The Responsiveness Test: 40 Candidates, Five Answers

There are plenty of ways to evaluate someone seeking public office. Experience. Judgment. Political philosophy. Party affiliation. And character certainly matters. But there is another quality that receives considerably less attention during election season: Responsiveness.

It is difficult to imagine effective representative government without responsiveness. Citizens contact elected officials when drainage fails, roads need attention, crime becomes a concern, taxes increase, a permit gets stuck somewhere in government — or simply when they want their representative to hear what they have to say before voting on a matter or taking action.

Candidates understand this. That is why campaign literature is filled with promises to listen, communicate, be accessible and give citizens a voice. Research suggests voters care about it, too.

So, we decided to see who would answer while they were still asking for the job.

Political Responsiveness Research

In a Pew Research Center survey, 61 percent of Americans said it was either not very likely or not likely at all that their member of Congress would help them if contacted with a problem. Only 7 percent believed their representative would be very likely to help.

Researchers have also tested what happens when elected officials actually respond. A study published in Political Science Research and Methods tracked constituents who contacted their members of Congress and found that those who received a response subsequently evaluated their representatives more positively than those who received no response. 

Perhaps most relevant to what happened here, another study examined millions of municipal service requests in American cities. Researchers found evidence that electoral incentives increased responsiveness — including improved responsiveness among incumbents seeking reelection as elections approached.

That makes intuitive sense. If there is ever a time when someone seeking public office should answer the phone, return an email, or listen to someone from the community, surely it is while asking that community for its vote. So, somewhat unintentionally, Citizens for a New Louisiana conducted a little responsiveness test of its own.

It Wasn’t a Difficult Assignment

On August 18 and 19, Citizens for a New Louisiana attempted to reach roughly 40 candidates appearing in upcoming Lafayette Parish-area elections. We didn’t send a 50-question policy survey, ask candidates to take positions on controversial issues, or ask them to explain past votes, answer allegations, or defend their records. We asked them to tell voters something about themselves.

Specifically, candidates were asked to provide two to four paragraphs describing their professional background, community involvement, public service experience, and any family or personal background they considered relevant, as well as what led them to seek office. The purpose was expressly stated: we wanted information that might help voters know them beyond what ordinarily appears in campaign material.

Meet Us for Lunch?

Candidates were also invited to participate in an upcoming Secret Lunch, where a group of people could meet them and hear directly from them. We supplied several possible dates and specifically explained that simply providing availability did not commit anyone to attending. Responses were sparse. So we followed up.

On August 24, candidates received a follow-up establishing a Friday, August 28 deadline. Because of the short election cycle, we also explained that there might not be enough available Fridays to host every candidate.

And we told them exactly what would happen if they didn’t answer:

Our coverage might note that they had been contacted, given an opportunity to provide information, and did not respond.

Then we waited.

Five Candidates Answered

Five candidates ultimately provided the requested information:

• Susan Theall, candidate for 15th Judicial District Court, Division M;
• Stasia Herbert-McZeal, candidate for Lafayette Parish School Board, District 2;
• Art LeBreton, candidate for Youngsville Chief of Police;
• Eric Knight, candidate for Mayor of Carencro; and
• Damian Glover, candidate for Carencro City Council.

Their complete responses are reproduced at the end of this article, substantially as submitted. Readers who would like to hear directly from those candidates may scroll to the end of the article.

This isn’t an endorsement. Simply answering an email doesn’t tell you about a person’s political beliefs or what they intend to do if elected to public office. But they deserve credit for doing something remarkably basic: Responding.

And some of what they wrote made the results of this little experiment particularly interesting.

Knight, for example, wrote that leadership means “listening” and being accountable, and said Carencro deserves leadership that listens to its people. Herbert-McZeal identified Accountability, Collaboration and Trust as her leadership principles, writing that leaders must be accountable to those they serve and that every person deserves to be heard. Glover concluded his own explanation of why he is running with a simple observation:

“Most importantly, I want to listen.”

At least we know those three were listening when we contacted them.

Who Didn’t Answer?

The lack of response wasn’t confined to a single municipality or a single type of office.

• Neither incumbent Don Landry nor challenger Kristian Earles responded in the race for 15th Judicial District Attorney.
• In the open 15th Judicial District Court Division I race, neither Will Keaty nor David Way provided a response.
• In Division M, incumbent Susan Theall responded; challenger Dyan Schnaars did not.
• None of the three candidates seeking the open Lafayette City Court Division B judgeship — Ryan Harris, James Klock and Emilia Pardo — provided the requested information.
• In the Lafayette Parish School Board District 2 race, Stasia Herbert-McZeal responded. Interim board member Robert Ted Davison did not.
• Neither Caleb Lege nor Kert Thomas responded in the race for Scott Chief of Police.
• In Youngsville, incumbent Chief J.P. Broussard, Art LeBreton and John Trahan were contacted. LeBreton was the only one who provided the requested information.
• In the Carencro mayor’s race, Eric Knight provided the requested material. Incumbent Charlotte Clavier and challenger Don Chauvin acknowledged receiving the email but never supplied the requested information.

