By TOM KELLY
Editor and Publisher

Environmental politics, with issues relating to farm, forestry, and manufacturing industries--air, water, pollution, tax policy, and jobs--have become the hot topics which may tip the balance in a variety of Louisiana political situations, from the U.S. Congress and Presidential voting on November 7, to legislative agendas shaping up for what should be a hot general session in Baton Rouge next Spring.

In agriculture and forestry, it's the TMDL firestorm, national forest policy, and commodity prices.

Throughout Louisiana and parts of Arkansas, it's the perceived depletion of underground water sources, and air and water pollution by a rising tide of loosely regulated new "merchant" electric power plants. (Separate story, this edition).

In cities and suburbs, it's the State's long--time official and economic commitment to "smokestack" petrochemical--based industry with major "corporate welfare" benefits, and lax control over pollution of air, water, and quality of life issues. (Separate story, this edition).

The federal EPA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, state legislators, and candidates for national offices, are directly in the cross--fire on one hand between the "green" environmentalists who want pristine water bodies, pure air, and "clean" industries, and on the other hand, the economic and social conservatives, who want voluntary compliance with federal and state clean air and clean water rules, strict private property rights, forest resource development, and favorable tax policies for business and industry, to maintain the job base. Middle ground is hard to find.

An important "message" is expected in the November 7 elections in the referendum on what a majority of the public wants.

Congress races

Five of the seven seats for U.S. Congress in Louisiana are contested, although incumbents in all of them are rated as favorites for reelection.

William Jefferson, Democrat, is unopposed in District 2, New Orleans area, as is Chris John, Democrat, in District 7, the French country of Southwest Louisiana.

Runoff elections will be held on December 6 in any of the other five Districts in which one candidate fails to receive a majority.

By districts, the candidates are:

District 1, suburban district around New Orleans: David Vitter, Republican, is the incumbent, having won the seat vacated by House Speaker Bob Livingston who resigned during the sex scandal run--up to the Clinton impeachment. Vitter is opposed by Democrats Michael Armato, a restaurant waiter, and Cary Deaton, attorney; Libertarian Jack Simanonok, a physician; and Natural Law party candidate Martin Rosenthal.

District 3, Southern Louisiana along the Gulf coast west of New Orleans: Billy Tauzin, Democrat--turned--Republican, is incumbent. Opponents are Natural Law party candidate Anita Rosenthal; Libertarian Dion Borque; and Independent Eddie Albares.

District 4, Northwest Louisiana: Six--term Republican Jim McCrery is the incumbent. Opponents are Democrat Phillip Green; Independent James Ronald Skains; and Independent Mike Taylor.

District 5, Northeast Louisiana: Republican Dr. John Cooksey is incumbent. Opponents are Democrats Roger Beall, cotton farmer, and Sam Melton; and Libertarian R.A. (Chuck) Dumas.

District 6, Baton Rouge area: Republican Richard Baker is incumbent. Opponents are Libertarian Mike Wolf, attorney.