Sumer Cooner
Sumer Cooner (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Caddo Parish Public Schools to represent District 8 in Louisiana. She lost in the primary on November 6, 2018.
Cooner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
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.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Caddo Parish Public Schools, District 8
Incumbent Denee Locke won election outright against Sumer Cooner in the primary for Caddo Parish Public Schools, District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Denee Locke (R) | 56.7 | 4,649 |
 | Sumer Cooner (D)  | 43.3 | 3,545 | |
| Total votes: 8,194 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sumer Cooner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cooner's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Universal Pre-K Adopt Better Curriculum Support Teachers
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about addressing the funding loss through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program. Caddo Parish schools have lost millions through this program and could use this revenue to fund teacher raises, universal pre-k and other needs. I am also passionate about recess and letting our children have at least 30 minutes a day for a brain break and to burn off energy.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to my parents, who built a successful oil and gas business from nothing. I watched them work hard to provide better opportunities for my sister and me. I will use the same type of determination to better our children in Caddo Parish.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, Integrity, not being bought out by special interest groups
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am the mother of two children currently in the Caddo Parish school system. I will be a dedicated School Board member because I know any decision made will affect my own children.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To put the interests of the people first, not the interests of who funded their campaign.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy that my children can look back on and be proud of. I want to put our children first by making common sense decisions that improve their education and future opportunities in the world.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The first event I remember was the Oklahoma City Bombing.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I started working when I was 14. I worked at a historical train station and I played the piano for a church in Vivian, LA.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My children. They are my motivation behind everything.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
Implementing policies that put teachers and students first.
Who are your constituents?
My neighbors! I have lived in this neighborhood for 11 years and have no plans to leave.
What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
I am a parent in this district and will increase parental input because I know that it is ignored.
What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
Giving away funding through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program stands in the way of improving our education. I will oppose funding lose through this program.
What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
Good teaching is measured by how much each student is improving. The best way to achieve this is to actually let teachers teach to each child's needs, instead of the one size fits all model we are currently using.
What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
I would oppose funding loss through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program.
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
External links
Footnotes
