Running for Office: House District 68

• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Aug 10, 2007 - Page: 11A

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Republican Kyle Ardoin stressed his experience as a small businessman and legislative consultant when he jumped into the House District 68 race.

“Louisiana has a choice — we can either change the political culture to maximize the state’s potential or remain stagnant and continue to watch our children leave for opportunities elsewhere,” Ardoin said in his candidacy statement.

The 39-year-old Ardoin said his plan to transform Louisiana includes:

• Maximizing Baton Rouge assets such as the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the three higher education institutions — LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College.
• Better access to primary, preventive and prenatal health care.
• Targeted tax credits to diversify the greater Baton Rouge economy.
• Common-sense tax reform that lowers taxes on small businesses and redirects more tax dollars to taxpayers and local governments.
• Eliminating of wasteful government spending by making state and local government more transparent.
• Prohibiting public officials from having state contracts.

“If we, as taxpayers, were shareholders in state government, we would realize we’re not getting a good return on our investment,” said Ardoin. “I’ll bring more accountability to state government and also look to implement progressive ideas to address chronic statewide challenges such as education and health care.”

The south Baton Rouge legislative district is currently represented by Rep. William Daniel, a Republican, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

House District 68 covers parts of the Garden District, Southdowns, Pollard Estates and Kenilworth. It includes the Mall of Louisiana, the hospital corridors on Bluebonnet Road and Essen Lane and stretches out to Country Club Crossing.

Ardoin is the owner of the consulting firm, Publink LLC. He has also been a governmental relations consultant for independent pharmacies and other health care providers.

Ardoin, an LSU graduate, is married to Letti Lowe-Ardoin, a CPA and adjunct professor at LSU. They have one child.