INDReporter

Rae Trahan's 1st challenger: Jeremy Hidalgo

by Patrick Flanagan

The discontent with Rae Trahan's poor representation of District 9 on the Lafayette Parish School Board just keeps growing, and was underscored Wednesday with the announcement that a challenger has stepped forward.

The discontent with Rae Trahan's poor representation of District 9 on the Lafayette Parish School Board just keeps growing, and was underscored Wednesday with the announcement that a challenger has stepped forward.

Jeremy Hidalgo, a lifelong resident of Milton and District 9 and a graduate of Comeaux High, is a financial services representative for MetLife, a husband and a father of two young girls.

Jeremy Hidalgo

Hidaldo's announcement could be seen as early, as election day isn't until Nov. 4, 2014, yet he says his reason for running is simple: "a lack of positive, progressive representation," and that, he adds, is something "our children deserve."

He makes a good point, and considering the recent resolutions passed by the Youngsville and Broussard city councils calling for a political about-face from Trahan - both in response to her inability to put down the pitchfork and drop the fight against Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper - the timing of Wednesday's campaign announcement could be argued as near-perfect, especially since word on the street is that come election day the ballot for District 9 will include more than two names.

So with a jumpstart on spreading his name and platform of "leadership, progress and stability" to the District 9 constituency, Hidalgo states in Wednesday's press release that his plan-of-action for between now and election day is simple: "demonstrate a campaign reflecting all people in District 9 working together to foster progress in our school district without sacrificing the common good. This will enable us to realize a better tomorrow for all of our children."

Below is a list of all Hidalgo's extra-curriculars:

Owner of Southern Sports Net LLC
Youngsville Chamber of Commerce (board member / Marketing and Fundraising chairman)
Broussard Chamber of Commerce (board member / Diplomat Committee chairman)
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (member / Ambassadors Committee member)
Milton Civic Organization (Treasurer)
Knights of Columbus member
Sacred Heart Catholic Church member
Member of BNI 19th Hole Chapter member
Knights of Columbus member
Krewe des Amis of Youngsville member
Leadership Lafayette Class 2013 graduate