WDSU NEWS HOT SEAT ON TRAVERS MACKEL TONIGHT.
WE’RE STILL TALKING COMMITMENT 2020 EVEN THOUGH WE ARE AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR TO NIGHT.
WE’RE JOINED BY THE CONGRESSMAN-ELECT FOR THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
NOW, MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS AS A NORTHEAST LOUISIANA DISTRICT, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
IT TOUCHES PARTS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
MOST IMPORTANTLY WASHINGTON PARISH TANGIPAHOA, AND ST.
HELENA THE PERSON WHO WON THIS ELECTION EARLIER THIS MONTH LUKE, LET LOW HE IS JOINING US RIGHT NOW FIRST OFF.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU TRAVIS.
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
NOW.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I KNOW YOU SAW THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL DISTRICTS WERE REDRAWN ABOUT A DECADE AGO YOUR DISTRICT THAT YOU’RE GOING TO REPRESENT HERE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT LEAST REPRESENTS,
WASHINGTON ST.
HELENA IN TANGIPAHOA IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE FACT THAT THIS DISTRICT IS SO UNIQUELY DRAWN THAT IT TOUCHES PARTS OF SOUTHEAST, LOUISIANA.
WELL, YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT’S OBVIOUSLY THERE’S A LOT OF ROOM BETWEEN BASTROP BUNKIE BOGALUSA.
OUT OF MONROE, BUT I’LL TELL YOU THERE’S A LOT IN COMMON BETWEEN SOME OF THOSE RURAL PARISHES IN THE FLORIDA PARISH AREA AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA CENTRAL LOUISIANA.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE I VIEW IT AS A RURAL LOUISIANA DISTRICT AND THAT’S TRULY WHO INTEND TO REPRESENT.
IT’S THE VOTERS OF THIS STATE.
SO LET’S TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON PARISH A LOT OF ISSUES THERE.
YOU CAN’T PAINT HEAVILY AND THAT AREA WHICH WAS ODD TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE THERE DIDN’T REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOW THEIR CONGRESSMAN AND ABOUT ONE MONTH HERE.
WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE GOAL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS IN FRANKLINTON IN BOGALUSA AND THE REST OF WASHINGTON PARISH.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DELIVER FOR THEM FROM WASHINGTON, DC?
LOOK, I’VE BEEN THERE THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN VERY PROUD TO BE THEIR KNOW THE LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM THE SHERIFF DOWN IN THE MAYOR’S OF VARNADO ANG.
SO NUMBER ONE.
I’M GOING TO GO TO WASHINGTON.
I’M GOING TO HELP TRY AND GET SECURE FUNDING FOR THE ZACHARY TAYLOR PARKWAY.
THAT’S PROJECT THAT’S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS.
I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE SEEING PROGRESS ON THAT NEXT.
I WOULD JUST MENTION THE YOU KNOW, THE RULE RULE.
BROAD BAND INTERNET WE’VE GOT SUCH CHALLENGES ALL ACROSS THIS DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR THOUGH AND SOME OF THOSE RURAL AREAS OF WASHINGTON TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE WHOLE OF THIS DISTRICT IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.
IT’S THE SUPERHIGHWAY OF THE WORLD.
WHAT ABOUT FARMING YOU TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT YOU REPRESENT WHAT YOU CALL A RURAL DISTRICT PARTS OF WASHINGTON PARISH OR VERY RURAL?
HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS FARMING IN WASHINGTON PARISH AND WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THAT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL?
LOOK, I’M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN WASHINGTON PARISH TANGIPAHOA PARISH, BUT I’LL TELL YOU YOU KNOW, THEY’VE GOT DARIUSH DAIRY FARMING THERE.
I’LL SEE THERE.
HE’S BEEN VERY VERY ATTACK IF YOU WILL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN TERMS OF THE PROGRESS THAT LOUISIANA DAIRY FARMERS ARE ABLE TO HAVE BUT I’M GOING TO GO FIGHT FOR HIM.
