Historic election season shaping up in SCP

History is being written this year in St. Charles Parish, as Luling resident Robert Monti and Destrehan resident Beth Billings have been given the opportunity serve as presidential elector candidates –  it is the first time that two St. Charles Parish residents have served in the role during the same election.

Assuming a Republican victory in Louisiana, Monti and Billings will become electors and cast their votes as two of the eight Republican Electors representing Louisiana in the Electoral College.

Members of the Electoral College, known as electors, cast ballots to elect the president and vice president of the United States. There are 538 electors from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, all chosen by each party before the general elections. A vote for that party then confirms their position.

Because St. Charles Parish covers two congressional districts, it possible to have two residents serve as elector candidates.

Both Monti and Billings say they are excited about the opportunity.

“From as far back at the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976 I have been interested in how the process of selecting a candidate works,” Billings said. “When I was in high school, I began to be involved in a minor way. I was too young to vote for in the Carter/Reagan and the Reagan/Mondale elections, but I could certainly pass out handbills and push cards. It was a few years later while watching the RNC Convention during the Bush/Dukakis election that I turned to my husband and asked, ‘Who are these people and how do I get involved?’”

Billings said becoming a delegate then went on her bucket list.

“A good friend of mine encouraged me to run for the Republican State Central Committee and the St. Charles Parish Republican Executive Committee in 2012,” she said. “I won that election and I have never looked back. Now, I have been an RNC delegate in 2012, and an alternate delegate in 2016 and a delegate in 2020. It is a huge honor to be chosen to be an Elector by my fellow members of the Republican State Central Committee.”

Billings is representing District 6, while Monti is representing District 2.

Monti has been active in politics since the mid-1980s in St.  Charles Parish.

“I have served as Chairman of the Parish Republican Executive Committee for over eight years,” he said. “I currently serve on the Republican State Central Committee. I also served as the Republican member of the local Board of Election Supervisors where I became very familiar with the inner workings of the election process.”

Monti said he was very excited to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Being an Elector is a great honor and a historical opportunity,” he said.  “I am thrilled to be a part of this important institution. When Donald Trump wins Louisiana, I will be extremely proud to cast one of the eight Louisiana electoral votes for him as President.”