Tee Alphonse Asks: Who Are the “Elites,” and Why Is the Whole State Voting on Our Judge?

Now Tee Alphonse has been hearing a whole lot of talk lately, and the more he listens, the more questions he’s got.

Because in about a month, the people of Avoyelles Parish are going to vote on something that could completely change how parish government operates.

And depending on who you ask, it’s either a much-needed step forward, or something that’s going to turn everything upside down.

So Tee Alphonse figures it’s best to break it down real simple.

If you believe everything is running just fine, no money is being wasted, and everything is being handled exactly how it should be, then don’t go rocking the pirogue. Leave it alone.

But if you think maybe there ought to be a little more accountability, maybe some term limits, and maybe a parish president to help run things like just about every town around here has a mayor, then you might be ready to see something different.

Now here’s the part Tee Alphonse can’t quite wrap his head around.

You keep hearing folks say this whole thing is about helping the “elite.”

And Tee’s been looking around trying to spot these elites.

So he’s got a few questions:

1. Who exactly are these “elite” people in Avoyelles Parish?
2. What do they do for a living, because Tee might be in the wrong line of work.
3. And where can Tee Alphonse find them, because he wouldn’t mind getting a little advice on how to become “elite” himself.
4. And is there even enough parish money floating around for these so-called elites to be interested in to begin with? Because if there is, Tee’s pretty sure there’s got to be easier ways to make money than sitting through jury meetings and arguing over budgets.

Because last Tee checked, most folks around here are working jobs, paying bills, and trying to get by like everybody else.

So if there’s a secret group of elites running around Avoyelles, somebody forgot to invite Tee.

Now while all that’s going on, there’s something else on that same ballot folks might not be thinking about as much, but probably should be.

You’re also going to be voting on a statewide constitutional amendment dealing with how old a judge can be before they have to retire.

Right now, judges have to step down at 70, unless they hit that age during a term, then they can finish it.

This amendment would raise that age to 75, same rule applies.

Now that sounds simple enough.

If you believe experience matters and judges can still do the job well into their seventies, then you’ll probably support raising the age.

If you think there ought to be a firm cutoff and it’s time to pass the torch at 70, then you’ll probably vote to keep things the same.

But here’s where Tee Alphonse wants folks in Avoyelles to really think about it.

This vote isn’t about one judge.

It’s about changing the rule for every judge in the entire state of Louisiana.

Now it just so happens that this decision hits close to home with Judge Kerri Spruill.

Tee Alphonse understands that Judge Spruill does not want to retire and hopes to remain on the bench. And from everything Tee has heard, he’s been a good judge for this parish.

But whether he stays or not won’t be decided just by the people who live here.

It’ll be decided by voters all across Louisiana.

So even if Avoyelles has one opinion, the rest of the state may have another.

And that’s something worth thinking about.

At the end of the day, Tee Alphonse figures it comes down to this:

What kind of parish do you want?

One that stays exactly the same, or one that’s willing to try something different?

And at the same time, how comfortable are you with decisions that affect your local community being made by people who don’t live in it?

Either way, Tee’s got one final piece of advice.

Don’t sit this one out.

Because whether you rock the pirogue or keep it steady, you’re still in it.

— Tee Alphonse