By JIM BUTLER

Mike Johnson and Ed Larvadain III have some things in common – for instance, they both represent parts of Rapides in the Louisiana House, they are attorneys, they are in the third year of their second four-year terms.

Their campaign finance reports are more about what they don’t have in common – Johnson is speaker pro Tempore and prominent in the Republican-controlled chamber and in statehouse politics; Larvadain is a Democrat – in the majority his first term, his party now has the back bench. Fundraising reflects the differences.

Johnson

The District 27 member raised $75,000 last year, according to recently filed reports, and spent $17,000. His fund’s year-end balance was $333,000.Contributors included:

Hayes Manufacturing $6,000; NORPAC, Shelton Energy Solutions, Venture Global Solutions, Gray and Co. Metairie, $2,500;
Blueline Solutions Chattanooga, Ray’s Pharmacy, Atmos Energy, Ratliff Construction, $2,000.

On the spending side the fund paid $4,000 (cumulative) to Brave New Video, Denham Springs, for campaign video and polling. 

Johnson sits on the Civil Law and Procedure and House & Governmental Affairs Committees and by virtue of his leadership role is an ex-officio member of all House panels.

Larvadain

The District 26 member received $29,500 in contributions and spent $11,900. Year-end balance was $32,400. 

Contributors included:

Pan American Engineers, James & Anna Theus, James G. Theus, $5,000; Crescent River Port Pilots Association Sea PAC, $3,000; La. Nursing Home PAC, $2,000. 

Spending including $3,000 to the House for state-provided housing. 

Larvadain is vice chairman of Civil Law and Procedure and a member of the House & Governmental Affairs and Labor & Industrial Relations Committees.