWEGO AND SALAH AVENUE, A GREAT GEM ACROSS THE RIVER TO AUDUBON. YOU LOOK AT AUDUBON PARK FROM THE TOP OF THE RIVER. WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TO WESTWEGO HAVE ECO TOURISM, HAVE THEM GO TO THE WHARF, HAVE THEM DO AN ALLIGATOR ADVENTURE AND EDICTS AT CYGNETS LANDING. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE WEST BANK THAT WE DON’T HAVE EVERYWHERE ON THE EAST BANK. AND I’M GOING TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THOSE AS I HAVE DONE IN MY DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN TEMPLE, LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS. I HATE THE FACT THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HURRICANE IDA RECOVERY MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT STORM DID A LOT OF DAMAGE IN JEFFERSON PARISH IN 60S. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO BETTER PROTECT PLACES LIKE GRAND ISLE, LAFITTE, AND AREAS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE LEVEE PROTECTION SYSTEM? WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THIS. IDA TOOK OUT 700 STRUCTURES ALONE ON GRAND ISLE EACH AND EVERY DAY. I HELP AND FIGHT TO REHAB GRAND ISLE AND LAFITTE. OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THE REGION, NOT JUST JEFFERSON PARISH, IS OUR BARRIER ISLAND, GRAND ISLE AND LAFITTE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE FORTIFY THOSE AREAS WITH OUR ROCK JETTIES AS WELL AS BACK IN LAFITTE. THEY’RE DOING TIDAL LEVEES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE AREAS COME BACK STRONG AND COME BACK BETTER TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE PROTECTING OUR REGION AS A WHOLE. YOU KNOW, WE’RE BACK IN GRAND ISLE DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. I WAS JUST THERE LAST WEEK TALKING AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING, INFORMING THEM OF THE SALTWATER INTRUSION. PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY’LL HAVE FRESHWATER WHEN THE REST OF THE PARISH MIGHT NOT. AT THE TIME WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS. AND WE’RE JUST MAKING SURE GRAND ISLAND FEET COME BACK BIGGER, STRONGER AND WITH MORE PROTECTION WITH COASTAL EROSION ISSUES. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN, IN THE 60S, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE AREAS OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL LEVEE SYSTEM ARE BETTER PROTECTED WHEN A STORM HITS? SO THREE THINGS, THREE THINGS SPECIFIC TO GRAND ISLE. ONE, THE MAYOR HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR ROCK JETTIES. WE ARE BUILDING CLOSE TO A $15 MILLION ROCK JETTY SYSTEM AT BUCKTOWN HARBOR. I’VE BECOME VERY PROFICIENT IN WHAT THAT IS, HOW TO BUILD THEM, HOW TO SECURE GRANTS. I WILL LOOK TO DO THAT FOR GRAND ISLE BECAUSE IT IS TREMENDOUS PROTECTION FOR THAT LOWEST PART OF JEFFERSON PARISH. ALSO, WE NEED TO PUSH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW US TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS TO BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE ZONE RIGHT NOW, THEY WON’T LET US USE FEDERAL FUNDS TO BUILD IN THE ZONE. BUT WHERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WORK IN THE RESTAURANTS, WORK AT THE GAS STATIONS, WORK AT THE BUSINESSES? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? WE NEED TO PUSH THE FEDS TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BUILD TO THE STRINGENT CODES THAT WE HAVE NOW IN PLACE, BECAUSE THOSE HOMES WITHSTOOD THE STORM, UNLIKE OTHERS, BUILT TO DIFFERENT CODES. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION, MR. HIAASEN. 