Today, Michelle and I had the privilege of sharing lunch with two men who reminded us that public service can still be rooted in faith, integrity, compassion, respect, and a genuine love for people — District Attorney Don Landry and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
We walked away from that lunch encouraged.
Not encouraged by politics. Not encouraged by political parties. But encouraged by people.
Michelle and I have never believed that the measure of a person should be the political party beside their name. We do not support politics simply for the sake of politics. We support good human beings. We support people who strive to live morally and spiritually, who put God at the center of their lives and allow faith, conscience, compassion, and what is right to guide their decisions.
And today, we were reminded that there are still elected officials who desire the same.
There was a time when people could disagree politically and still respect one another. There was a time when elected officials could sit across the table from members of another party, shake hands, talk honestly, find common ground, and work together for the people they were elected to serve.
There was a time when every decision did not have to be reduced to Republican versus Democrat, conservative versus liberal, or one side versus the other.
Instead, the question could simply be:
Is it right?
Is it fair?
Is it just?
Does it help the people we were elected to serve?
And can we stand before God with a clear conscience knowing we did what we believed was right?
That spirit is desperately needed in our communities, our state, and our nation.
District Attorney Don Landry has a presence that speaks before he ever has to say a word. There is a sincerity about his commitment to his community and an integrity that comes through in conversation. His leadership reminds us that authority and compassion do not have to be opposites — they can and should coexist.
And Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser speaks with an enthusiasm and passion for something that, unfortunately, sometimes feels like an outdated concept in modern politics: people from all parties working together for better government and better representation of the people who entrusted them with public office.
That message shines like a beacon of light in what can sometimes feel like a very dark political environment.
Our lunch today reminded Michelle and me of something important: we must never allow politics to cause us to stop seeing the human being sitting across from us.
Before we are Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals, elected officials or constituents, we are human beings created by God. We are neighbors. We are fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters. We are members of communities that ultimately want many of the same things — safe neighborhoods, opportunities for our children, strong families, justice, fairness, prosperity, peace, and hope for tomorrow.
Imagine what government could look like if we returned to that understanding.
Imagine elected officials disagreeing without disrespecting one another.
Imagine legislators voting not because a political party instructed them how to vote, but because their conscience, their faith, their constituents, and the merits of an issue convinced them that it was the right thing to do.
Imagine leadership where God, morality, compassion, justice, and love for mankindonce again had a meaningful place in the decision-making process.
That is the kind of leadership Michelle and I choose to encourage.
We aren’t interested in asking, “What political party are you?”
We are much more interested in asking:
“What kind of human being are you?”
Do you love people?
Do you serve with humility?
Do you seek justice and fairness?
Do you respect those who disagree with you?
Do you put your community before yourself?
And do you seek God’s wisdom when making decisions that affect the lives of others?
Today, two Louisiana leaders gave us renewed hope that those values still have a place in public service.
Thank you, District Attorney Don Landry and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, for the conversation, the fellowship, and most importantly, for reminding us that good government begins with good human beings.
May God continue to guide you both, protect your families, give you wisdom in every decision, and use your positions of leadership to bring people together rather than divide them.
We don’t need more political division. We need more humanity.
We don’t need more hatred. We need more respect.
We don’t need leaders who only know how to choose sides. We need leaders who know how to choose what is right.
And above all, we need leaders who remember that public office is not simply a position of power.
It is an opportunity to serve.
God bless our communities.
God bless Louisiana.
And may God continue to raise up leaders who understand that we are always stronger when we choose to work together.
— Dr. Steven T. Castille
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