Behind the money
Where are the Metro Council’s four incumbents getting the bank to finance their campaigns?
225 reviewed campaign finance reports. Here’s a breakdown of some of the largest donors to Metro Council incumbents.
Crown Commercial, Baton Rouge
Owned by Todd Waguespack, the company (now known as Level Construction and Development) specializes in building houses and subdivisions such as The Lakes at Southgate.
• $2,500 to Ulysses “Bones” Addison, Democrat, District 2
• $2,500 to Martha Jane Tassin, Republican, District 6
• $2,500 to Mike Walker, Republican, District 8
Richard’s Disposal Inc., New Orleans
This sanitation business acquired the City of New Orleans’ residential collection and waste contract a year after its creation in 1992.
• $2,500 to Addison
Seventeen Eighteen Brightside LLC, Baton Rouge
Local entrepreneur Kevin Nguyen, who recently bought 30 acres for a new subdivision off Hoo Shoo Too Road, is the force behind this company.
• $2,500 to Addison
• $2,500 to Tassin
• $2,500 to Walker
King, Bossier, Nosacka & Holley, Baton Rouge
This group of financial advisers did business with former Mayor Raymond Jacobs, the East Ascension Parish Drainage Board and Slidell Memorial Hospital.
• $2,000 to Addison
Gotech Inc., Baton Rouge
Consulting engineers currently working on flood protection sites across south Louisiana and the I-10 Twin Span Bridge Project.
• $1,500 to Addison
Lexington Land Development, Baton Rouge
Greg Flores and the late John McPherson, co-owned the company that built Lexington Estates on Nicholson Drive.
• $1,296.18 to Addison
ABMB Engineers, Inc., Baton Rouge
Major player in highway construction and design and has won various city-parish road contracts. Designed the innovative continuous flow intersection at Airline Highway and Siegen Lane.
• $1,000 to Byron Sharper, Democrat, District 7
CDM, Cambridge, Mass.
Has done work on the city-parish sewer system.
• $1,000 to Sharper
ETEC, Baton Rouge
Known as Environmental Technical Sales, company does water and wastewater treatment work.
• $1,000 to Sharper
Jones Walker, Baton Rouge
New Orleans-based firm whose local clients include The Advocate and WBRZ, Lamar Advertising, and Turner Industries.
• $1,000 to Sharper
• $1,000 to Tassin
• $1,000 to Walker
Krestworth Group, Baton Rouge
A minority-owned construction firm owned by Dalton Honore, a former Democratic candidate for sheriff.
• $1,000 to Sharper
Louisiana Realtors PAC, Baton Rouge
This political action committee’s donations have helped U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux and State Rep. Michael Jackson.
• $1,000 to Sharper
The Business Investment Group, Baton Rouge
Businessman Victor Dagash heads this cluster of commercial real estate development companies. Also known as The Big LLC.
• $1,000 to Sharper
• $2,500 to Walker
The Shaw Group Inc., Baton Rouge
Founder and CEO is influential Democrat Jim Bernhard.
• $1,000 to Sharper, Democrat
• $2,500 to Walker
C.L. Valluzzo, Baton Rouge
Charles Valluzzo is a big-time McDonald’s franchisee with several dozen area locations.
• $750 to Tassin
Amedysis, Baton Rouge
Founded by local entrepreneur Bill Borne, the publicly traded company operates home-health agencies, rehab centers, and nursing homes nationwide.
• $2,500 to Walker
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P., Baton Rouge
Old-line law firm where ex-Gov. Mike Foster is a key consultant. Major local clients have included Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
• $1,500 to Walker
Floyd Saizon, Baton Rouge
This developer is in charge of J. Hunter Development and bought subdivision property at The Lakes at Aubin Wood in 2003 and 2004.
• $1,075 to Walker
AWIN Management, Scottsdale, Ariz.
The trash-collection, recycling, and landfill operator.
• $1,000 to Walker
Cajun Construction, Baton Rouge
A construction company founded in 1973 by political activist Lane Grigsby. Projects include Picardy Avenue Overpass and the Pike County Power Plant on Essen Lane.
• $1,000 to Walker
SOURCES: Louisiana Board of Ethics’ campaign finance reports for the current term of office as of July 29, various corporate Web sites, and Business Report archives. Excludes in-kind contributions.
Research compiled by Jeremy Alford and Matthew Sigur
