New District 75 State Rep. Malinda White, D-Bogalusa, said the position would permit her to achieve a passion of hers — helping people, particularly the citizens of her district.

District 7 includes approximately 40,000 citizens. The district includes the eastern portion of Washington Parish, and a small portion of northeastern St. Tammany Parish, or between the Pearl River and Bogue Chitto River and the Mississippi state line.

White was sworn in on the morning of Monday, Jan. 11 at the State Capitol. Immediately afterwards, White said it was down to business. The first three days included meetings with the House Staff Fiscal Division.

“We went all the way to Wednesday in meetings. Basically, we went over the budget and issues concerning the budget,” White said. “Speakers covered the fiscal deficit we’re facing and a history of state spending.”

White said Commissioner of Administration and former Lt Gov. Jay Dardenne and Secretary of the Department of Revenue and Taxation Kimberly Robinson briefed the 105-member body about the next fiscal year.

White said economists briefed the group about revenues and expenditures and they heard from Legislative Auditor Darryl Purpura.

White’s Bogalusa office is located at 116 Georgia Ave., next to her business of Whites’ Business Machines. She can be contacted by phone at 985-730-2147 or by email at whitema@legis.la.gov.

“I’ve been getting calls from people who need help. One of the most rewarding things about this job is helping people of this district,” White said. “The staff in Baton Rouge is a tremendous advantage. They’re like an encyclopedia of human beings at your fingertips.

“It’s a tremendous weight off to know that you have that kind of support. They are so courteous and helpful. They’re going to give us what we need to help people. We’re here to help the community. If we don’t know the answer to something, they will find it.”

White said all the myriad of people in the legislative chamber is rather mind-boggling.

“The chamber is a good representation of all the people,” White said. “You see and hear all the different voices in the chamber. It’s just like a gumbo of people.”

White went to New Orleans on Wednesday night to receive an award from OffBeat Magazine concerning the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival. White is the Festival’s executive director. In the Best of the Best 2015 category, the BBHF received the Best Festival Outside New Orleans.

“I want people to know they can contact me at any time so feel free to contact me,” White said. “I want to meet with all community leaders and try and move District 75 forward in all ways.”