I am very excited to be running for DPEC at Large and I feel so honored to join the progressive Louisiana Democrats who are stepping up to make positive changes for our state. I truly love Lafayette and the spirit of hospitality and fun that our community shares. While our Cajun culture is celebrated now, that was certainly not always the case in Louisiana. For those of us whose grandparents speak French (or in the case of my Broussard grandparents, argued in French), we have some understanding of what it’s like to be in a marginalized group. My Cajun heritage has been the backbone of my staunch belief in equality for all.
I am a library power user and that is what drew me initially to DPEC. I bring my kids to the Southside branch in Lafayette every Thursday afternoon, I sometimes work remotely there, and I attend a Needle Arts meetup on the last Monday of every month. Recently I have seen that my use of the library isn’t even half of the story, it is so much more to so many. There are always job seekers using the computers, moms bringing small children to the library for story time or crafting, patrons attending exercise classes and so much more. Lately our libraries in this area and across the country are being forced to capitulate to the demands of censorship and are losing funding for community programs. We need representation at all levels of government to protect this vital resource.
I hope to help bring about progressive change in Lafayette Parish. I am so inspired by the people in this movement and the spirit they bring to these critical issues. I am pro-choice, pro-equality for all under the law, and I believe extreme measures are needed to slow climate change. In the last few years I have felt very discouraged about our political landscape and I just hoped and prayed that SOMEONE would step up and help Democrats get elected as they run against candidates backed strongly by corporate interests. However, I have come to realize that WE are those someones. If I want to see progress in my community, then I have to be that someone. I am so grateful for the opportunity to run for DPEC at large.