‘Ole-Fashioned Political Stump Speaking’ set Saturday

 

    Candidates for any and all offices on the Oct. 24 ballot will have the opportunity to shake hands, kiss babies, make promises and everything else that goes along with a Louisiana election campaign this Saturday.
    “Gator Bytes Live,” a monthly program on KAPB Radio, is sponsoring “A Good Ole-Fashioned Political Stump Speaking” event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the area across from Walmart on La. Hwy 1.
    “It’s a free event for the general public to meet and hear the many candidates for political office speak,” area businessman and Gator Bytes host André Caubarreaux said. Other hosts of the radio program are David Rivas, director of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Political Action Committee (TIPAC), and Marksville attorney Barry Laiche.
    Caubarreaux said he expects many of the candidates for local offices to attend the event, and some candidates for state offices “all the way up to lieutenant governor” have indicated they will attend to discuss issues in the upcoming elections.
He hinted that a “special guest” who is not currently running for political office may also make an appearance, “but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.”
     Caubarreaux, Rivas and Laiche launched “Gator Bytes” in 2011 as a way to bring political awareness of important issues to its listeners.
    “We discuss anything from federal, state and local politics or any other important issues in the news today,” Caubarreaux said. “This event will be a political Mardi Gras and a lot of fun.”
    Caubarreaux said there has not been an old-fashioned political stump speaking of this size in the parish in many years.
   Each candidate will have 15 minutes to speak to the crowd about his/her election. The candidate will then field questions from the spectators. All candidates will be free to work the crowd before and after speaking.
   “Who knows? There could be some fireworks if the candidates run into each other, Caubarreaux said with a laugh.
   Caubarreaux said the intent is to bring a little of that old campaign spirit back into the election.
  “Modern campaigns can become so sterile,” he said. “This is a way for the public to meet and hear all their candidates at once.”
   Laiche said he hopes the event helps Avoyelles voters make better decisions when they cast their ballots.
“This event is a forward step to keeping our citizens well-informed when choosing 
candidates at the polls.”
   KAPB radio will broadcast live from 9 a.m.-noon. Refreshments will be served. No alcohol or ice chests are permitted at the event.
The only other political event in the parish was on Sept. 29, when KAPB broadcast a question-and-answer program with the three candidates for Avoyelles sheriff -- incumbent Doug Anderson, retires State Police officer Eddie Andrus and Mansura Police Chief John Johnson.
   State Rep. Robert Johnson and challenger Brian Bordelon were given the opportunity to give a short statement on the District 28 state representative’s race. 
   Heath Pastor and Scotty Scott, the two candidates for assessor, also addressed the radio audience.
   Caubarreaux said “Gator Bites” will have Johnson and Bordelon, and clerk of court candidate Norma Lemoine, on its Oct. 19 show.