Real Views Exclusive: Q&A with City Council Candidate Earnestine Armstrong

Written By

Robert Brown

RobBrown.rb42@gmail.com

With early voting already underway for Natchitoches Parish , The Real Views has hit the campaign pavement to give you insight and interviews with local candidates during this exciting campaign season. Our first interview is with Earnestine Armstrong. Mrs Armstrong is a candidate for City Council of  District 2. After serving 19 years as the education coordinator for the Head Start Program in Natchitoches, Mrs. Armstrong has decided to enter politics and become the change that she wants to see. With an endorsement from The Real Views owner, Randy Stelly, I was given the privilege to interview Mrs. Armstrong for a short Q&A.

The Real Views: What are some of the reasons that  you decided to enter this year’s election? 

Mrs. Armstrong : Well, I decided to run because I think that it’s time for some changes with the way things are done in Natchitoches, especially in District 2, where we feel that we aren’t getting the proper representation that we deserve. I felt like the time was right this election.

The Real Views: What changes do you want to see as City Council woman of District 2? 

Mrs. Armstrong: My biggest concern is utility rates in the city; the numbers are astronomical. Another top priority on my agenda is the road for Town South and Payneham community that should have been fixed a long time ago. But, the electricity rates are really too high for a city of Natchitoches’ size. Repairing local roads and getting lower utility rates are definitely my top goals as becoming a member of City Council for District2.

The Real Views: Do you think you’re going to be able to accomplish most of your agenda once elected? 

Mrs. Armstrong: Well, that all depends on the collective effort of my fellow councilmen and the mayor of the city. I’ve never been someone to sit down and say what I’m going to do; I would rather let my actions talk for me. If elected, I would have the voice and influence to help my community, district, and the entire city.

The Real Views: Do you think the city of Natchitoches needs more of its people more politically involved? And by involved, I mean going to City Council meetings, being outspoken, writing letters to political leaders, etc. 

Mrs. Armstrong: I think they should. In the past, we didn’t have much positive reception when we would attend City Council meetings. I think the city council should be an entity where everyone should show up , share ideas, and try to promote a more united Natchitoches. I think the citizens have a right to come in and listen to city government.

The Real Views: How has your  experiences as a mother, grandmother and former Head Start coordinator help you prepare for a political position? 

Mrs. Armstrong: All of my children are grown, I have grandchildren coming up and I notice that many young people in Natchitoches don’t have much to do. There aren’t many activities targeted towards certain age groups of children, so that leaves them with nothing to do but walk the streets and get into trouble. The old saying an idle mind being the devil’s workshop holds true to some situations in Natchitoches when it comes to our youth. We need programs that promote productivity and positive experiences  for our children in Natchitoches.

The Real Views: Do you think experience is an overrated trait in politics? 

Mrs. Armstrong: Yes, I do. Everyone has to learn how to do a job. The people that get tenure in certain  positions had to start somewhere. I think the experience argument is an excuse for certain people to own those positions. Those are public positions that should be put out there for anyone that is capable of doing the job well. Change is good, and in this situation, change is needed.

The Real Views: Finally, education is always a hot button issue within Natchitoches. What changes do you want to see done within the school board for education to improve in Natchitoches? 

Mrs. Armstrong: I would like to see some changes done there. I think too many children are being expelled for things that aren’t worth losing an education over. Expulsion doesn’t help anybody. It doesn’t help the children, it doesn’t help the schools, and certainly doesn’t help the community. I would like to see some changes made that help the children get the most they can from our schools. 

The Real Views: Thank you for your time, Mrs. Armstrong. Anything you would like to leave our readers with?

Mrs. Armstrong: I would like to say that this journey for City Council has been a fun experience. I’m grateful for all of the candidates and the campaigns that they’re running. I think citizens of Natchitoches should feel empowered by seeing other locals step up and run for public office.

La. budget could close some small museums, secretary says

Written by

The Associated Press  

 

 

 

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler says he will need to close some museums if lawmakers pass the budget proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Schedler outlined the situation Wednesday to the House Appropriations Committee, which is combing through Jindal’s proposals for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The secretary of state oversees 17 museums, mostly tiny museums run by volunteers and part-time workers. Schedler says with the budget proposed, he could keep open the two largest museums, the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport, but would have to shut down every other museum he oversees.

 

Schedler’s trying to get local communities to take over some museum operations. 
Jindal proposed a $70 million budget for Schedler’s office. Schedler says that includes a $1.5 million cut to museums.

Air Force plans to cut more than 600 positions at Barksdale AFB

Written By 

Deborah Barfield Berry

Gannett Washington Bureau  

 

 

  

 

 

WASHINGTON — Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City would lose more than 600 positions next fiscal year, mostly due to the loss of A-10 combat planes, under a plan proposed by the Air Force.

The plan calls for cutting 409 drill positions and 171 air reserve technician/civilian positions at Barksdale’s reserve unit in fiscal 2013, which begins Oct. 1. Six active-duty positions and 38 civilian positions also would be cut.

A total of 831 positions would be lost for the period covering fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013, according to the report.

 

Fort Polk would add 32 positions, and there would be no personnel changes next year at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans.

 

The cuts are part of $487 billion in reductions approved last year when Congress agreed to increase the nation’s debt limit. The agreement also requires about $1 trillion in cuts over the next nine years unless Congress can come up with a plan to reduce the debt by that amount. Half of those cuts – about $500 billion – would come from the defense budget.

 

The Air Force budget-cutting plan is subject to congressional approval.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told lawmakers at a recent congressional hearing that proposed reductions at the Air National Guard focus more on equipment such as the A-10, and on whether the planes fit into the military’s strategy.

 

Defense officials decided that such single-mission aircraft “are the ones that we need to gradually reduce,’’ Panetta said.

 

Panetta said he asked Air Force officials “to do everything possible to try to mitigate the impact of those reductions.’’

 

Earlier this year, Air Force officials outlined plans to cut or transfer 24 of Barksdale’s A-10 combat planes.

 

Air Force officials plan to save money by retiring 200 aircraft in fiscal 2013. They would retire or reclassify aircraft from seven squadrons, including five A-10 squadrons, one F-16 squadron and one F-15 training squadron.

 

Most proposed cuts to the reserve unit at Barksdale relate to the A-10, officials said.

Early voting begins Saturday for March 24 elections in Cenla

Source: Town Talk.com 

 

 

Early voting for the March 24 presidential preference primary elections and local elections — including mayoral races in Natchitoches, Ferriday and four other Cenla municipalities, will begin Saturday.

Early voting, which takes place in parish registrars of voters’ offices, will continue Monday through Friday next week, March 12-17.

Hours for early voting at the Rapides Parish registrar’s office are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on those days.

The deadline to accept requests for ballots to vote absentee by mail is 4:30 p.m. March 20, according to a news release from Rapides Registrar Joanell Wilson.

In addition to Natchitoches and Ferriday, the Cenla communities holding mayoral elections on March 24 are Chataignier, Clarence, Powhatan and Florien.

The Democratic presidential primary candidates on Louisiana ballots are “Bob” Ely, Barack Obama, Darcy G. Richardson and John Wolfe.

Listed on ballots for the Republican Party presidential preference primary, even though some of the candidates have dropped out of the race, are Michele Bachmann, Randy Crow, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Charles “Buddy” Roemer, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

Here are the March 24 elections, for which early voting begins Saturday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natchitoches Parish

 

Mayor, City of Natchitoches

 

Marvin Blake Jr. (D)

 

Juanita Howard Fowler (D)

 

Lee Posey (N)