While Jeff Landry has been involved with local politics for some time and is not a total political outsider, he’s never held office. Downer, on the other hand, won his first election in 1975. Downer supported the hated Stelly tax, which increased income tax rates in exchange for eliminating some “temporary” state sales taxes. There are few things in this world less temporary than a tax. While the Stelly tax was at least a more honest approach, it certainly did nothing to trim government expenditures, nor was that Downer’s only vote in favor of raising taxes.

Both men had similarly conservative platforms, but Downer’s lengthy voting record was inconsistent with his currently stated views, and Landry’s a newcomer who has not yet abused our trust. And although Downer is currently channeling Churchill, nothing is likely to change the outcome: Jeff Landry will be the Republican candidate.

Notes on the race to replace Charlie Melancon in the La. 3rd congressional district