News

Who’s paying for all those campaign signs?

Public records show who is financing Avoyelles Parish’s judicial and district attorney races

Ever wonder who’s paying for all those campaign signs, commercials, newspaper ads, handouts and the other items candidates give away?

This edition offers a look at who is helping foot the bill.

Public campaign-finance reports show money coming from individuals, businesses and political action committees, along with funds candidates contribute or lend to their own campaigns. Inside this edition, readers can see the names, the amounts and how much each campaign reported spending.

The newspaper’s coverage includes separate reports on the district judge and district attorney races, with financial summaries and donor lists organized by candidate.

In the 12th Judicial District Court races, Mark Jeansonne and Alissa Piazza Tassin are candidates for Division A. Wesley Elmer, Kirk Lacour, Barry Laiche and Elizabeth Williams are candidates for Division B.

Jonathan Terrel Gaspard and Chad Guillot are seeking the district attorney’s office for the 12th Judicial District.

The detailed reports show each candidate’s outside donor support, personal contributions or loans, campaign spending and remaining cash. Donor lists identify the people and organizations named in the filings and the amounts reported. Notes explain donated goods and services, refunds and repayments of candidate loans where those items appear.

The information comes from campaign-finance reports filed by the candidates with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. These are public records that anyone can view through the Board’s campaign-finance website at ethics.la.gov/CampaignFinanceSearch.

The filings were checked Oct. 17, 2026. All reports reviewed close Sept. 24, although their starting dates differ. The district attorney reports cover Jan. 1 through Sept. 24; the judicial reports cover the individual periods printed with each candidate’s information.

The figures reflect what the campaigns reported for those periods and are not final election totals. Source references and explanatory notes appear with the detailed reports.