INDReporter

Nathan Granger challenges Perry in District 26 state Senate race

by Nathan Stubbs

Businessman and Vermilion Parish Police Juror Nathan Granger announced his candidacy this morning in the upcoming special election for the state Senate District 26 seat.

Businessman and Vermilion Parish Police Juror Nathan Granger announced his candidacy this morning in the upcoming special election for the state Senate District 26 seat. Granger, a Democrat, will be vying to fill the unexpired term of state Sen. Nick Gautreaux, who announced last month that he is stepping down to take a position as head of the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Gautreaux's Abbeville counterpart in the House, state Rep. Jonathan Perry, announced his intentions to run for the seat on the same day Gautreaux stepped down.

Granger, who lives in Erath, is president of The Quality Companies, an oilfield service group. In his press release, Granger describes himself as a self-starter who launched his own business 10 years ago. "I've created a thousand jobs as a small business owner, and I want to help create even more jobs as a state Senator," Granger says. "I'm running for Senate because I have the business experience and leadership skills our families need in the Legislature. Like most people I'm tired of sending the same people to Baton Rouge and expecting different results. If the people of District 26 want someone different, someone who will continue the fight for lower taxes and fees, and help small businesses create jobs, then I'm the right man for the job."

Granger is in the final year of his first term as the District 3 member of the Vermilion Parish Police Jury. He was one of six jurors to vote against giving themselves a $400 per month pay raise in 2008. The raise passed, and Granger was the only juror among the six who voted against it to not accept the raise.