Roemer: Better candidates for EBR GOP Man of the Year than Vitter

Published Aug 14, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Aug 14, 2012)

Republican BESE member Charles "Chas" Roemer says if it were up to him, Sen. David Vitter would not be getting the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish's first Man of the Year award, as announced Monday. "I'd rather choose someone locally, who is exemplary of citizenship in our community," Roemer says. "I can just think of a lot of other people I would have nominated as Man of the Year." As just one example of a better selection, Roemer points to outgoing Zachary Community School Board Superintendent Warren Drake, who is joining the state Department of Education in September. Roemer says Drake has done a terrific job in making Zachary schools successful and is worthy of the title Man of the Year, no matter his party affiliation (Roemer says he does not know what Drake's political leanings are). Besides the fact that Vitter is from New Orleans, Roemer says there is the inescapable issue of the senator's admitting in 2007 of a "serious sin" after his phone number showed up on the client list of a high-priced prostitution ring. A combination of factors precludes Vitter from being a good choice for the award, Roemer says, "I'm not going to dance around it." EBR Parish Republican Chairman Woody Jenkins did not return messages from Daily Report about how the Man of the Year decision was made. On Monday, party Vice Chair Connie Bernard said Vitter was the only person considered for the award. He will receive the honor at a Sept. 3 brunch at City Club. —Adam Pearson

Today's poll question: Do you think U.S. Sen. David Vitter is a worthy recipient of the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish's first-ever Man of the Year award?