Another Republican has declared their candidacy for governor. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson is also the youngest candidate in the race at the age of thirty-six. In addition to his one term in the legislature, Nelson said he brings seven years of experience working in the foreign service to the table.
“The thing that I’ve learned in the four years at the legislature is I think the governor’s got to be the one to push these big changes, and that’s what I’m running for,” said Nelson.
Nelson is a proponent of tax reform and elementary education.
A graduate of LSU Law School, the Mandeville native also graduated top of his class in Biological Engineering. In addition to representing the 89th District, Nelson runs his own consulting firm.
In 2021 Nelson authored a bill to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, tax and regulate it. Even though he said he has never used it he’s for legalizing cannabis.
“At the same time, I can look at the numbers. I’m an engineer, I look at the numbers and I don’t think from an economic perspective that it makes sense to continue to let drug dealers and drug cartels make all the money off of it, that’s my opinion.
The former Eagle Scout and his wife Ashley have three boys. Nelson said he’s a moderate Republican and that sets him apart from other state leaders who are stuck in the past.
“If Louisiana were just average in the country, we’d all live four years longer and get a 33% raise. And that is just for an average we’re not talking about Connecticut or something,” said Nelson.
Nelson joins, Attorney General Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, Representative Sharon Hewitt, and Independent Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy in the governor’s race.
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