CENTRAL CITY
NEWS General Excellence Louisiana Press Association National Newspaper Assn.
& The Leader
300th
Edition Central City News
®
Toll or Free Bridge? Thursday, October 20, 2011 • Vol. 14, No. 25 • 20 Pages • Circulation 11,000 • centralcitynews.us • Published Every Thursday
Senate Candidates at Odds Over Hooper Road Bridge
Election
Bodi White OK With Toll Bridge, Mannino Wants To Use Gas Tax
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011
Louisiana Constitution
Five proposed amendments
Woody Jenkins
Photo by Woody Jenkins
On the Ballot in Central Governor Tara Hollis D Bobby Jindal R Scott Lewis Libertarian — and 7 others — Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne R Billy Nungesser R Secretary of State Tom Schedler R Jim Tucker R Agriculture Belinda Alexandrenko Reform Jamie LaBranche D Mike Strain R Insurance Jim Donelon R Donald C. Hodge D BESE District 6 Beth Meyers R Chas Roemer R Donald Songy D Senate District 6 Mike Mannino R Mack “Bodi” White R Senate District 13 Derek Babcock R Dale Erdey R House District 64 Barry Elkins R Valarie Hodges R Sheriff Sid Gautreaux R Mark Milligan D Coroner Beau Clark R Shannon Cooper R Erick Teschke D
CENTRAL HIGH HOMECOMING — Taylor Padgett crowned senior Garilon Triplett 2011 Homecoming Queen. She was escorted by her father Gary Triplett, Jr.
Wildcats Need Three Wins To Make State 5A Playoffs
Editor, Central City News
CENTRAL — State Senate District 6 candidates Bodi White and Mike Mannino agree that building a new bridge across the Amite River is the top infrastructure need in Central but they strongly disagree on how to fund it. Mike Mannino said Tuesday night the bridge is the highest priority in the Capital Region, and it should be funded by the existing 38 cents per gallon paid by motorists in gasoline taxes. It should be built through the existing Highway Priority Program, he said. But Bodi White said, if necessary, he is willing to support by-passing the Highway Priority Program and building a Toll Bridge. He introduced a bill to create a commission to levy a toll, expropriate proper-
CENTRAL — The Central High Wildcats had one of their best games of the season last Friday night, defeating Walker 54-15. Now Coach Doug Dotson’s team must win three straight in order to have a chance to return to the state playoffs. The Wildcats travel to Denham Springs Friday night for a
match that is always difficult, even more so this year. Dotson said Denham Springs has a solid team that is very strong on ball control. “We expect them to try to keep the ball and grind out yardage, while keeping it away from our offense,” he said.
CENTRAL — Central voters will help choose two senators and one state representative in this Saturday’s election. All of the candidates are Republicans. They are: House District 64 — (No incumbent) Title company owner Barry Elkins and businesswoman
Valarie Hodges. The district includes the northern part of Central plus the Watson area of Livingston. It is currently represented by Rep. Bodi White. Senate District 6 — (No incumbent) Real estate salesman Bodi White and ExxonMobil supervi-
sor Mike Mannino. The district includes southeast Baton Rouge, all of Central except precincts 3-6 and 3-14, southern St. Helena, and parts of Tangipahoa parishes. Senate District 13 — Incumbent Sen. Dale Erdey, an insur-
Senate Dist. 6
Senate Dist. 13
House Dist. 64
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Central to Elect 3 Legislators See CENTRAL on Page 12
See THREE on Page 16
EBR Plan of Government
Three proposed amendments
Recommendations on Page 3 Unopposed: State Treasurer, Assessor, Clerk of Court, and Representative, District 65
Bodi White
Mike Mannino
Derek Babcock
Dale Erdey
Barry Elkins
Valarie Hodges