State House District 4 spans the pinstriped world of downtown bankers, the hard-edged world of the Agurs industrial area and the sprawling, unfulfilled potential of the Martin Luther King Jr. area. It also extends west along the commercial corridors and residential areas of Interstate 20.

The diverse interests need representation that both understands the concerns of average taxpayers and the issues of business and entrepreneurs.

 
Former Caddo Parish Commissioner Patrick Williams has both the government and business background that would serve this district well in Baton Rouge. He is one of four candidates voters will consider on Saturday to fill the unexpired term of Cedric Glover who is now mayor of Shreveport.

Williams, an architectural engineer by academic training and who operates a recording studio, also holds an MBA. So not unexpectedly small business gets a lot of attention in his campaign platform.

He wants to improve access to business capital and technology, the former a crucial ingredient for growing new entrepreneurs, particularly those classified as disadvantaged. And where so much energy and focus is placed on attracting new industry, he believes the state must not forget existing businesses in helping them continue operations and hopefully to expand.

Education is perhaps his top priority and Williams is in step with most candidates who want to keep teacher pay competitive so as to keep and attract the best educators, and to also address the issue of overcrowded classrooms. He understands that education is a critical tool in combating crime. But while he would use part of the state's current budget surplus for education, he has a thrift side that wants the state to hold back dollars for future needs and emergencies.

About the need for affordable housing for those of modest means, Williams believes the recent flap over a development for first-time homebuyers in the MLK area could have been avoided with a land-use master plan. There has to be a vision that includes input from area residents "to build community, not just houses."

Finally, Williams talks about the need for ethical representation in government, specifically combating perceptions of corruption that would dissuade businesses from moving to our state. Voters should expect Williams to walk his talk and to set a model for responsible, accountable, engaged leadership that fosters confidence, that does its homework and listens to constituents. Good leaders fight for their districts, frequently joining hands with area legislators for the good of the region all the while keeping in mind the long-term best interests of the state.