People of Louisiana, you have an opportunity that most states do not have. You get to vote for your Pelican State Insurance Commissioner. In most states the Governor just appoints the Insurance Commissioner, but not in Louisiana and a few others. If you think your car insurance and any other insurance rates are out of control, it’s your responsibility to pay attention to your election; then, get out and vote.
The Insurance Commissioner is a state regulator who is a government official with an entire department and staff. The job, in a nutshell, is to regulate the conduct of the insurance carriers and agents allowed to pursue business in their state and act as a consumer protection advocate. Louisiana’s insurance commissioner is elected to a four-year term at the same time as the gubernatorial election. For Louisiana, 2019, 2023 and 2027 are the next insurance commissioner election years. When Louisianians go to vote this fall you have a choice between two options.
The two candidates running are the current commissioner, Jim Donelon and the challenger Tim Temple. Here are their respective websites in alphabetical order:
Donelon: https://www.jimdonelon.com/
Temple: https://www.templeforlouisiana.com/
While a Commissioner can’t just waltz in and change all the existing regulations and laws, he/she can be a strong influencer. The Commissioner has more say in regulations established by the department of insurance but they can work hand-in-hand with the state legislators on the laws. So it’s important for you to do your own research and decide who you feel will best represent your interests.
When to vote: General election, Nov. 16, with early voting available Sept. 28 - Oct. 5
Again, most states do not have the opportunity to vote for the person in charge of their insurance industry. Most are chosen at the discretion of the governor or other official. If you haven’t done so already, take a few moments to educate yourself on the views of both candidates. Then you can make your decision and put it into action.
Contact Solo Insurance for more information about insurance or to get a quote.