60S, WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE? I VISITED THESE PLACES. BARATARIA STILL HAS STANDING WATER IN THE DRAINAGE CANALS. THE PARISH IS DROPPING THE BALL. AND IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY’RE BEST SERVED, WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT, WHERE GRAND ISLE HAS ITS OWN GOVERNMENT, IN FACT, GRAND ISLAND INSISTS ON HAVING THEIR REPRESENTATIVE VOICE AT THE STATE LEVEL, FURNISHED BY LAFOURCHE. THEY’RE GETTING THEIR WATER FROM LAFOURCHE BECAUSE OF THIS CRISIS. SO REESTABLISHING A PRINCIPLE UPON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND TAXATION IS CRITICAL TO ALL OF THIS. YOU CAN’T TAKE FROM OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO FUND THESE THESE PROGRAMS. WE’VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT’S PRINCIPLED AND SUSTAINABLE. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START OFF REALLY QUICKLY HERE. WE’LL START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. YES OR NO? ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF LOUISIANA GETTING RID OF THE STATE INCOME TAX? YES. MR. HIRES, YES OR NO? UNDOUBTEDLY IT’S UNAPPORTIONED. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN TEMPLATE. YES. ALL RIGHT. REALLY QUICKLY, WE’LL START THIS WITH YOU. DO YOU MIND TELLING US WHO YOU ARE SUPPORTING IN THE GOVERNOR’S RACE, IF ANYBODY? SHARON HEWITT OKAY, MR. TEMPLATE, I HAVE MY OWN RACE THAT I’M RUNNING RIGHT NOW, SO I’M NOT ENDORSING ANYONE. ALL RIGHT. BEN FRANKLIN, SEVERAL GOOD PEOPLE IN THAT RACE. I’M FOCUSED ON MY OWN. ALL RIGHT. THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR. OKAY. LET’S START THIS OFF WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN TEMPLE. WE’RE GOING TO DROP DOWN TO 30S TO TRY TO GET SOME MORE IN RIGHT HERE. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN UNWRITTEN RULE THAT JEFFERSON PARISH WOULD HAVE A WEST BANK AND EAST BANK COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE. DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IS A GOOD, UNWRITTEN RULE? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE, THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE ANYMORE IN 30S. WELL, LOOK, SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER’S WEST BANK AND EAST BANK, THAT HAS BEEN THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ALL HAVE FELT THAT MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS AN UNWRITTEN RULE. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AFTER THIS ELECTION HAS SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT BRINGING THAT TO A CHARTER CHANGE, TO SEE ABOUT HAVING THE PEOPLE VOTE TO HAVE A WEST BANK DOMICILED REPRESENTATIVE THAT HAS VOTED ON THE PARISH IN AN EAST BANK, DOMICILED IN THE COUNCILMAN AT LARGE THAT WOULD BE VOTED ON IN THE PARISH. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION. COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, IT’S KIND OF BEEN AN UNWRITTEN RULE IN JEFFERSON PARISH POLITICS IN 30S. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? I’M GOING TO CORRECT THAT FACT BECAUSE IT HASN’T BEEN THE VERY FIRST TIME WE HAD A AND B, YOU HAD TWO EAST BANKERS. YOU HAD TOMMY COPPOLA, WHO’S NOW OUR ASSESSOR, AND YOU HAD JOHN YOUNG, WHO THEN BECAME PARISH PRESIDENT. SO FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME WE HAD IT, IT WASN’T THE UNWRITTEN RULE. I BELIEVE IN THE BEST PERSON. GIVE PEOPLE THE OPTIONS IF THEY WANT A WEST BANK PERSON TO REPRESENT THEM, ABSOLUTELY VOTE FOR THEM. IF YOU WANT AN EAST BANK PERSON WHO YOU THINK REPRESENTS BEST, HAVE THAT PERSON GIVE PEOPLE THE CHOICE AND LET THEM DECIDE IF THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION FOR YOU IN 30S. WELL, IT WAS A WRITTEN RULE. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 70S AND 80S, IT TURNS OUT THAT WE HAD FOUR DISTRICTS AND ONE AND TWO HAD AN AT LARGE MEMBER AND THEN THREE AND FOUR HAD AN AT LARGE MEMBER. AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME SINCE I WAS NOT HERE, THAT IT WAS THE CASE THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD ONE ON THE EAST AND WEST BANK. THE ADVOCATE DID NOT GET IT WRONG. I’M OPPOSED TO THE AT LARGE MEMBERSHIP ON PRINCIPLE. ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE’VE CREATED IS A DISTRICT TWO DISTRICTS ASSUMING FOUR OUT OF SEVEN VOTES. THIS IS TRUE OF ONLY TWO PARISHES, ONLY ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON PARISH SUFFER FROM A MINORITY RULE WHERE TWO DISTRICTS WILL HAVE FOUR OF THE CONTROLLING VOTES. ALL RIGHT. LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AND THIS IS REALLY A QUESTION FOR THESE TWO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN ELECTED OFFICE. YOUR SON IS A LOBBYIST. HE HAS LOCAL BUSINESSES. YOUR HUSBAND IS A LOCAL ATTORNEY IN 30S. CAN YOU TELL VOTERS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER VOTED ON ANY LEGISLATION INVOLVING A FAMILY MEMBER IN 30S? WE’LL START WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN. THAT’S EASY FOR ME. I HAVE NEVER VOTED ON ANY INTEREST OF ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVING INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT WORK AND LOCAL WORK ON THE COUNCIL OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN VAN VRANKEN, I WILL SAY HE CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE LAST WEEK HE WALKED OUT ON A VOTE THAT MAY HAVE HAD A CONFLICT. BUT THE ETHICS LAWS TELL US WHAT TO DO. IT’S NOT THAT YOU WON’T HAVE A CONFLICT WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, BUT YOU AT THAT MOMENT HAVE TO SAY, I’M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE. HERE’S WHY YOU DO WHAT THE ETHICS RULES TELL YOU TO DO, AND YOU DO THAT THAT OPENLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT REALLY QUICKLY IN ABOUT 10S? NO, I HONESTLY I’VE NEVER SHE NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION. YES OR NO? I ANSWERED THE QUESTION. NO, I HAVE NOT. OKAY. SO WOULD YOU LIKE THAT SAME I ALWAYS FOLLOW THE ETHICS RULES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LET’S LET’S GET TO SOMETHING THAT’S A BIG TOPIC RIGHT NOW IN 30S. I HATE TO GIVE YOU ALL 30S FOR THIS, MR. HYERS. WE’LL START WITH YOU BECAUSE THAT QUESTION DEALT WITH THEM AND THEIR ROLE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN 30S. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE INSURANCE CRISIS? I HATE TO ASK YOU THAT IN 30S, BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. NO, I HAD TO ABANDON MY HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE TEN YEARS AGO BECAUSE I SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL. WE ARE DISENFRANCHIZED DISINFO AT THE STATE LEVEL SUCH THAT ORLEANS HAS MADE. JEFFERSON PARISH HAS MADE ENEMIES WITH ORLEANS. WE HAVE TO SHARE OUR DELEGATION. WHEN IT DIMINISHES OUR VOICE AND IT DIMINISHES OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ANY OF THE INTERESTS REGARDING STATEWIDE ISSUES. INSURANCE SPECIFICALLY WILL NOT GET REDRESSED UNTIL WE REDRESS OUR DELEGATION. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION. THE 30S. I HATE TO DO IT IN 30S. OKAY, COUNCILMAN TEMPLATE HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, I FACILITATED THE LAW. A BILL TO WHERE WE PUT $21,000 TOWARDS JETCO TO HAVE A THINK TANK TO WORK WITH WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS. THERE’S $45 MILLION COMING DOWN TO INCENTIVIZE THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES COMING INTO LOUISIANA. WE’RE WORKING WITH OUR JETCO ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HAVE THOSE INSURANCE COMPANIES WRITE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AND GIVE THE BENEFITS TO OUR CITIZENS. I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE JUST AS RECENTLY AS TWO DAYS AGO WITH OUR NEW INSURANCE COMMISSIONER, TEMPLE. A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS ME, TEMPLE AND HE ASSURES ME THAT HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING A SPECIAL SESSION AND ASKING THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATIVE BODY TO DO SUCH TO HELP HELP US. NOW WITH THIS INSURANCE CRISIS. YEAH, TEMPLE AND TEMPLE, VERY CONFUSING. