UNIT SPOTLIGHT: CPURT

While election season may be months away, the Calcasieu Parish Unit of Retired Teachers (CPURT) is starting the “leg work” early.

In October 2022, CPURT presented a candidate forum at the Pryce/Miller Recreation Center in Lake Charles, LA. Candidates were running for the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

Joyce Alexander and Shirley Baynes, co-chairs of the CPURT Outreach Committee, organized and planned the forum. Christine Mandubourg, the Communications Chair, also assisted with planning and promoting the event. She also served as moderator for the event. CPURT promoted the event to its members at their monthly meetings and through various media.

Eight candidates from several districts attended the event and answered questions from the audience.

While election season may be months away, the Calcasieu Parish Unit of Retired Teachers (CPURT) is starting the “leg work” early.

In October 2022, CPURT presented a candidate forum at the Pryce/Miller Recreation Center in Lake Charles, LA. Candidates were running for the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

Joyce Alexander and Shirley Baynes, co-chairs of the CPURT Outreach Committee, organized and planned the forum. Christine Mandubourg, the Communications Chair, also assisted with planning and promoting the event. She also served as moderator for the event. CPURT promoted the event to its members at their monthly meetings and through various media.

Eight candidates from several districts attended the event and answered questions from the audience.

“The questions were pertinent to their districts,” CPURT President Jassaland Kelly-Demease explained. “They discussed changes they wanted to see in the school system and what they would do to turn around failing schools.”

CPURT tries to hold a candidate forum whenever there is a major election in the Lake Charles area, such as elections for the Louisiana legislature, mayor, city council and school board. The candidate forums are informational, and the hope is to ensure constituents know exactly who the candidates are so they can make informed voting decisions. Jassaland says they plan the forums to take place right before the elections are held for anyone who has not yet made up their mind.

Pictured: Members of CPURT at the candidate forum.

In addition to the candidate forum, CPURT also held a Voter Registration Drive at the same time. It is just as important to make sure your voter registration information is accurate as it is to be informed on the candidates and issues. While CPURT is unable to determine how many people attended the event, let’s just say there were very few empty chairs in the venue.

“A well-packed house,” Jassaland declared.

District VI President and CPURT member Ivy Mouton commended the Unit’s work to inform the community of upcoming elections and hold candidate forums.

“This project supports both the LRTA Legislative Committee and Lake Charles area,” says Ivy.

As we enter a new election season, we anticipate CPURT will hold more candidate forums in the future. Retired teachers and fellow members of the community need to be aware of where the candidates stand on issues that impact them. In turn, candidates also need to be aware of the issues impacting retired teachers and how their positions of power can affect retirees.

For more information about CPURT, contact Mrs. Jassaland Demease at (337) 302-2053.

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