Hilferty wins GOP bid for Public Service Commission seat; Cao advances in BESE race

Beyond the U.S. Senate race, the undercard in Saturday’s party primary in Louisiana featured two Republican runoffs for seats on the Public Service Commission and state school board. 

Both were in districts covering the New Orleans-Northshore area, and their outcome finalizes the ballot for the November general election.

State Rep. Stephanie Hilferty of New Orleans earned the GOP nod for the District 1 Public Service Commission race. She held a sizable lead over former Jefferson Parish President John Young with 62% of the vote with ballots still being counted.

Hilferty established a voting record as a moderate in the Louisiana Legislature, aligning with the rest of the New Orleans delegation on a regular occasion. She has also pushed for reform within the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, a state entity that has long struggled to provide reliable drinking water, drainage and sewage service in the city.

In the Nov. 3 general election Hilferty will face Connie Norris, a consumer utility advocate from Slidell who was the only Democrat to qualify, and Chris Justin, an engineer from New Orleans who has no party affiliation. They hope to replace Eric Skrmetta, a Republican from Metairie who has reached his term limit.    

One other Public Service race will be on the November ballot. In North Louisiana-based District 5, Caddo Parish Commissioner John Atkins secured the Republican bid in May. He’ll meet Shreveport City Councilman James Green, a Democrat. 

The winner will replace Democrat Foster Campbell, who has also reached his term limit and is capping a political career that has spanned more than 50 years.

The Republican choice for District 1 on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is Joseph Cao, a former congressman from Harvey. He pulled 52% of the vote against Ellie Schroder, a retired teacher from Abita Springs and wife of former state treasurer John Schroder

Gov. Jeff Landry picked Cao to fill the seat on an interim basis early this year after President Donald Trump named numismatist Paul Hollis, the prior officeholder, as director of the U.S. Mint.

The Nov. 3 BESE race will feature Cao and Angela Hershey, a retired teacher from Madisonville who didn’t draw an opponent in the Democratic primary.