The Pattern Continued

• Neither Charles Sharma nor Trey Smith responded in Broussard Council District 2.
• Neither Lindy Bolgiano nor James “Bubba” Savell responded in Youngsville Division B.
• Neither Todd Istre nor Nick Niland responded in Youngsville Division D.
• Neither Terry Montoucet nor Sherie Stutes Sonnier responded in Scott District 2.
• Allyson Soeseno Richard did not respond in Scott District 4. No email address was available for her opponent, Bob Boudreaux, so we do not count him as someone who ignored our request.
• Among the eight candidates seeking five seats on the Carencro City Council, Damian Glover was the only candidate who provided the requested information.

Two other candidates cannot fairly be classified as nonresponsive. Emails sent to Scott council candidate Nahia Simon and Carencro council candidate Terrance St. Julien were returned as undeliverable.

This isn’t about manufacturing a gotcha. It is about providing voters with information.

So What Does It Mean?

Does failing to answer an email prove someone will be a bad district attorney, judge, mayor, police chief, school board member or council member? No.

Emails get overlooked. Campaigns are busy. People procrastinate. Spam filters exist. There may be perfectly innocent explanations in individual cases. But those explanations become somewhat less satisfying when there was an initial request, a follow-up, a plainly stated deadline and advance notice that failure to respond could become part of the election coverage.

More importantly, we don’t have to decide what it means. Voters can.

Candidates spend election season knocking on doors, shaking hands, posting photographs, buying advertisements and explaining how much they want to hear from the people they hope to represent. This should be the time in which candidates are at their most accessible.

After Election Day, the signs come down, the advertisements stop, the votes are counted, the candidate becomes the officeholder — and the next election may be years away. Research suggests electoral incentives can make politicians more responsive. Which raises a question voters are perfectly entitled to ask:

If you’re difficult to reach while asking for the job, why should we expect you to become easier to reach after we give it to you?

Five candidates provided the information we requested. Voters deserve to know who they were — and to hear what they had to say.

The Candidates Who Responded

The following candidate submissions are reproduced substantially as they were provided to Citizens for a New Louisiana. Email threading, salutations, signatures, mobile-device notices and other non-substantive material have been omitted. We have not edited the candidates’ statements for substance.

Susan Theall

Candidate for 15th Judicial District Court, Division M

Theall provided the following information regarding her experience:

Family Court Judge, Division M, 9 years

Chief Judge of the 15th Judicial District Court 2011, 2024, 2025 and 2026

Board Certified Family Law Specialist since 1995

40 years experience in Law

Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute, Class of 2012

Louisiana Judicial Education Faculty, Domestic Violence

Founding Member of the Paula K. Woodruff Family Law Section of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association and past Treasurer, Vice-President and President

Past Member, Acadiana Republican Women

Past Member, Lafayette, Broussard, and Youngsville Chamber of Commerce

Former Director, Governing Board, Faith House

Created “Kid’s First” the substance use, assessment, monitoring, and treatment program that helps parents address substance issues that interfere with their ability to parent.

Frequent lecturer on Family Law issues for other attorney

Stasia Herbert-McZeal

Candidate for Lafayette Parish School Board, District 2

I, Stasia T. Herbert-McZeal, am a dedicated educator, higher education leader, and community advocate with a lifelong commitment to service, student success, and educational excellence. As the Dean of Liberal Arts and Humanities and professor of Psychology, I have spent my career empowering students, supporting faculty, and building pathways that strengthen communities through education. My leadership experience spans academic administration, strategic planning, workforce development, and community engagement, all grounded in a belief that education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and creating opportunities for future generations.

Beyond my professional accomplishments, I am invested in the well-being and advancement of the communities I serve. Throughout my career, I have worked collaboratively with educators, community organizations, business leaders, and families to address challenges and create meaningful solutions. My approach to leadership is guided by my personal platform of A-C-T: Accountability, Collaboration, and Trust. I believe leaders must be accountable to those they serve, foster collaboration by bringing diverse voices together to achieve common goals, and earn trust through transparency and integrity.

As a wife, mother, mentor, and lifelong learner, I understand the hopes and concerns that families have for their children and their communities. I value the perspectives of parents, faculty, staff, students, and community members, by recognizing that lasting progress happens when people listen to one another and work collectively toward shared objectives. My commitment to public service is rooted in the belief that every person deserves to be heard, respected, and provided with opportunities to succeed.

