Empower PAC Endorses Shelton Cobb in LPSB District 3

Lafayette, LA - Empower PAC, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's political action committee, announced the endorsement of Shelton Cobb, a Democratic candidate for the Lafayette Parish School Board in District 3.

“Few members of the school board have shown the courage Shelton Cobb demonstrates month after month,” said Empower PAC Chairman Frank Neuner. “Shelton's entire career has been devoted to educating and serving our community. Anyone who spends time with him immediately notices his passion for encouraging community involvement and understanding the concerns of the district. He is a leader that doesn't back down when it comes to putting students first. We applaud his unwavering commitment, but so do hundreds of parents and grandparents who want our children to excel in school and beyond.”

“My vision is for Lafayette Parish School System to become an 'A' district, and I'm proud to have the endorsement of any group that shares that vision,” said Shelton Cobb. “As an educator, I know our district can do better. I refuse to sit quietly while our board strips funding away from the students who need it most. Our students deserve an excellent education, no matter where they live, or what school they attend, and it's time for the board to provide our students and teachers with the support and resources they need to be successful. My involvement has always stemmed from my desire to help our children, and I'll continue to work with parents, teachers, and community leaders to make our school system the best in the state.”

Cobb, a lifelong resident of Lafayette Parish and graduate of Paul Breaux High School, is a retired educator with over 35 years of experience. He served as a teacher, state administrator, and a director of Louisiana Technical College at Lafayette. Cobb holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then USL), and a master's degree from Southern University. He and his wife Rebecca are parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church.

“Despite the dysfunction of our school board, there have been incumbents who consistently voted to improve student achievement by supporting the community developed Turnaround Plan,” added Jason El Koubi, a non-voting member of Empower PAC's board of directors and President & CEO of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. “We commend the hard fought efforts of those individuals. Our community deserves leaders who will remain focused on improving student achievement and preparedness. To that end, Empower PAC worked to identify candidates committed to implementing 'a Common Vision for Our Future,'  a set of principles and priorities for Lafayette's public schools endorsed by 13 community organizations. The vision stresses good governance practices, a commitment to evidence-based instruction, community engagement, and forging a path towards facilities we can be proud of.”

Empower PAC, a non-partisan political action arm of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, works diligently to support qualified candidates with the leadership and commitment to end the dysfunction of our school board and put the focus back on what matters most: the students.