Editor’s Note: a guest post from Alex Perdomo, a Republican running for House District 92 in Jefferson Parish.

My parents immigrated to this country from Honduras with their skills, their ambition, and not much else. My mother was a nurse, and my father was an engineer. Once they arrived, they set those careers aside and took whatever work was in front of them. They believed what generations of immigrants before them believed: in America, if you work hard and play by the rules, your children will have more than you ever did.

I was three years old when we settled in Jefferson Parish, and this is where I grew up. I went to East Jefferson High, then to LSU to study construction management. Later, I earned my MBA from Tulane at night while working full time. My parents instilled in me that nobody hands you anything, and that’s the whole point.

I’ve spent much of my career overseeing projects this region depends on. I managed construction on the new terminal at Louis Armstrong International, Ochsner’s main campus and the Superdome renovations. On a job site, you learn quickly that good intentions and empty promises don’t pour concrete. Rather, you have to execute a plan, stick to a budget and a schedule, and be willing to be held accountable.

That’s the kind of representative I will be for District 92. Our families need someone who builds for the future, not someone looking for their next elected office.

Today, my wife Anne Claire and I are raising our three young children in Kenner, and we love it here. However, when I knock on doors, I hear the same concern over and over from young parents and retirees alike: they don’t know how much longer they can afford to stay.

In almost every case, the reason is homeowners insurance.

Across Louisiana, some families are paying premiums that rival their mortgage payments. Others have watched their carrier leave the state entirely. Young couples are doing the math and buying homes across the parish line or out of state. When the people who should be raising the next generation here can’t afford to stay, it’s more than just a household problem, it’s systematic and a threat to the future of our community.

There’s no single fix, but I am the candidate with a plan.

We need to make Louisiana a place where insurers want to write policies again and rebuild a competitive market. More carriers competing for our business means better coverage and lower rates. It is the rule that governs a free market economy. It requires a stable, predictable market and a Representative who treats insurance as the economic emergency it is.

Additionally, we must keep fighting lawsuit abuse. Louisiana’s legal climate has driven up the cost of every policy in this state. Fraudulent claims and runaway litigation don’t just hurt insurers. They land on the bill of every honest homeowner in Kenner. Real lawsuit reform is one of the most direct ways to bring premiums down.

Lastly, we must focus on mitigation. Insurance relief isn’t just about what we pay in premiums; it’s also about reducing the damage that makes insurance so expensive. We should expand the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. A fortified roof protects a family’s home during a storm and earns them a discount on their premium. More Kenner homeowners should be able to get one, especially the working families who need it most.

Protecting our homes doesn’t stop at the roof. It means keeping water out of our living rooms, garages, and streets. In a region that faces storms year after year, we cannot rely on resilience alone. We must be proactive, and our government must invest in the infrastructure that protects our communities before the storm arrives.

Anyone who has watched water rise after a heavy afternoon rain knows that drainage is not a luxury. Families shouldn’t have to worry about moving their cars to higher ground, water reaching their front doors, or facing thousands of dollars in damage every time a storm rolls through. Though some is inevitable, mitigating what we can with the proper pumps and drainage is essential. As a member of the Kenner Planning and Zoning Commission, I’ve seen firsthand how long good projects can sit on paper while residents wait. In Baton Rouge, I’ll fight to get our drainage and road projects funded and built, and I’ll measure success the same way I did on a job site: by what actually gets finished.

I also want voters to know exactly who I’ll answer to. Voters must know who is financing the candidates that represent them. My campaign is funded by Kenner families, neighbors and small business owners, not by political action committees from Baton Rouge. There will be no question whose interests I’m there to serve.

District 92 has seen a lot of the same names on its ballots over the years. I respect anyone willing to serve, but I believe this district is ready for a new generation of leadership: people who are raising kids here right now, who feel the insurance bill every month, and who have spent their careers solving problems rather than running for office.

My parents gave up a great deal so I could build something here. I want my children, and yours, to have that same chance. Young families should look at Kenner and see a place to put down roots, not a place they can’t afford to live.

That’s why I’m running for State Representative, and I’d be honored to have your vote. Early voting runs Oct. 20 through Oct. 27, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Alex Perdomo, #59 on your ballot.

Alex Perdomo is a Republican candidate for State House District 92. He serves on the Kenner Planning and Zoning Commission and lives in Kenner with his wife, Anne Claire, and their three children