I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DOING WELL IN THE DAIRY ISSUE, BUT ALSO OPEN TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
YOU’VE GOT STRAWBERRY FARMERS.
YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF FRUIT PRODUCED UP THERE THAT’S BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS GENERATIONAL FARMING.
WE’VE GOT TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE THAT IF WE CAN’T FEED OURSELVES.
WE CAN’T PROTECT OURSELVES.
IT’S A GOOD TRANSITION THAT YOU BRING.
TANGIPAHOA PARISH BECAUSE YOUR DISTRICT INCLUDES, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS ODDLY DRAWN.
HAMMERED IN PONCHATOULA ARE NOT IN YOUR DISTRICT BUT EVERYTHING REALLY NORTH OF THAT POPULATION BASE IS IT’S THE RURAL PART OF TANGIPAHOA PARISH ON TOP OF FARMING.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS THE MAYOR’S IN THOSE CITIES?
THEY HAVE A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES THERE LIKE LORANGER A MEAT CITY.
HAVE YOU WORKED WITH THEM?
AND DO YOU PLAN TO TO GET FEDERAL DOLLARS?
WHAT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN FOR YOU IN TANGIPAHOA PARISH?
SURE.
SO IN TANGIPAHOA PARISH, I WOULD JUST SAY AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO INFRASTRUCTURE WHETHER IT’S ROADS BRIDGES.
FLOODING THOSE THREE ISSUES OF PARTICULAR COME UP OFTEN AND AGAIN, I STILL TALK ABOUT RURAL BROADBAND WHICH IS IMPACTED GREATLY AND TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
LOOK, I’VE GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE SHERIFF.
I’VE GOT THE SUPPORT OF YOU KNOW, THE SAS THROUGH THERE AND TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
GOT TO KNOW THE MAYOR INDEPENDENCE REALLY WELL, AND I’VE REPRESENTED OR HELP TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT AND THAT PART OF IT FOR, YOU KNOW, SIX YEARS ALREADY.
SO THERE’S GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY A NEED FOR ME TO BE ON THE GROUND.
THEY’RE OFTEN.
I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I AM THEIR CONGRESSMEN IN THE THAT PARISH.
WILLIAM STEALING IT TO NOT LOOSE IF YOU WANT TO GO THAT FAR.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE PEOPLE LIVING THERE NOT FEEL LEFT OUT BECAUSE LET’S JUST BE HONEST THE BULK OF YOUR DISTRICT IS NORTHEAST LOUISIANA THIS IS A SLITHER OF IT VERY IMPORTANT TO
THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AREA BUT WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON’T FEEL LEFT OUT THAT YOU’RE NOT OUT OF TOUCH WITH PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA RIGHT.
SO THE FIRST THING I’M GOING TO DO IS I’M GOING TO PUT AN OFFICIAL OFFICE IN AMITE, LOUISIANA, WHICH IS REALLY RIGHT BETWEEN BOGALUSA IN ST.
FRANCISVILLE.
WE’VE GOT HAD THAT BEFORE WE TRIED AN OFFICE BEFORE THE FLORIDA PARISHES, BUT IT WAS MORE TO THE WEST I BELIEVE EIGHT METERS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT.
WE’VE ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS AGAIN.
I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I’M THEIR CONGRESSMAN AND I WANT TO KNOW THEM ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.
SO GOTTA GO THERE THERE OFTEN THAT BURDENS ON V AND I INTEND TO KEEP IT.
YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND YOU CAME UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF BOBBY JINDAL YOUR WORK FOR THE CURRENT CONGRESSMAN RALPH ABRAHAM WHO YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE HIS SPOT NOW AFTER WORKING IN
HIS OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE REST OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION?
OBVIOUSLY, STEVE SCALISE AND CEDRIC RICHMOND.
IT WON’T BE CEDRIC RICHMOND MUCH LONGER AS HE’S LEAVING TO WORK FOR THE BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
BUT HOW DO YOU WORK WITH THE REST OF THIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHAT HE HAS?
