Redistricting threw two incumbents into this bi-parish district, which encompasses Lakeview and Mid-City in New Orleans as well as Bucktown and several lake-area neighborhoods in Metairie. The two candidates have similar last names — John LaBruzzo and Nick Lorusso — and both are Republicans. But the differences between them are striking. LaBruzzo is a demagogue whose bills rarely pass; Lorusso is low-key but effective. LaBruzzo voted for the controversial 2008 legislative pay raise; Lorusso voted against the pay raise and signed an affidavit refusing to take it. LaBruzzo was bounced from the powerful House Appropriations Committee for leaving committee meetings early — after signing in to get his per diem pay. Lorusso missed no legislative dates this year, despite also serving in the Judge Advocate General corps of the U.S. Army Reserve. LaBruzzo has run a divisive campaign pitting Metairie voters against their neighbors in Lakeview; Lorusso has the support of the Jefferson Chamber, the Jefferson Parish Republican Executive Committee and the Alliance for Good Government. The choice is obvious in District 94: Nick Lorusso.

READ FULL ARTICLE ON BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

The October 22nd election is just around the corner. If you will be out of town for the election, you still have two options for voting:

(1)  EARLY VOTING: Early voting is October 8, 10-15, 2011 (CLOSED on October 9th) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For JEFFERSON PARISH:

Jefferson Parish voters can choose any of three locations, no matter where you live in the parish:

• Joseph S. Yenni Building, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 502, in Elmwood
• 408 Minor Street in Kenner
• 5001 Westbank Expressway in Marrero, Suite C-2 on the West Bank

For more information, contact the east bank office at 736-6191; the Kenner office at 467-5168 or the West Bank office at 349-5690.

For ORLEANS PARISH:

Orleans Parish voters can choose any of three locations:

• City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1W23
• Voting Machine Warehouse, 8870 Chef Menteur Highway
• 225 Morgan Street, Room 105 in Algiers

For more information, contact the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 658-8300.

For more info, click on: http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/168/Default.aspx

(2)  ABSENTEE VOTING:

The form for requesting an absentee ballot is attached.
For more information, click on: http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/169/Default.aspx

Please pass this information on to any family or friend who might be unavailable to vote on October 22nd.

If you have any questions, please let us know.  As always, thanks for your support!

Lorusso recently received the endorsement of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, Executive Board, representing over 6,100 active and retired law enforcement officers across the state. In a letter sent from the Fraternal Order of Police’s President, Patrick Yoes; the organization commends Lorusso’s “unselfish, dedicated service to improving working conditions and benefits to law enforcement officers.”

Lorusso also picked up the prestigious endorsement from the Jefferson Chamber Political Action Committee, an organization dedicated to creating jobs and promoting economic development in the region.

“I’m honored to have such a broad base of support. These endorsements clearly show support of my record of working to create more jobs, and promote safe and secure communities,” said Lorusso.

New Orleans, LA - Rep. Nick Lorusso picked up two key endorsements this week as momentum builds in his bid to seek re-election in the new House District 94. On Wednesday, Lorusso was endorsed for a third time since 2007 by the Alliance for Good Government. 

 “This joint endorsement from both Jefferson and Orleans Alliance members boosts our efforts to bring the newly re-aligned District 94 together,” said Lorusso.

The following day, Lorusso picked up the endorsement of the Jefferson Parish Republican Executive Committee.

“For the last five years, I’ve worked to build a strong record as an effective conservative and champion for smaller and more ethical government. I’m truly honored that these organizations support my ongoing efforts to create better jobs for our families, stronger education for our children and lower taxes on our businesses,” Lorusso concluded.   

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The Committee to Re-Elect Nick Lorussso

Watch our Saints Beat the Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday October 2nd 2011
12:00 Noon to 3pm

New Orleans Food & Spirits

210 Hammond Highway in Bucktown

Sponsors: $500 / Hosts: $250 / Supporters: $150 (couple)

RSVP: (504) 908-0420 or electnick2011@aol.com

Please make checks payable to:
Nick Lorusso Campaign Fund ~ P.O. Box 24568 ~ New Orleans, LA 70184

COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT NICK LORUSSO

The Alliance for Good Government candidate forum was held at Loyola University where Nick and his opponent presented their qualifications and fielded questions from the Alliance membership of both Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.  After the forum, Alliance leaders announced their endorsement of Lorusso’s candidacy.

“I am honored to have the Alliance for Good Government endorse my candidacy for an unprecedented third time,” Lorusso said.  “This joint endorsement from both Jefferson and Orleans Alliance members boosts our efforts to bring the newly re-aligned District 94 together.”

