I have made at least one attempt to contact all five Republicans in the race. There are two Democrats in the race and I am trying to find out how to contact them so that I may pose these same questions to them.

Martha Jane Tassin was the latest to respond.

8 Questions for Martha Jane Tassin

JB: What is your position on gun control and why do you take that position?

MJT: I fully support the Second Amendment and its protection for the rights of Americans to own legal firearms. As State Representative, I would not support any measure that would attempt to curtail those rights in any manner.

JB: How will you address the crime issue in this state?

MJT: I believe that crime is best fought on the grassroots level by fully trained and fully supported law enforcement officials, not by a government bureaucracy. It is a fact that more law enforcement officers on our streets means less crime for our citizens. However, as a locally elected official, I understand and remain frustrated by the reality of limited budgets and misplaced spending priorities. As a Metro Councilmember, I supported the concept of community policing and assisted a neighborhood of ordinary people in their efforts to work with community minded police men and women and turn that area around completely. As the next State Representative, I will take a similar approach and work closely with mayors, councils and others to secure federal grants to fund more of this type policing across our state. At the same time, I will encourage those local governments to fund public safety first.

JB: Exactly how will you help bring in businesses to the state of Louisiana. How will you help keep existing businesses here?

MJT: I believe there are 5 things I can do as a State Representative to help bring businesses to Louisiana. First, I will support the efforts of our Department of Economic Development and make sure it has the resources necessary to "sell" our state to the world. It's critical that we send positive Louisiana ambassadors - from both the private and public sectors - to court job friendly companies to locate here. It's even more critical that we close the deal! Second, I will personally fight against our reputation as a government corruption haven by spreading "Louisiana Positives" any time I have the chance. Third, I will encourage our legislature to resist lowering ethics standards and will personally hold myself accountable for conducting the peoples' business in a professional, above board manner at all times. Fourth, I will use my 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher in arguing for more of our tax dollars to flow to the classroom where it matters most. More companies will relocate to our state if we can show real improvement in education and produce a better educated workforce. Fifth, I will fight for low taxes, fees and regulations on our businesses so those businesses can worry more about hiring workers and turning a profit.

As for keeping existing businesses here, I believe there are three things I can do as a State Representative to help. First, I can encourage our Dept. of Economic Development to recruit complimentary businesses to our state. We harvest the nations' largest amount of wood products from our forests (per capita), yet we don't manufacture furniture. We are among the top three rice producers in the America, yet we don't box Rice-A-Roni. We can make our existing companies more globally competitive if we lure complimentary businesses to Louisiana. Second, I can help to educate our existing businesses about the many worker training options available to them through the "Louisiana Works" programs. Low cost, or even free, training is available to assist our workers in becoming more productive and better prepared for emerging technologies. Better trained employees also makes our existing businesses more competitive in the world economy. Third, I can encourage our existing companies to get involved in local public, private and parochial education. From financial support to volunteer hours, it is critical that our businesses become and equal partner in education throughout Louisiana. An investment in today's students will reap great dividends in the form of tomorrow's employees.

JB: What role should Louisiana government play in our lives?

MJT: I recently heard someone say that "government should do a few things and do them well." I couldn't agree more. Louisiana state government should provide the best public education found anywhere in America, should build and maintain the best infrastructure we can afford, and should act as the chief recruiter for new business and industry to our state. Turning around our state is all about changing attitudes and setting priorities.

JB: What is the most important thing to you?

MJT: My faith in God whom I thank everyday for the gift of my son.

JB: What is the worst job you ever held?

MJT: I can honestly say I have never held a bad job. I have learned much from them all over the years.

JB: What is the most important issue you think you will address during your first term?

MJT: Actually, there are two: fighting any efforts to lower educational accountability standards in K-12 schools; and, making sure Baton Rouge keeps its allotted share of state road and infrastructure money so that it doesn't wind up building roads, bridges and drainage in other parishes. If both were to happen, our parish would be setback 20 years.

JB: Why should the people of district 66 hire you to represent us?

MJT: I hope to earn the votes of the people of District 66 because of my experience getting things done for our area, my knowledge of ongoing and pending projects across the district, my integrity and character, and my full-time dedication to the job of State Representative.