I KNOW IT’S KIND OF A REPETITIVE QUESTION HERE.
WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE GOAL IN YOUR OPINION FOR STATE FOR THIS DELEGATION?
RIGHT.
SO WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT THE LOUISIANA DELEGATION IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I’M KNOWN THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THROUGHOUT THIS STATE FOR MOST OF THEM FOR 10 SOMETIMES EVEN
FIFTEEN TWENTY YEARS SPOKEN TO CONGRESSMAN RICHMOND.
OBVIOUSLY, HE’S TAKING A POSITION AND YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THAT EVERYTHING GOES FORWARD OVER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
I’VE KNOWN CONGRESSMAN STEVE SCALISE FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS.
I’VE GOTTEN A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP CONGRESSMAN GARRET GRAVES ACTUALLY ENDORSED ME IN THIS RACE.
SO EXCITED TO HAVE THAT AS WELL AS THESE PLAY HIGGINS IN LAFAYETTE.
SO I NO, THIS DISTRICT.
WELL, I’VE GOT GREAT SUPPORT ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THE THING WE’VE GOT TO DO IS WE’VE GOT TO BE SMART ABOUT WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE AND WHAT COMMITTEES WERE ON SO THAT WE’RE WORKING COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE DOING
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR THE STATE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, I’M GOING TO TRY AND GET ON COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS THAT YOU KNOW, DON’T DUPLICATE WHAT SOME OF OUR CURRENT DELEGATION MEMBERS FACE FINALLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THIS
STATE AND ABSOLUTELY WHAT FOLK WOULD FAKE FOCUSES ON OUR DISTRICT IS JOBS REAL JOBS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE.
I’M GOING TO GO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING IN OPPORTUNITIES.
I’M ALSO GOING TO HELP HOME GROW.
SOME OF THE GREATEST BUSINESS IS I BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES A GOOD CONGRESSMAN OR DO WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO GIVE PROGRESS.
I’M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
IS IT GOING TO BE A TOUGH BALANCE NOW?
LET’S TALK ABOUT TANGIPAHOA PARISH.
THERE’S A BIG DISTRIBUTORSHIP COMING IN THERE.
MEDLINE IS COMING IN.
THERE’S SOME RESIDENTS DON’T WANT ANY IS THAT GOING TO BE A FIGHT FOR YOU TO TRY TO GET JOBS, BUT THEN ALSO GET CERTAIN AREAS ZONED IN TO AGREE TO CERTAIN JOBS THAT YOU MAY WANT
TO BRING IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
I’M A BIG FAN OF THAT THAT THAT ENTIRE IDEA, YOU KNOW THE OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT.
THEY WERE PASSED IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE GET INVESTORS FROM OTHER STATE SIDE TO COME INTO LOUISIANA TO HELP BUILD AND CREATE MANUFACTURING JOBS,
WHETHER IT’S TEXTILE INDUSTRY OIL AND GAS BUSINESS COMMITTEES THERE IN THE DISTRICT INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL COMPANY.
THAT’S PRIVATELY OLD RIGHT THERE INTANGIBLE PERISH.
YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT SO MANY BLESSINGS.
WE’VE GOT LOGGING WE’VE GOT TIMBER WE’VE GOT RIVERS WE’VE GOT TO TAKE YOU.
THAT WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ABSOLUTELY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD GAVE US.
ALL RIGHT, LET’S TALK COVID-19.
IT’S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT’S GRIPPING THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE STATE AS WELL AS WHAT’S GOING TO BE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HERE.
HOW CAN YOU WORK WITH THE REST OF THIS DELEGATION AS WELL AS WHAT’S GOING TO BE ABIDED ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO BRING FUNDING OR RESOURCES BACK TO YOUR DISTRICT WHEN IT PERTAINS
TO COVID-19 AND LET ME GIVE YOU A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION.