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UNITED STATES SENATOR
DAVID VITTER
at a fundraiser lunch for

NICK LORUSSO

September 23, 2011 – 12:00 noon
Dickie Brennan`s Steakhouse
716 Iberville Street in the French Quarter
$1,000.00 Person

RSVP: (504) 908-0420 or electnick2011@aol.com
Please make checks payable to:

Nick Lorusso Campaign Fund ~ P.O. Box 24568 ~ New Orleans, LA 70184

*Senator Vitter is asking for a donation of up to $2,500.00 to the Nick Lorusso Campaign Fund and is NOT asking for funds from corporations or labor organizations*

Three years ago, Louisiana voters were hopping mad at state legislators who voted to more than double their annual pay. Some voters organized recall petitions. Bloggers and radio talk shows pressured Gov. Bobby Jindal into vetoing the bill, and many vowed never to forgive those who voted for the immediate pay hike.

As recently as last April, a statewide survey by Southern Media and Opinion Research (SMOR) found more than 86 percent of voters saying they would be “less likely” to vote to re-elect lawmakers who voted for the raise.

Such sentiments suggest that anyone who voted for the raise is a sitting duck. Yet, surprisingly, all is quiet on most fronts with less than four weeks to go before qualifying.

In one local contest, however, the pay raise will be the dominant issue.

House District 94, which now includes all of Lakeview and much of Metairie’s lakefront area, has two Republican incumbents facing off in what promises to be a bloody fight. One of them voted for the raise and the other voted against it. The lines between them could not be more clearly drawn.

Rep. John LaBruzzo of Metairie, whose district was carved up and moved to another parish, is running against fellow Rep. Nick Lorusso of Lakeview.  LaBruzzo voted for the pay hike in 2008 — and signed an affidavit saying he would accept the raise once the hated Stelly tax was repealed. Lorusso voted against the raise and signed a declaration refusing to accept it.

Soon after the controversial raise passed, some of LaBruzzo’s constituents announced a recall drive against him. That sent him running for cover. After being one of the most vocal supporters of the raise, he penned a letter to Jindal begging him to veto it. “It has become obvious to me that we, the Legislature, grossly misjudged the issue of legislative pay during this past session,” LaBruzzo wrote.

No doubt LaBruzzo, who peppered Lakeview with signs soon after new district lines were drawn, will want to take voters’ minds off the pay raise by drawing other distinctions between himself and Lorusso, who already has slammed him for his pay raise vote. “I ran for the job knowing what the pay was,” Lorusso says. “Mr. LaBruzzo won’t be able to hide from his vote — or his affidavit.”

LaBruzzo responds that the pay raise is a non-issue. “Yes, I voted for the pay raise. But the way it went down — getting it immediately — I was the first official in the House and the loudest voice asking the governor to repeal it. And a few days later he did. We didn’t get the raise, so what’s the issue?”

On other fronts as well, LaBruzzo has stirred controversy. He filed several bills to drug test welfare recipients, and his proposal to pay poor women $1,000 to get sterilized made him a pariah even among his conservative Jefferson Parish colleagues.

The pay raise will be an issue in many legislative races, but nowhere else will voters choose between two incumbents who voted differently on it.

“Three years later, voters were still irritated with this particular vote,” says SMOR pollster Bernie Pinsonat of Baton Rouge. “Legislators who face a well-financed challenger will absolutely have to defend their vote to increase their pay.”

Linkback to the Gambit article-BlogOfNewOrleans.com

(504) 908-0420 • www.NickLorusso.com • electnick2011@aol.com

Please join the Committee to Re-Elect

Rep. Nick Lorusso for a fundraising event

Wednesday, August 17th
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Pavilion of the Two Sisters
in New Orleans City Park
Sponsors: $1,000 / Hosts: $500 / Supporters: $250 (couple)
Please make checks payable to:
Nick Lorusso Campaign Fund • P.O. Box 24568 • New Orleans, LA 70184

• Committee to Re-Elect Nick •

Paid For by Nick Lorusso Campaign Fund
P.O. Box 24568, New Orleans, LA 70184

• House Bill 475 (Act 363) corrects the funding allocation provided by the 1983 Special Levee Improvement Projects millage to ensure funding for the Orleans Levee District police force and the operation and maintenance of Lakeshore Drive. Without this bill, Lakeshore Drive would have been forced to close and the police force would have been substantially reduced, placing public safety at risk.
• City Park – Capitol outlay slated for the Splash Park, Golf Complex, and the Amusement Park in excess of $10,000,000.
• University of New Orleans – Capitol outlay slated for the Library Fourth Floor Resource Center in excess of
  $500,000.

Inside This Edition: State Budget, Grad Act 2.0, Tobacco Tax Renewal, Veterans Medals, Sex Offender Laws

Click links below:

2011 Legislative Report Page 1 – Front Page

2011 Legislative Report page 2 – Hightlights