225BatonRouge.com

Austin 6 hit the political scene with a bang.

Sitting elected officials squirmed in their seats. Then they listened and responded to the civic group’s call for change. But as leader Michael Trufant returned to his native New Orleans, the Metro Council turned its back on A6, which had won wide community support to set limits for how long appointees can serve on boards and commissions.

Into this void steps new A6 spokeman Loren Kleinpeter, an unassuming 51-year-old attorney.

His desire to see his three daughters choose this city over others drives his passion to see A6 thrive as a viable vehicle for change. He sat down with 225 and dished out the tough answers.

225: Is A6 really more than a shell of an organization?

Yes. But it is only as collectively or individually active as its members want it to be.

Term limits got a huge push from A6. Are you guys going to punish the council for gutting the term limits compromise?

The proposal as it is being submitted to voters has not been gutted in any way. Right now we are going to take a wait-and-see approach. So at this point, punishment is not a term that comes to mind. The term limits proposal is something that we view as American as mom-and-pop businesses and apple pie. Term limits are good for government. Working for the good of the community means working with government as best you can.

Can you lead like Michael Trufant?

Michael Trufant put you up to asking that question, didn’t he? Michael Trufant is a real idea guy, and it is hard to envision anybody coming up with as many great ideas as he does. But Michael and a lot of people who were there at the inception keep coming up with great ideas, and the focus of A6 should not change.

Why take the job?

It invigorates me to think that at an age when I am supposed to be less idealistic, there can be some positive things around here that can occur with people being civically active and dogmatic in trying to achieve their goals.

Has A6 run its course? Did it reach a peak with the term limits proposal or do you specifically have a grander vision for A6?

There is a grander vision. The group wasn’t formed with the idea that term limits would be the final vision for the group. I believe it is a vision that the more than 2,000 members will have to define.

What’s the next big thing for this organization?

I don’t believe we will get away from working with our Metropolitan Council on term limits and other issues. We will want to be involved in the drafting of any changes that must occur to the plan of government, because I believe that will be influential to the direction East Baton Rouge will progress. Do we step out and continue to promote an issue when there are no special interest groups, as in the case of term limits? I think so, that’s why term limits was our issue.

Who would play Loren Kleinpeter in the A6 movie?

Seriously? [mulling his options] It would have to be Kevin Costner.