State leaders visit DeRidder, discuss legislative session Leesville Daily Leader Three elected officials visited DeRidder to discuss the most recent legislative session and to answer questions from concerned citizens regarding various issues of local, state, and national interest. State Senator Mike Reese, State Representative Charles Owen, and State Representative Dewith Carrier came together on Thursday at the Grace Church Champion Center for an open public forum. One of the issues discussed at length was the need for tax reform to make Louisiana more competitive with other states. Reese said: "One of the things I've talked a lot about is the need to make our state more competitive, more attractive for businesses to come and locate here, and more attractive for citizens to want to come here and stay here. One of the areas that is really holding us back is our tax policy in Louisiana. It is too complicated, not competitive enough, and there are many companies and people that write Louisiana off the list before they ever come here and give us a look."