12-12-2006
State Senator Walter Boasso ( R) Chalmette, came to Lafayette this
past December 11th and held a town meeting at the Clifton Chenier
Center on Willow Street. This town meeting was attended by a crowd of about 34
people including State Rep. Ernie Alexander, former state rep. Raymond “LaLa”
Lalonde, Conrad Comeaux, Matt Stuller, Sterling Lejeune, as well as Parish
Councilman Bruce Conque who, after admitting that he had never heard of Boasso,
practically levitated to the site from a zoning meeting when he saw the Channel
10 News van.
Boasso is a self-made millionaire who was elected to the state senate
in 2003. He communicates a message to people that “Government is only reliable
if the citizens hold it accountable.” He wants people to get involved, to
contact and know their elected officials and to let said elected officials know
that they are being held accountable. His website, www.GetitDoneLA.org, is quite
well done and very informative. Senator Boasso was well received by the
attending crowd who posed a variety of questions to him concerning the current
budget surplus and pay raises, the education system, insurance reform, as well
as holding a constitutional convention to revamp Louisiana’s present
constitution. It was also evident that these town meetings, held by Senator
Boasso, are exploratory for him to gauge as to whether he has enough support to
make a run for governor in 2008.
Senator Boasso might be a refreshing change from the status quo should
he decide to make a run for the governor’s office. Possible gubernatorial
candidate, Piyush “Bobby” Jindal has an answer for every question. And, Jindal
says, the right answer. Not only that, but Jindal has an instant solution for
every single problem facing the state. Incumbent, Governor Kathleen Blanco,
doesn’t seem to have answers to any questions nor does she seem to have many
solutions to our state’s problems. Senator Boasso was very candid and to the
point with his presentation. His stance on issues facing our state was made more
appealing just by the fact that when he did not know the answer to a question,
he very candidly answered, “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’ll find out.” He
encourages people to contact him with their questions via his e-mail address
and/or his website. He also kept up his theme for the public to stay informed
and to hold their elected officials accountable. Parish Councilman Bruce Conque
said that Boasso’s message put bluntly is, “You get what you deserve by who you
vote for.” Well put.
John Paul Stoshak is a teacher and free lance writer living in
Lafayette.
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