As I previously ran for this office in 2023, I still desire to expand my impact beyond the classroom and campus and to serve my community on a broader scale. My motivation is the belief that effective leadership requires both vision and action, and that the best solutions emerge when people come together with honesty, respect, and purpose. I look forward to hearing from parents, faculty, staff, and community members as partners in building a stronger future founded on Accountability, Collaboration, and Trust.

I hold a doctorate degree in Psychology, along with a masters in English and two degrees in Criminal Justice.

Art LeBreton

Candidate for Youngsville Chief of Police

Art LeBreton announced his candidacy for Chief of Police for the City of Youngsville, pledging decisive leadership, strengthened public safety, and a police department fully prepared to meet the demands of one of Louisiana’s fastest-growing communities.

With a distinguished career spanning Patrol Operations, Criminal Investigations, Critical Incident Management, and executive-level leadership, LeBreton brings the experience, discipline, and command presence necessary to lead from day one. His campaign is built on a single principle: public safety is non-negotiable. As a respected member of the Lafayette-area law enforcement community, LeBreton has built a reputation for steady leadership under pressure and a commitment to ethical policing.

Youngsville deserves a police department that is proactive, professional, and prepared. As our city grows, so do the responsibilities of those sworn to protect it. I am running for Chief of Police to ensure our officers are fully supported, our neighborhoods remain safe, and our department operates with integrity and accountability at every level.

Eric Knight

Candidate for Mayor of Carencro

My name is Eric Knight, and I am a candidate for Mayor of Carencro. I was born and raised in Iota, Louisiana, and graduated from Iota High School in 2009. After serving in the United States Army, I built my life around family, service, hard work, and responsibility. Nearly 13 years ago, I relocated to Carencro, and over that time, this community has become much more than simply a place where I live—it has become my home. As a husband and family man and a local business owner, I understand the importance of building a community where families can put down roots, businesses can succeed, and residents feel that their voices matter.

My experience as a business owner has also shaped the way I view leadership and government. Through Knights Precision Cuts, LLC, I have learned that leadership is not simply about making decisions—it is about listening, being accountable, managing resources responsibly, solving problems when they arise, and being willing to work alongside others to accomplish a goal. My military experience reinforced those same principles of discipline, teamwork, service, and responsibility. I believe those qualities are especially important in local government, where decisions directly affect people’s neighborhoods, businesses, families, taxes, infrastructure, and quality of life.

I decided to seek the office of Mayor because I believe Carencro deserves leadership that listens to its people and brings the community into the conversation. I want to help restore confidence and transparency in local government, address infrastructure and responsible growth, encourage economic opportunity while protecting the character of our community, and make sure residents do not feel ignored when decisions are being made about their city. My goal is not to represent one particular group or interest. It is to represent the people of Carencro and build a future based on communication, accountability, responsible growth, and the belief that every resident deserves a voice in the direction of their community.

Damian Glover

Candidate for Carencro City Council

I am a proud Carencro resident, husband, father, higher education executive, musician, and longtime community volunteer. Professionally, I have built my career around public service, organizational leadership, and helping people access opportunities that can improve their lives. I currently serve in senior leadership at South Louisiana Community College, where my work includes student affairs and enrollment management. Previously, I served at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, where my responsibilities included statewide workforce initiatives, partnerships with business and industry, and the administration of significant public investments. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to manage teams and budgets, lead organizational change, work with state and community leaders, and build partnerships across government, education, business, and nonprofit organizations.

My involvement in the community, however, extends well beyond my professional career. My Catholic faith has always been central to who I am and how I view service. I serve as Parish Council President at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and am a member of Knights of Peter Claver Council #269. Over the years, I have also been involved with organizations and causes including Catholic Charities of Acadiana, the Diocese of Lafayette, Love Our Schools, Love the Boot, Parish Proud, WISE Owl Academy, the ALS Association, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, SkillsUSA, Kiwanis, NASPA, APCA, the Miss America Organization, and the Miss Volunteer America Organization. I have been fortunate to serve in roles ranging from volunteer and presenter to board member and executive leadership. Music is also an important part of my life, and it has given me another way to connect with people throughout Acadiana.

I decided to seek a seat on the Carencro City Council because I love this community and believe public service should be about helping a community move forward while protecting the character that makes it home. I am not interested in becoming a career politician. I am interested in bringing my experience in leadership, budgeting, strategic planning, partnerships, and community engagement to the table and doing the work required of a council member. Carencro is growing, and with that growth comes both tremendous opportunity and important decisions. I want to help ensure we support responsible economic development, strengthen opportunities for families and young people, support our local businesses, maintain strong public services, and make decisions that position Carencro well for the future. Most importantly, I want to listen. This campaign is as much about getting to know my neighbors and hearing their hopes for Carencro as it is about introducing myself to them.

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