Daily World - Boasso Makes Stop in Opelousas

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Daily World - Boasso Makes Stop in Opelousas

By Andrés Serna
Special to the Daily World

State senator and gubernatorial candidate Walter Boasso delivered a speech in front of about 200 people at the South City Park Community Center Thursday, promising changes are coming for Louisiana.

"Louisiana is at a crossroads right now - so we have an opportunity to make a change," Boasso said.

Boasso, D-Arabi, is one of the seven candidates running for the highest public office in the state. U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, is the front-runner, but Boasso said Jindal is ducking him in recent debates around the state.

"He has a lot of concern for answering his questions, especially on his record in Washington (D.C.)," Boasso said. "He's been very evasive on answers on questions on Louisiana, which is a disservice to the people."

Boasso says unlike other candidates, he is not in this race for his own personal gain.

"I don't have to do this to make a living," he said. "I love this state - I'm doing this for the people."

Boasso says he loves St. Landry Parish and always enjoys visiting Opelousas.

"I love Opelousas," he said. "When I come here, it feels like home."

However, according to recent polls, Boasso would need more than just the support of St. Landry Parish to win the Oct. 20 election.

A recent Southern Media & Opinion Research poll released Monday showed only 14.3 percent of people would vote for Boasso when asked who they would vote for if the election for Governor was held now.

By comparison, front-runner Jindal had 64 percent of the 600 people polled.

Boasso dismisses the poll as inconclusive.

"We know what our numbers are," Boasso said. "You can make numbers say what you want them to stay, but I know what the truth is."

Some people have formed their opinion on Boasso from the Democrat's recent television ads, featuring the State Senator and a cardboard cutout of Jindal. Boasso said the ads have also helped people learn who he is and what he stands for.

"People didn't know who I am, but now people know there's a race," Boasso said. "People know I'm real."

One member of the audience said the only way he had previously heard of Boasso was because of the recent television ads.

"I don't know him personally, but I heard him on the TV," said Darrell Pitre Sr., a resident of Opelousas. "He sounded good and those are excellent, excellent commercials."

Many of the people in attendance went to the meeting in order to hear what Boasso had to say and support the state senator.

"I think he's the best candidate," said Rocky Decloutte, a resident of Lawtell. "Really, he'd be the best governor of all the four running."

Another member of the audience, Wanda Burney of Eunice, agreed with Decloutte.

"I like his ideas," she said. "He wants to change Louisiana for the better."

Boasso said the changes that have to be made are obvious.

"We all know what the problems are - education, health care, highways and insurance," he said. "The question is, why haven't they been fixed?"

Boasso aims to change this.

"We need to provide opportunity in Louisiana," he said. "I'm going to bring this state together."

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