I’M SURE YOU’RE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE OF GOING ON DOES A STIMULUS PACKAGE NEED TO COME OUT OF CONGRESS VERY SOON HERE TO HELP PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
WHY BELIEVE IT WE CAN’T JUST KEEP SITTING AROUND AND WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ECONOMY IS OPENED THAT WE’RE NOT LETTING OUR ECONOMY COLLAPSE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE WE’RE
SPENDING RESEARCH DOLLARS INTO MAKING SURE THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND THEN GETTING OUT TO GETTING THAT OUT TO KEEP PEOPLE ACROSS THIS DISTRICT FOR SURE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT WE’VE GOT TO DO THAT.
WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RELIEF AS A PASTIME QUITE FRANKLY VERY FRUSTRATED THAT SPEAKER PELOSI IS NOT YET BEEN WILLING TO WORK ON GETTING THAT OUT.
NOW AGAIN, IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE ARE HURTING.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF WHAT THEY NEED UNTIL THEY CAN OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY FULL FULL STEAM.
DO YOU THINK NAVA SEMEL CRYSTAL BALL?
BUT DO YOU THINK I KNOW THAT YOU WORK FOR RALPH ABRAHAM?
HE’S ON THE LAST DAYS HERE OF HIS CONGRESSIONAL TERM.
DO YOU THINK SOMETHING WILL GET PASSED OVER THE NEXT WEEK HERE BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
I’VE HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY MAY COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT PASSES I’VE GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO THIS CURRENT CONGRESS IS GOING TO DO IT’S VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND OBVIOUSLY ON
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
WE’RE JUST NOT GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION SO I CAN’T TELL YOU.
I DON’T KNOW IF THEY WILL BUT I CAN TELL YOU IS THEY NEED IT?
WE NEED IT HERE IN THIS DISTRICT.
SO YOUR DISTRICT USED TO BE HEAVILY DEMOCRAT NOW, IT’S HEAVY REPUBLICAN RIGHT NOW IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, HOW DO YOU WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TONE DOWN?
I GUESS THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF YOUR VIEWERS A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WERE SOON TO BE CONSTITUENTS PROBABLY FEEL LIKE THIN ARE TOO PARTISAN RIGHT
NOW THERE TO -- FIRST REPUBLICAN.
HOW DO YOU WORK AND HOW WILL YOU WORK TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ELECTED TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY THAT YOU CAN REALLY TRY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE?
WILL YOU TRY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR DISTRICT?
LOOK, I’M GOING TO ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH ANYBODY THAT WILL HELP OUR PEOPLE AS WE GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER CHALLENGES WE HAVE.
THE REALITY IS.
I DID NOT RUN FOR CONGRESS TO GO UP THERE AND ANY ONE OF THE FOLKS AT SCREAMING OF THE OTHER SIDE.
LOOK I KNOW IT.
I KNOW WHAT’S THERE.
I’VE SEEN IT IN SAITAMA TO SNAKE PIT.
THE REASON I’M GOING TO CONGRESS IS TO GET THINGS DONE.
YOU KNOW, I’M NOT GOING TO GO UP THERE AND BE PART OF THE BICKERING SIDE BY SIDE.
I’M GOING TO GET THINGS DONE.
I’LL SIT DOWN WITH ANY PERSON WHO WILL IS WILLING TO WORK WITH ME WIFE.
THAT BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES DEMOCRATS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, SO, YOU KNOW AGAIN, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK ON A BIPARTISAN MATTER.
THAT BEING SAID LOOK I’M DEEPLY ROOTED IN CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES AND OBVIOUSLY A LIFETIME REPUBLICAN, BUT THERE’S SO MANY ISSUES WHERE WE CAN AGREE IF WE TRY THAT’S WHAT I
CAN MEET YOU.
ALRIGHT, LUKE LEDLOW CONGRESSMAN-ELECT FOR THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
WE FIRST MET A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I WAS A A 23 YEAR OLD REPORTER OF MONROE AND I THINK A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENTS.
SO WE’VE SO WE’VE