Carling Dinkler
Carling Dinkler (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Louisiana House of Representatives to represent District 91. Dinkler lost in the primary on October 12, 2019.
Dinkler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: Louisiana House of Representatives elections, 2019
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
General election for Louisiana House of Representatives District 91
Mandie Landry defeated Robert McKnight in the general election for Louisiana House of Representatives District 91 on November 16, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mandie Landry (D) | 52.9 | 7,878 |
| Robert McKnight (D) | 47.1 | 7,025 | ||
| Total votes: 14,903 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 91
Robert McKnight and Mandie Landry defeated Carling Dinkler and Pepper Bowen Roussel in the primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 91 on October 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert McKnight (D) | 30.0 | 3,398 | |
| ✔ | | Mandie Landry (D) | 29.9 | 3,380 |
 | Carling Dinkler (D) | 27.4 | 3,101 | |
 | Pepper Bowen Roussel (D) | 12.8 | 1,444 | |
| Total votes: 11,323 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Perry III (D)
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Carling Dinkler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dinkler's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1. Infrastructure – Drainage and Streets 2. Crime/Safety 3. Economic Development (a term that broadly captures jobs and wages, small business support, and creating an ecosystem that supports economic growth)
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am very interested in making reforms to our redistricting process. Gerrymandering or map manipulation is nearly as old as our country. However, technology and mid-decade redistricting have taken this abuse to a new level. Our politics have become polarized in this country and in our state. This polarization is due in no small part due to partisan redistricting. After the 2020 census, we have an opportunity reform this process and create legislative seats that more accurately reflect the will of the public.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
The Louisiana Legislature and the Orleans Parish delegation in particular will see a massive amount of turnover in the coming election. Locally, we are losing well respected legislators who have been able to accomplish things for our community even as members of the political minority. It is critically important that we elect lawmakers with the ability and experience to successfully advocate for our community. I can do this job because most of my career has involved crafting and pushing forward policy solutions that make a positive impact. As a congressional aide, I learned the legislative process and how to read and write legislation. I also learned how to work with people and form coalitions to advance a legislative agenda. In the private sector, I have used my policy making and coalition building skills to be a successful advocate for programs and investments that support our economy and help us build stronger communities. I now want to take that experience and put it to work for the people of District 91 and our community as a whole. I want to stand up for the values of New Orleans while finding ways to work with lawmakers with different ideologies and from different geographies to make our state more successful and more equitable. I will be a lawmaker that brings people together. I believe the problems we face in this state and city are challenging but not insurmountable. We need to create economic policies that empower our working class and allow them to establish generational wealth. We need to invest in education in way that supports our youngest students all the way through those seeking graduate or trade skill certifications. We have to make our criminal justice system one that truly focuses on keeping us safe and treats those who encounter it with equity. Finally, we must invest in the part of the population that is most marginalized, because, when the most marginalized do well, we all do better. I want to be the person that can help bring our regional lawmakers together and get something done. I love our city, and I want my daughter to have her career and family here. However, I want this to be a place that affords her the best economic opportunity, and we have serious work to do.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The role of a state legislator is to be a champion for the aspirations, goals, and needs of his or her district. Before anything, a state legislator should be the voice of his or her constituents. To me, this means representing the philosophical values of your district while also working collaboratively to make real progress. The most important role a state legislator must play is an active voice for his or her district.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
I think previous experience in the government is a major asset in taking on a role as an elected representative. I know that my seven years on Capitol Hill as a policy adviser to two U.S. Members of Congress and the work I do today with state lawmakers across the country is great preparation for the job of serving the people of District 91.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
We have to make significant investments in restoring Louisiana's coastline. If we do not act quickly, we will put our people, communities and economy at serious risk.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely. Legislators have to stand up for the values of their district. However, it is also important to work with others across geographic, political, and, even personal, lines to get something done.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I would like to see us move to an independent redistricting system.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
House and Governmental Affairs Ways and Means Education Appropriations
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
U.S. Senator John Breaux was an excellent lawmaker. I am proud he has endorsed our candidacy, and he is a great legislative role model.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
No. I am interested in serving the people of House District 91.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
