St. Martinville And Jeanerette Representatives Look To Fill Vacant Senate Seat

Two members of the Louisiana House of Representatives are among those who'll seek to fill state Senator Troy Hebert's now-vacant seat. Hebert, a Democrat, stepped down to become the Commissioner of Alcohol & Tobacco Control. St. Martinville Democratic Rep. Fred Mills says he wants to fill that senate seat. Mills has been in the House since 2008. He considers himself a fiscally conservative Democrat, and says he's not daunted by a Republican challenge in a state that is leaning ever-further towards the GOP. Qualifying for the January 22nd special election starts December 15th. Jeanerette Republican Simone Champagne says she'll make her official declaration to run for the Senate District 22 seat soon. (Champagne says she and Mills are friends, and she expects to run a civil campaign.)
Champagne switched parties to become a Republican last June, and feels the GOP better reflects her conservative values. The state faces re-apportionment of congressional and legislative districts in 2011 and must resolve a $1.6-Billion budget deficit, and she's ready to tackle those challenges as a state Senator.