Seven of the nine hopefuls for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District gathered Tuesday night at the University of Louisiana‑Monroe for a candidate forum. Sponsored by local broadcasters, business groups and the university, the event gave voters a chance to hear positions on artificial intelligence, energy, agriculture and ethics in government.
AI oversight without detail
Six of the seven participants said Congress should regulate the fast‑growing artificial intelligence industry, but most offered few specifics. Democrat Dan McKay, an attorney from Bunkie, called for a moratorium on new data‑center construction. Republican Austin Magee, a welding‑business owner from Franklinton, echoed the concern, noting that data centers and solar farms “don’t create many jobs” in the long run.
State Rep. Michael Echols (R‑Monroe) supported AI rules that protect children and curb “deepfakes.” State Rep. Gabe Firment (R‑Pollock) warned against seizing private property to power data centers, saying, “We do not need to be seizing property to benefit private businesses.” State Sen. Stewart Cathey (R‑Monroe) cautioned that overly strict rules could drive AI developers abroad, creating a national‑security risk.
Nuclear power as an energy solution
Cathey, Echols and Louisiana Board of Regents chair Misti Cordell (R‑Monroe) all pointed to nuclear power as a clean, reliable way to meet the massive electricity demand of AI‑related facilities. Both Cathey and Echols favor small modular reactors, a technology President Donald Trump has promoted during his second term.
Protecting U.S. farmland
All participants—seven Republicans and two Democrats—supported a ban on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, a measure that resonates strongly in a district where agriculture is a key economic driver.
Stricter stock‑trading rules for lawmakers
Every candidate agreed that members of Congress should face tighter limits on personal stock trading. Rep. Pat Moore (D‑Monroe) said, “All of our elected officials, from the top to the bottom, should not be profiting from information that we receive.” While Magee called for a complete ban, Cathey and McKay suggested narrow exceptions for mutual funds and blind trusts.
Social Security and private‑sector options
All candidates affirmed the need to protect Social Security benefits for seniors. Rep. Echols and Rep. Firment added that younger workers might benefit from “private alternatives,” such as conservative‑aligned mutual funds, to supplement future retirement security.
President Trump largely absent from the discussion
Despite the high stakes, the forum’s 75‑minute run saw little mention of President Trump. Only Rep. Echols referenced a rate‑payer protection pledge signed by the president, and Democrat Dan McKay used the closing remarks to attack Trump, calling him “the worst thing that has happened to this country.” The four Republicans who spoke after McKay did not respond to his criticism.
The forum underscored the district’s focus on practical issues—AI regulation, energy independence, agricultural sovereignty and ethical governance—while reflecting the broader national conversation about how to balance innovation with American values.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
