INDReporter

In Senate 26 race, Perry is ‘empowered'

by Walter Pierce

Republican Jonathan Perry has won the endorsement of Empower PAC, the political action committee of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Republican Jonathan Perry has won the endorsement of Empower PAC, the political action committee of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. The first-term state representative from Kaplan is vying for the vacant state Senate District 26 seat in Saturday's election against Democrat Nathan Granger, an Erath business owner and member of the Vermilion Parish Police Jury. The Senate district comprises about half of Vermilion Parish and parts of Acadia, Lafayette and St. Landry parishes.

Both candidates were interviewed recently by the PAC. In announcing its endorsement, the committee says Perry "was primarily selected for endorsement because the PAC membership was impressed with his stances on education issues and regionalism efforts. Perry earned a 91 percent voting record with the chamber during last year's legislative session."

The PAC's reference to Perry's 91 percent score on the legislative scorecard is sticking in the craw of some chamber members still incensed by the failing grade given to state Sen. Mike Michot, a Lafayette Republican in his final term. In an email to chamber President/CEO Rob Guidry obtained by The Ind, one chamber member writes of the Perry endorsement:

Maybe this PAC thing should be reconsidered. It seems to step in it a good bit. Nathan Granger is an EXTREMEMLY  (please note the capital letters) successful businessman and capitalist... On actual success in business I would find it hard to believe Perry is that much more successful than Granger. This is another example of the chamber dividing rather than uniting overall business interests.