Voters across Louisiana go to the polls Saturday. The party primaries for U.S. Senate lead the ballot, but there are many local races, including a tax for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.
Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish, which has campaigned against some recent renewals, is urging voters to get behind this one. Terry King with Concerned Citizens says even before former Sheriff Randy Smith's criminal charges, some residents had questions about his spending.
"That should no longer be an issue. Since Randy's gone, the problem with leadership and the spending of those funds has been resolved," King said.
King says this money is essential for deputies and other sheriff's office employees.
"We do believe that the rank-and-file deputies at the sheriff's office need to be supported," he said.
Interim Sheriff Bret Ibert was unavailable for an interview, but sent this statement to WWL First News:
"My hope is that voters will keep the focus on the dedicated men and women who protect this community and the services they provide every day. This renewal is about the deputies, detectives, corrections employees, dispatchers and support staff who show up every day to serve the people of St. Tammany Parish. It's not a new tax. It's a renewal of an existing millage that has supported law enforcement since 1978, and it's being renewed at a lower rate."
