As a voter, watching the governor and Republicans in the Legislature race to nullify the election of Calvin Duncan for Clerk of Orleans Criminal Court before he could even be inaugurated was painful. It is un-democratic, un-American, disrespectful to Duncan, and disrespectful to all voters, including supporters of other candidates.
If the powers-that-be in Baton Rouge wanted to consolidate the two clerk of court offices in New Orleans because they think it is more efficient, why didn’t they do it in 2023, or 2024, or 2025? That would have allowed time for transition. Moreover, it would have allowed the voters to pick who would hold that new office. Instead, it was only after Duncan won the election last fall — by a wide margin, no less—that the push to eliminate the office became an urgent priority. It doesn’t have to be this way. The bill to reduce the number of judges is timed to the end of the sitting judges’ terms. That does right by both elected officials and voters. Targeting Duncan for different treatment—Why? Because he was wrongfully convicted and later exonerated?—is shameful and unjustifiable.
We, the people, should get to vote for our local officials — not have the governor and his legislative allies nullify our choices. I wonder how they would feel if this happened in their city or town, or to them personally? These are the same politicians that supported posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Maybe we need to post the Golden Rule in the state capitol: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
I sincerely hope the governor and legislature reconsider what they have done and respect the will of the voters.'
STEVEN SPIRES
New Orleans