Newly elected Sen. Jonathan Perry spoke during the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce meeting held yesterday about the special session recently held.

The special session was held to discuss Louisiana redistricting.

“District 26 stayed pretty much in- tact,” said Perry. “Overall, it didn’t really change much of it. We lost some of over there by Crowley, but we made it a more compact district.”

Perry said a minority district in the state may still have to be made. He also said other senators and representatives weren’t as fortunate as those in this area of the state.

Perry explained the only portion of the session that didn’t go as he planned was involving BESE, with the Louisiana Department of Education.

“It didn’t get approved,” he explained. “The bill initially came out and the district was split straight down the middle. I amended it and put it back on hold. It went to the other side and we just ran out of time.”

The regular legislative session will be starting soon.

“With this being an odd year, we can only talk about fiscal issues,” he said. “One topic we’re going into has the mind-set on the budget. Where the cuts are to come from, that remains to be seen.”

Perry said this session would be something the public would want to watch.

Linda Hardee and Bob Hensgens, who are currently running for the House of Representative District 47 seat vacated by Sen. Perry, also spoke at the meeting.

During her time as mayor, Hardee said she installed a rainy day fund for the city.

“You have to know how to look at the budget,” she said. “You have to see what money is coming in, because every year it fluctuates.

Hardee, former mayor of Kaplan and Vermilion Parish teacher and counselor, said she plans to be a full-time representative if elected.

“I’ve always enjoyed politics,” she said. “You cannot be in there for power or for money. Those are the wrong reasons. You must want to be a servant of the public. You must want to help your constituents. And that’s where I’m coming from.”

Hensgens is currently serving his second term as mayor of Gueydan.

“We need people who go over there (the session) and not say ‘Let’s raise taxes,’” said Hensgens. “We need somebody who will make the taxes better for our small businesses to provide the jobs that can create an economy.”

The election will be held on April 30 and early voting will be held this Saturday.