PSC candidate Young has money, political ties to Magnolia Water
He's received $7,500 from the company, and a campaign consultant also works for Magnolia
Magnolia Water System customers in Louisiana have been saddled with numerous rate increases as well as boil-water advisories, pressure issues, odiferous brown water and billing disputes.
Meanwhile, Magnolia continues to expand services by acquiring hundreds of small systems with the blessing of the Louisiana Public Service Commission even as the PSC receives requests for more aggressive oversight for Magnolia. The company now operates more than 500 systems in Louisiana.
Now, Magnolia is lining the coffers of PSC candidate John Young’s campaign war chest.
Since March, Magnolia – through its parent company Central States Water Resources – has made three $2,500 donations to Young’s campaign for the District 1 PSC seat.
Young faces state representative Stephanie Hilferty in the June 27 Republican runoff election. Hilferty also received one $2,500 donation from St. Louis-based CSWR, but she said last month she was returning that check.
Early voting in the runoff election begins June 12 and runs through June 20.
The amount of money Young has accepted from the company does not include any additional donations from intermediaries or individuals associated with Magnolia Water and CSWR.
Also, Magnolia’s primary local spokesman is Greg Buisson. In official public statements and media inquiries, Buisson frequently fields questions regarding water discoloration, boil advisories and infrastructure updates.
In addition to his work with Magnolia Water, Buisson is founder and CEO of Buisson Creative, a full-service advertising and marketing firm based in Metairie. He also is a political consultant, media strategist and campaign manager.
For years, Buisson and his firm worked on outgoing PSC member Eric Skrmetta’s campaigns. Skrmetta couldn’t run again for his PSC seat and announced plans to challenge Bill Cassidy for the U.S. Senate, but he withdrew from that campaign in February.
Buisson, who has been a power player in Jefferson Parish politics for years, now is a consultant for Young’s PSC campaign. He previously worked on Hilferty’s legislative campaign.
Buisson Creative represents “more than 70 elected officials,” including six of the seven Jefferson Parish council members. The firm also has been said to “continually helps shape Jefferson Parish” by crafting messaging for parish‑level leadership and local political narratives.
An anti-Young website claims Young is Magnolia Water’s replacement on the PSC for Skrmetta to provide “pro utility votes.”
“(Young is) running for a seat on the Public Service Commission — the exact board that approves Magnolia’s rate increases and expansion plans,” says www.no2young.com. “Taking the company’s money while asking to regulate it isn’t a gray area. It’s a conflict of interest in plain sight.
“While families fight higher bills and unreliable water, John Young made himself the candidate of the company causing the pain.”
No2young.com is operated by New Orleans-based New Horizons USA PAC, which lists Young as the candidate it is opposing in its PAC report.
“It comes down to one man,” the site states. “One operative – Greg Buisson – speaks for the water company and runs the politics for the commissioner who’s term-limited out. Now that machine needs a replacement who’ll keep the arrangement going.
“John Young is that replacement. This isn’t a fresh start for District 1 – it’s a hand-off, designed so nothing changes for Magnolia Water and nothing changes on your bill.”