WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - The two Republicans vying to be Louisiana's top elections official, secretary of state, are trading criticism over pay raise votes and property taxes.

At a luncheon debate, current officeholder Tom Schedler said House Speaker Jim Tucker was out of step by supporting a legislative pay raise that was widely criticized in the public.

The raise was vetoed by the governor, but Tucker says he supported it because he wanted to make sure that all people, not only the wealthy, could become lawmakers.

Tucker hit Schedler for improperly taking a homestead exemption on two properties at once, for three years, cutting his property tax bill. Schedler called it a mistake by the parish assessor, and he says he's repaid all the back-owed money.

The election is Oct. 22.