Central Delegation Has One New Face

Central Will Have Two Senators, Two Representatives

CENTRAL — The Central legislative delegation has undergone one major change as a result of last Saturday’s statewide election.

The current delegation consists of Sen. Rob Marionneaux of Maringouin who represents the northern part of Central, Sen. Dale Erdey of Livingston, and Reps. Bodi White and Clif Richardson, both of Central.

The new delegation will consist of Sen.-elect Bodi White, Sen. Dale Erdey, Rep.-elect Valarie Hodges, and Rep. Clif Richardson.

Senate District 6

Sen. Marionneaux was term-limited and could not seek reelection.  His district moved out of Central, and an entirely new Senate District 6 moved in.  White decided to seek that seat, which meanders from southeast Baton Rouge to Central to St. Helena Parish to parts of Independence, Hammond, and Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish.

White, a real estate agent and two-term state representative, was elected to that seat over Mike Mannino.  The vote was as follows:

Mike Mannino 12,047

Bodi White 12,886

Senate District 13

Sen. Dale Erdey’s district lines moved east, leaving only two precincts in Central and the rest in Livingston and Tangipahoa.  Erdey, who has served two terms in the Louisiana House and one in the Senate, was challenged by Derek Babcock, an insurance agent and pro-family advocate.

Erdey won handily:

Derek Babcock 10,785

Dale Erdey 19,831

House District 64

With Rep. Bodi White’s running for the State Senate, his House seat from House District 64 was left with no incumbent.  The district includes parts of Zachary, the northern part of Central, and the Watson area of Livingston Parish.

The two candidates were local attorney Barry Elkins of Greenwell Springs and Valarie Hodges who is originally from Central but now resides in Watson.  Hodges is a pastor’s wife and businesswoman.

Hodges won easily, becoming the first woman elected to represent Central or Livingston Parish.  The results were:

Barry Elkins 3,194

Valarie Hodges 7.145

House District 65

State Rep. Clif Richardson was elected from House District 65, which includes most of Central and parts of southeast Baton Rouge, in 2007.  He was unopposed in the recent elections.

All of the candidates were Republicans