Supporter touts Hilferty's compassion, experience in PSC race
Current legislator is in GOP runoff for Louisiana District 1 seat
Stephanie Hilferty cares.
That’s the biggest reason one mother from Mandeville says she supports Hilferty in the June 27 Republican runoff election for the District 1 seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
“She cares,” Melanie Oubre says of Hilferty, who has served as a member of the state House of Representatives since 2016. “She’s dealt with a lot of these tax and other issues on the state level. That’s a unique experience to have. She’s dealt with these people in Baton Rouge, and she’s proven she’s capable.”
Hilferty faces former Jefferson Parish Commission Chairman John Young in the runoff election. Early voting runs from June 12 through June 20. She says she’s “running for the Louisiana Public Service Commission to put ratepayers first, hold utility providers accountable, and demand transparency and reliability from the companies that power our state.”
Hilferty has represented District 94 in the since 2016. She has served on the committees for commerce, education and municipal, parochial and cultural affairs. She also is a senior advisor at SRSA Commercial Real Estate.
Oubre got to know Hilferty through Emerge Louisiana, an organization that recruits, trains and provides a network for women who want to run for office.
“Our state Legislature ranks at bottom in terms of women representation,” Oubre said. “It’s like 12-13% women, so I commend any woman who runs for state office like that. To be in that room and to fight for their voice and for respect from their male colleagues.
“I think it’s very impressive what she’s been able to do as part of that minority. I’m always thankful for her uplifting and encouraging other women to get involved in local affairs.”
Oubre says Hilferty has the attributes that will make her successful on the PSC.
“I think she’ll do the best job,” Oubre said. “I think she’s more collaborative and more transparent, and I really think she understands and feels the pressure of the everyday struggles of mom and working moms across the state of Louisiana.
“Seeing her in the Legislature for 10 years, she’s been a woman of the people. She’s been very transparent on what she’s doing, why she’s voting the way she does. I feel a lot of deals still are made in backrooms with the good old boys’ network. She is a breath of fresh air. She doesn’t hide behind these types of deals.”
Oubre said being a mother also benefits Hilferty.
“As a mom, she balances her checkbook around the kitchen table,” Oubre said of Hilferty. “This impacts her on a personal level that some of our leaders do not feel. She has three little ones. That’s a lot of work. If she can handle all of that, she’ll be a really strong voice on the PSC.
“Also, I respect the people who respect her. To see all of the endorsements that have come from every corner of this district speaks volumes about her. Stephanie isn’t a Northshore candidate or a Southshore candidate. She wants to represent both sides of the lake and the entire district.”
Oubre also notes Hilferty’s legislative work 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.
Hilferty also “secured funding for critical drainage and infrastructure improvements to strengthen storm response and protect neighborhoods” and “redirected unused state funds to launch long-awaited street and road repair programs.”
During the 2022 session, Hilferty sponsored House Bill 652, which recognized the Sewage and Water Board as a public utility, thus giving the New Orleans City Council powers to regulate it.
“She has a history of holding the water board accountable through her actions as a state legislator,” Oubre said. “To go and stand up to the sewer and water board takes courage, and there’s so much red tape dealing with that government-run entity. If you can take on the sewer and water board as a legislator, it’s a great thing to have on your resume when you’re running for the Louisiana PSC. …
“The PSC has a lot of power, and the utility companies always are trying to get them into their pockets. It’s rife for corruption. The wrong person can be devastating to the voters.”
Oubre said the issues the PSC handles are “very real” to residents.
“When a storm hits and the lights shut off, we need to have PSC members who are their own people and not being bought out by utility companies and working instead for constituents,” she said. “Because Stephanie has been so transparent and so honest in her work so far, I don’t think there is any question who the best candidate in this race is.”