Article written by Mike Hasten and originally published by The Town Talk on August 20, 2014

BATON ROUGE – Four of the six candidates expected to run in the Nov. 4 primary for the 5th Congressional District filed Wednesday on the first day of qualifying.

Former Grant Parish District Attorney Ed Tarpley, who now lives in Alexandria, was first in line when the doors opened at 8 a.m., closely followed by Monroe businessman Harris Brown and Dr. Ralph Lee Abraham of Mangham. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo completed his registration process at about 11 a.m.

All but Mayo are Republicans challenging the re-election of incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister, who is expected to qualify for re-election Thursday.

Other potential candidates expected to qualify include political newcomer Zach Dasher, a pharmaceutical representative from Calhoun.

"I'm running for Congress because we need a true conservative in the 5th District," Tarpley said. "Vance McAllister is not a true conservative."

He said McAllister voted to increase spending $64 billion and "in favor of a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens. Pathway is a word for amnesty. We do not need to reward people for violating the law."

Tarpley said he considered running in the special election last November in which McAllister was elected but decided there wasn't time to mount a campaign. He said he had already decided to run in this election before a video camera captured McAllister kissing a staff member.

Brown said he also considered running last year but his elderly mother broke her leg and he didn't want to spend time away from her campaigning.

He said the scandal resulting from the McAllister video influenced his decision "a lot," adding it "presented a great opportunity for us. It opened the field up for new and younger representation."

Serving on the Tensas Levee District and "15 years in the hill lobbying for navigation and flood control" gives him experience working on issues in Washington, D.C.

Abraham said he is running because "we've got to restore our integrity and take care of our unmanageable debt." McAllister's troubles "had no effect on my decision" to run.

"As a physician, I was taught to listen, diagnose and treat," he said, and he believes "the country needs a prescription for instigating fiscal responsibility."

Abraham said that if elected he will donate his salary to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and push for term limits on members of Congress.

Mayo, who is expected to be the only Democrat in the race, said he wants to take his experience managing a city budget to Washington to try to iron out the national debt.

"The city of Monroe is in its best financial state in its history" with a $14 million surplus, he said.

When he ran for the seat last year he placed third, missing the runoff election, but "I believe I brought the most balance to the race."

He pointed out that after he endorsed McAllister, "I was able to get him almost 90 percent of my base, which is the black vote. … I believe he's disappointed I'm running."

"I believe the people of the 5th District are forgotten people," Mayo said, adding they and deserve better representation. The congressional delegation "is not helping one of the poorest districts in the entire United States. From the Delta to West Feliciana, there's so much poverty."

He said he was "not upset with Vance McAllister. I'm not running on any scandal. I do think there's a level of not being effective because of things like that."

Clay Grant, a Libertarian from Boyce, announced Wednesday afternoon that he would not be a candidate in the 5th District. He said he wants to focus on his family and his move to the Baton Rouge area.

"I will not say this is the end of any future political run, but will let God guide me in the direction that He so chooses," Grant said. "I am grateful to all of those who supported our campaign, and will continue to pray for guidance in our next elected official."

Grant said he was endorsing McAllister.

"He has shown great leadership in Washington and continues to fight against the current establishment," Grant said. "He has only spent nine months as our Congressman, and I would like to see what he can do if allowed a full two-year term."