By Alisa Stingley

astingley@gannett.com

SHREVEPORT - Tracie Wells, 32, is getting her teacher certification. But whether she stays in the Shreveport area to teach is in doubt.

"We're thinking of moving out of state because the starter teaching pay is so low," said Wells, who also is concerned about the quality of education her 12-year-old faces in coming years.

She lives in state House District 6, and whichever candidate is elected Nov. 15 - Raymond Alley or Mike Powell - will need to put education at the top of his legislative agenda, she said. "Just make it a priority."

Voters in District 6, which includes east and southeast Shreveport, will be electing a House newcomer because B.L. "Buddy" Shaw decided not to run after serving two terms. Powell, the top vote-getter in the Oct. 4 primary, has been on the Caddo School Board since 1994 and twice has been president. Alley, a commercial Realtor for 20 years, chairs the Shreveport Airport Authority. Both are Republicans.

After the five-candidate primary in which Powell got 44 percent of the vote and Alley 17 percent, the campaign had seemed relatively quiet. At the end of October, though, Alley brought out recordings and transcripts of conversations in which he was urged to drop out of the race.

Alley said Powell asked to meet him Oct. 10 but did not specifically ask him to quit. But he said Caddo Commissioner Michael Long, a Powell supporter, requested another meeting in which Long urged Alley to withdraw, promising support for Alley in future political quests.

Alley said earlier this week that the reaction from voters has been positive. "They feel I was courageous to stand up and say no to it. The right to vote ... should be something that should not be decided in a back room."

Powell said this week that people he meets while campaigning aren't saying much about the controversy. "The controversy is my opponent's. There is very little anyone has said to me about it."

Alley said he didn't know if the information he made public will help or hurt his candidacy. "We'll find out on the 15th of November. It's one of those things I felt so strongly about that it needed to be made known."

Political analyst Elliott Stonecipher said the controversy would make very little difference in the race. "And that's the saddest commentary on the political system. I think voters are so used to this, they probably said to themselves, 'As things go, these guys do this all the time.'"

Stonecipher added, "In District 6, the issue has to be, Buddy Shaw did a good job of representing the people; is that going to continue? Who is most likely to provide the same kind of constituent response?"

Powell contends his experience on the School Board representing a district that overlaps with the House district will make him an effective legislator since he has worked with people from different political parties and cultures. "I think I can give that kind of determination and drive and get attention for things like Interstate 49 and the Jimmie Davis Bridge and make a difference in budget reform, eliminating slush funds."

Alley said his business background and military service would make him an effective lawmaker. "Having served in the military sets me apart (from Powell). I am truly a small business owner. I see more facets of business throughout this area."

Regardless of who gets elected to the House seat, he will have a new governor with which to contend. Powell and Alley haven't come out for or against Bobby Jindal or Kathleen Blanco. Each said they could work with either one.

Powell said he would "reach across both party lines." Said Alley: "I can find common ground with anybody."