On the heels of her opponents' formal announcements, Phyllis Keaty is officially making her foray into the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal race today.
On the heels of her opponents' formal announcements, Phyllis Keaty is officially making her foray into the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals race today. The veteran 15th Judicial District judge is announcing she will vie for the vacant seat against two other Republicans, attorneys Jeanne Laborde and Buzz Durio, and City Judge Francie Bouillon, an independent. Keaty led the field in fundraising on initial campaign finance reports filed last month, taking in $53,000 in five weeks. State Rep. Nancy Landry, her former law clerk, serves as her election campaign chair.
In her announcement statement, Keaty paid tribute to the man she is hoping to succeed on the 3rd Circuit, the late Judge Mike Sullivan, and emphasized her judicial experience. "Lafayette is fortunate to have three strong candidates for this seat in addition to me," she states. "Each person is civic minded, with a good legal mind. It is my hope that we will have a campaign worthy of our community and the memory of Mike Sullivan, focused on the judicial qualifications and experience of the candidates. I sincerely believe my 20 years of judicial experience working in Louisiana State Courts, as a judicial law clerk and a Judge, will compare favorably.
Keaty also emphasized that the campaign will not impact the work of Family Court. "I plan to maintain a full docket in Family Court and campaign door to door evenings after work, and on weekends with supporters, my husband Billy, and my children Jim, Will and Shawn," she said. "My first responsibility is to the people of Louisiana, and the families who come into my court needing help. I take that responsibility seriously."