Press Release

Charmaine Degruise Caccioppi, D-Raceland, announced today that she is a candidate for Congress in the Third Congressional District of Louisiana, saying her campaign will highlight how her combined Congressional and practical business experience will help her be a strong voice in Washington at a time when critical issues are hurting families in Louisiana.

Kicking off her campaign, Caccioppi made stops in Chalmette and Luling before ending her day with an announcement at Central Lafourche High School, where she graduated. “When you grow up in Lafourche Parish, you realize how special a place and a people can be,” said Caccioppi. This is a place where people love life, their families, their state and nation and I’m going to Congress to tell the world just how special we are.”

“Government impacts every aspect of our lives,” Caccioppi said, “so it’s very important to elect a leader who understands your needs and who will be there for you. We don’t have time for someone to learn about Washington first, we need the fight to begin now.”

“This district is ground zero in the coastal erosion battle and I will step up the fight for funding coastal restoration for our district as a first priority,” Caccioppi said, “not just because it’s affecting our economy and a spectacular natural habitat – but because it’s devastating our jobs, our homes, our very way of life.”

Caccioppi also vowed to fight for fully funding public education initiatives like “No Child Left Behind”, be a strong partner in Washington for the Governor’s push for quality health care and support tax relief for working families and incentives for small business who create new jobs. “These are the foundation for all to prosper,” she said, “and we must do this now if we’re going to save our most precious resources and keep our children home.”

Introduced by Senator J. Bennett Johnston, who was traveling throughout the district with Caccioppi, the candidate stressed the strong working relationships she has built with citizens of the 3rd District and local leaders through her 20 years as Johnston’s State Director and five years as Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Development for the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“I have been working throughout my professional career to support local leadership, our business community and the citizens of this parish to help position this region as a great place to do business,” Caccioppi told supporters at each stop. “I believe the combination of my Congressional service and my private sector economic development training uniquely qualifies me to be a strong voice for the Third District.”

Caccioppi attended Nicholls State University and has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. She was named a 2000 YWCA Role Model and is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute.

Caccioppi was joined at her announcement by her husband Rod and daughters Candice and Staci.

Mary Johnston Catallo is serving as Treasurer of the People to Elect Charmaine Caccioppi to Congress Committee.