Hilferty hopes to turn momentum into PSC seat
She faces John Young in June 27 GOP runoff for District 3 spot on fall ballot
Stephanie Hilferty is hoping momentum carries her to victory in the upcoming Republican runoff election for a seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
Hilferty, a state representative, faces former Jefferson Parish President John Young in the June 27 election for the District 1 seat. Early voting continues through June 20.
“The campaign is going really well,” Hilferty says. “The momentum has been very positive out in the field. We’ve been talking to people in all parts of the district. We’ve been endorsed by Mark Wright, who ran third in the primary as well as by Big John Mason, who also was in the Republican primary.
“I think that speaks well to our campaign and our efforts. We’ve just been racking up a lot of endorsements, and we’re getting a lot of good voter feedback out on the campaign trail.”
Hilferty says that feedback is important because, at the heart of the campaign, the PSC stands as a watchdog for rate payers.
“They are certainly ready to have a fresh voice, a strong voice on the PSC,” Hilferty says. “Someone who will fight for them. The North Shore, in particular, has had troubles with Magnolia Water. Since they came in, the bills have tended to go up substantially. I think there is a lot of concern about that.
“But, there also are issues with water quality and affordability. People are saying rates have doubled and tripled, and water quality is brown. What’s going on? They feel they don’t have a voice and feel stuck with that water system. There’s a tremendous amount of voter frustration.”
While the PSC deals with many more issues and more companies, Hilferty said Magnolia Water is a big focus when she’s talking to voters. That’s part of the reason why she recently returned a $2,500 campaign donation check from Central States Water Resources, the St. Louis-based parent company of Magnolia Water. Young has received at least $7,500 from the company, and one of his key campaign consultants also is the primary local spokesman for Magnolia Water.
“Given what is happening with them (Magnolia Water) and the tenor of how the voters feel, I didn’t want there to be any confusion,” Hilferty says of returning the donations. “I suspect there will be a very forthcoming discussion when I’m elected. There has to be changes. The ratepayers deserve better.
“My opponent … has not been discussing this topic. It’s hard to be that watchdog if the person running your campaign also is the spokesperson for Magnolia Water.
“People want a change. They want sick and tired of it. I have to be independent from them (Magnolia Water) and speak very forthcoming about it. I didn’t want the voters to think there is a conflict with me. It felt like it was the right move for me. Because we have to have an honest discussion about what’s going on and what has to change.”
Hilferty says she continues to meet as many people as she can in the district to hear their issues and concerns.
“I have been meeting with neighborhood associations,” she says. “I came up in a state representative district, so I understand literally meeting people at their doorstep and hearing their concerns. I have done a lot of door knocking.”
While Magnolia isn’t the whole campaign, Hilferty knows it’s an important issue to many voters in the district. And she wants to use her legislative experience that led to landmark reforms of the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, strengthened oversight and transparency, cracked down on unfair practices and saved ratepayers more than $20 million by correcting incorrect billing through legislation.
“Through my work with Sewerage & Water Board, I’ve seen how actutely these issues affect people’s everyday lives and their pocketbooks,” Hilferty says. “I’ve taken steps as a legislator to fix that.
“Still, it’s a big district. There are differences in neighborhoods. Magnolia Water, for example. Some neighborhoods have it, some don’t. Still, I understand getting down to those granular details that matter to people.”
Hilferty says another of those issues is vegetation management.
“Cleco and Entergy … they have a right to manage vegetation,” she says. “Cleoco just clear cut a lot of vegetation in Mandeville on the North Shore. They love their trees there, so they’re rightfully so upset about that.
“Can it be done in a neighborly fashion? Yes. And I think I have a very good understanding of that level and getting down to that neighborhood level.”
Door knocking. While Magnolia isn’t the hole campaign, it’s a big part of it. My work with SWB, I’ve seen how actutely this affects people’s everyday lives and their pocketbooks. I’ve taken steps as a legislator to fix that.”
As parish president, Young had no authority over utilities.
“They (the utility companies) have a megaphone,” Hilferty says. “You can’t actually make those types of changes in that role as parish president or as a member of the parish council.
“I was able to use my authority in the Legislature to affect those changes.”
Many people have compared Young to outgoing PSC member Eric Skrmetta, who was unable to run again because of term limits. Skrmetta often has been criticized for having close ties to Magnolia Water and other utilities.
“People are ready for a fresh voice,” Hilferty says. “We’ve had the same commissioner on the PSC for 18 years.
“Do you want a fresh voice, a fighter, a watchdog? What we’re finding out in the field is that they want that fresh voice.”