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION AT 30S. COUNCILWOMAN, I’M GOING TO APPROACH THE INSURANCE CRISIS LIKE I DO EVERY ISSUE, BE CREATIVE, GET EDUCATED ABOUT IT, AND THEN BE SOLUTION ORIENTED. AND SO THAT’S WHAT WE EXPECT TO DO AS AN AT LARGE. THAT’S AN ISSUE THAT CUTS ACROSS EVERY DISTRICT TO THE PARISH. I’VE BECOME EDUCATED ALREADY IN SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS TO FORTIFIED ROOFS GIVE US TAX BREAKS FOR IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN MAKE ON YOUR HOME, THINGS THAT WILL BRING THOSE INSURANCE. SOME $300 WIND ASSESSMENT COULD CUT YOUR RATE IN HALF. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANT TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT AND SPREAD THE WORD. SO I WISH WE ARE OUT OF TIME. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL A CHANCE TO MAKE A 32ND CLOSING STATEMENT. I DO APOLOGIZE. I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT CRIME. I KNOW THAT YOUR STANCE ARE BOTH PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU HAVE WORKED ON THE COUNCIL TO TRY TO GET THE SHERIFF IN JEFFERSON PARISH MORE FUNDING. I DO APOLOGIZE THAT WE COULDN’T DIG DEEPER INTO THAT TOPIC BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME. SO WE’RE GOING TO GO REVERSE ALPHABETICAL HERE. COUNCILWOMAN, YOU GET TO START US OFF WITH A 32ND CLOSING STATEMENT. 30S ISN’T A LOT, BUT I THINK I’VE SERVED ADMIRABLY BROUGHT SOLUTIONS, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS, LED A BETTER, CLEANER, SAFER JEFFERSON PARISH METAIRIE IS THE OUTLIER AND FLOURISHING. I WANT TO DO THAT FOR ALL OF JEFFERSON PARISH. EVERY COMMUNITY METAIRIE TO GRAND ISLE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL WOMAN AND YOU CAME IN UNDER 30S. SO GOOD JOB, COUNCILMAN. TEMPLATE. YOU GET 30S TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT AND LOOK, THANKS AGAIN. THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING US ON TODAY. LOOK, JEFFERSON PARISH IS A THRIVING MOVING FORWARD PARISH. WE’VE BEEN THROUGH A MAJOR LAST FOUR YEARS WITH A PANDEMIC OF COVID TWO HURRICANES THAT HIT US TEN TIMES. AND THE CONE OF ERROR, TWO TORNADOES AND NOW A SALTWATER INTRUSION ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING JEFFERSON PARISH. AND THAT THE WHOLE TIME WE HAVE BEEN A PROGRESSIVE PARISH MOVING FORWARD. IN 2020, WHEN COVID HIT, JEFFERSON PARISH STILL HAD A 2.5% INCREASE IN SALES TAX AND HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK. WE HAVE A SMALL, YOU KNOW, RETURN TO TAX SALES LIKE IT WAS, BUT WE’RE BACK BOOMING AGAIN. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU SUPPORTING ME IN OCTOBER 14TH FOR REELECTION, REPRESENTING JEFFERSON PARISH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. MR. HYERS, YOU GET TO WRAP US UP IN 30S HERE. THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW WE EMPOWER THIS GOVERNMENT HAS GOT TO BE GREATER THAN WHO WE LET HOLD IT THERE ALL TERM LIMITED. BY THE TIME WE FIND OUT ANY WRONGDOING, THEY’VE MOVED ON TO ANOTHER JOB. FUNDAMENTALLY, I’M A JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. I NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT’S FRUGAL AND SIMPLE. IF WE CAN’T EXPLAIN HOW THAT POWER IS DISTRIBUTED, IF WE ALLOW THE POWER TO GOVERN, REACHING OUR WALLETS BE HELD BY ANY MEANS WE CAN’T EXPLAIN. THERE’S NO GOOD DEED AND THERE’S NO GOOD WORKS THAT DON’T AMOUNT TO AN ILL GOTTEN GAIN ON OCTOBER FOURTH. I’M ASKING EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER THAT HOW IS GREATER THAN WHO AND GET FRANKIE TO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. FRANKIE HYERS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. COUNCILMAN AT LARGE RICKY TEMPLATE COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER VAN FRANKIE FOR DISTRICT FIVE. BEST OF LUCK ON OCTOBER 14TH. THANKS A LOT FOR DISCUSSING THE ISSUES HERE. THAT’S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR THE HOT SEAT. YOU CAN SEE THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT STARTI