Special to the American Press

Calling politics in our state partisan and divisive, the Independent Party of Louisiana has endorsed Hunter Lundy — the independent alternative on the ballot — for governor.

“Lundy can easily walk the line between Christian-influenced conservatism and taking a more moderate approach when it comes to financial issues, like investing in education,” the Independent Party said in its endorsement. “He supports renewing the half-cent sales tax that will roll off after 2024 in order to keep investments into early childhood education and infrastructure.”

Crime is becoming the No. 1 issue in the governor’s race, and Lundy believes educating our children is one way to help end the school-to-prison pipeline.

The Independent Party is critical of Attorney General Jeff Landry, who skips debates instead of standing to answerquestions for voters.

“Jeff Landry attempted to interject himself in fighting crime in New Orleans by creating the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation through his office, but a federal judge said Landry’s agents had no authority to make arrests in Orleans Parish,” the Independent Party said. “So he quietly abandoned his much-hyped special task force of state agents. Why should he get promoted?”

Hunter Lundy has represented poor communities that suffered from industrial pollution as a trial attorney in Lake Charles.

“I am for industry. I am for development. I just want compliance,” he said. “For those who have been adversely affected, they either need to be relocated or they need to be compensated, one of the two. We’re not going to justify a great-paying job when a family member is dying from cancer.”

The Independent Party said Lundy “brings a message of hope.”

“People need hope and we need some change and we need improvements,” Lundy said. “We’re a wonderful state with wonderful people and interesting culture, but we’ve been talking about the same things for 50 years and we’re not doing anything about them. I’m a guy who’s going to do things, not just talk about them.”

The Independent Party of Louisiana, founded in 2016, is one of the five officially recognized political parties in the state.

The endorsement comes after impartial research and interviews by its Alliance of Independent Voter Education initiative.