Included in the November 7 statewide congressional election is a proposal for a constitutional amendment that will consolidate the 7 Orleans Assessors into one citywide elected office. It has to win majorities statewide and in Orleans Parish to pass.

Incumbent assessor Errol Williams has been spending public money to voice their opposition. He placed  "informational" ads in the paper and on TV. Then when questioned about the propriety of these ads he responded in a letter to the editor of the TP. In his letter he defended that action as necessary because ..."Our citizens deserve all the information they can get on something that important to their property ownership."

There are eight constitutional amendments on the Nov 7 ballot. This is fresh on the heels of the thirteen amendments we considered on the September 30 ballot. The single assessor amendment is number 7. The others are pretty insignificant to most voters and whether they pass or not, they shouldn't have to be amendments to the constitution. This is pretty much the same situation voters faced in the early 1970's when they rejected the entire slate of amendments forcing a constitutional convention. Maybe it's time again.

Of interest to New Orleanians is amendment #4 which would do away with the personal property tax on motor vehicles in New Orleans.