All 10 senatorial candidates were invited to attend the event. Although the candidates eventually touched on the issues of teacher pay raises, realigning legislative districts and fiscal management, the majority of discussion revolved around the use of the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement and the prevention of youth smoking. According to statistics provided by the coalition, tobacco use among youths has been particularly high. All candidates agreed that Louisiana s status as a preeminent state one that cannot enforce laws more stringent than federal laws needs to be changed in addressing tobacco law enforcement.
Local government has a better handle on what the needs of their particular constituency is.
Smokeless tobacco is starting to be a real problem with our teen-agers. One issue the candidates were divided on was the use of the tobacco settlement. While Glover supported using the settlement to fund teacher pay raises, McVeigh and Dupre said they prefer the money still go to health care and the TOPS scholarship program. Each candidate also listed what their first priority would be if elected to the Senate. Dupre said his would be reapportionment.