Two Conservative Central Republicans – One Vote

This Saturday, March 2nd from 6AM to 8PM, the polls are open for voters in District 65 to select their next Representative to the Louisiana Legislature.  Two candidates from Central, Barry Ivey and Metro Council member Scott Wilson, are both campaigning as Conservative Republicans.  With so many similarities in their campaign platforms, Central Speaks has gone to the candidates to explain the differences.  Each candidate has made three statements about what distinguishes them from their opponent.

Who They Are:
Conservative
Republican
Christian
Central Resident
LSu Graduate, BS in Finance
Business Owner

Their Positions:
Limited Government
Anti-Tax
Pro Gun Rights
Pro-Life

What distinguishes you from your opponent?

STATEMENT #1

Barry Ivey
    I am an ordinary citizen who is very concerned about the direction of our government and the erosion of our freedom. I have not been part of the political establishment. As an outsider, I believe that I can present a unique perspective that can’t be offered by someone who has been raised around politics for much of his life.
    If we are going to see real change in government, we can’t keep electing the same politicians from the same political families.
    It's difficult for candidates to be anti-establishment when they are relying on the establishment to fund their campaigns. I’ve funded most of my campaign myself. I will be an independent voice.
    I offer the people of Central and Baton Rouge a fresh, new perspective…one from an ordinary person who works for a living, raises a family and cares about his country.

STATEMENT #2

Barry Ivey
I believe that government is too big and spends too much money.
    At this difficult point in our nation’s history, I am opposed to increasing our local, state or federal government budgets.  My opponent, a councilman, has voted three times in four years to increase the budget of the city/parish government by a total of $81 million. I would have opposed these increases and asked for cuts in other departments to fully fund public safety.
    The city/parish budget has increased by a incredible 40% in the past 8 years.  I have never heard my opponent making that point. But he keeps voting for more spending.
    If we couldn’t count on my opponent to vote against higher spending on the Metro Council, I doubt that he will hold the line on spending at the State Capitol, where pressure from lobbyists and other politicians is much more intense.

Scott Wilson
    The second key difference is our level of truthfulness during our respective campaigns. My opponent told voters that he is a “ordinary citizen” fighting for our community. But he failed to tell you that he sits on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Republican Party and attended the GOP Convention in Florida while Central dug out from Hurricane Isaac.
    My opponent claims he’s endorsed by the Republican Party, but neither the state nor national parties endorsed. However, he is endorsed by a local GOP group whose Chairman accepted $6,000 from my opponent’s campaign fund.
    My opponent is a member of the Board of Trustees for Labor Union Local 198 where he votes on union pension issues important to his business. However, he campaigned on being “pro-business.”
    And, my opponent told voters he supported Central Schools but actually never voted for them at the polls – not one time.