State Senator Brach Myers – District 23 Discover Lafayette podcast

Content provided by Jan Swift. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jan Swift or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Discover Lafayette »
State Senator Brach Myers – District 23

5d ago 58:20

MP3•Episode home

Discover Lafayette: Senator Brach Myers on Public Service, Family, and Revitalizing the Oil Center of Lafayette

Louisiana State Senator Brach Myers, who began serving Senate District 23 in March 2025 after representing House District 45, joined Discover Lafayette to reflect on his deep-rooted commitment to public service, his childhood journey, and his ongoing mission to uplift Lafayette and the state of Louisiana.

A Lafayette transplant by way of Palmetto and New Iberia, Brach shared, “Lafayette was always the big city to us. I joked and said that many days in the back of a hatchback car ride in the back to Lafayette.” He shared his love of Lafayette: “Lafayette has unmatched culture. You can see the most beautiful parts of the U.S., but there’s nothing like coming home.”

His upbringing was a blend of blue-collar life and entrepreneurial ambition, split between a trailer park in New Iberia and the early days of LHC Group, the home health care giant his father and stepmother, Ginger and Keith Myers, started in Palmetto, Louisiana.

“My mom worked at the General Mill. She was a seamstress. My stepfather was a railroad engineer. She still is a hard worker. She owns a small embroidery business here in Lafayette.”

Brach moved to Lafayette in 1999 to attend UL, where he met his wife Carly. They were married just six months into dating. “She’s my absolute soul mate… We’re residents of Bendel Gardens right here by the Oil Center.”

Brach’s day job is as Senior VP of Corporate Development at LHC Group, which provides care in over 40 states and employs more than 30,000 people. A humble public servant, he brings his business acumen, heart for his fellow man, and a drive to make things better in his position as State Senator.

His son, Emile, shares the family’s spirit of service. After seeing the mob of traffic each year at their neighbor’s “Christmas Light House” (owned by Dr. Andy Blalock), Emile started selling hot chocolate to people stuck in line, to benefit local nonprofits. “He raised over $2,000 in one night the first year. Last year, he raised over $30,000.” It’s now a full-scale community event with music, food trucks, and hundreds of visitors to Bendel Gardens. “He chooses a different charity every year. It’s all on him.”

Emile Myer’s hot cocoa fundraiser has grown into quite a success over the years! Sen. Myers indicated that Emile will probably pass the baton soon to a younger entrepreneur who can carry on the fun event which benefits local charities.

Brach brings a deeply thoughtful and humble approach to public service. “I never thought I’d be in the legislature… but I felt called to do it.” Inspired by conversations with his wife during long walks, he felt compelled to act: “I can sit on the sideline and complain about it, or I can roll up my sleeves and jump into the pit.”

His campaign mantra has been to lead with transparency and openness. “I said, I’m going to contact everybody back. I’m going to give everybody a fair ear, even if we vehemently disagree.” His legislative office “looks more like a counseling office… People can come and sit down.”

As a Senator, Brach now represents three times the constituents he did as a State Senator and works with six mayors instead of one. “It’s a lot busier…but I don’t take it lightly.”

One of his legislative focuses has been health care, drawing from best practices across the nation. His H.E.R.O. (Healthcare Employment Reinvestment Opportunity) Healthcare Workforce bill, modeled after Kentucky and Florida legislation, aimed to reverse Louisiana’s healthcare staffing crisis by broadening the program’s scope and provide educational grants to reach as many people and institutions as possible. “We picked the things that worked and got rid of the things that didn’t.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geae0oiLHMw

He’s also worked to streamline access to services through a “one door” policy for DCFS and Department of Health programs. “Trying to consolidate services and eliminate duplication is how we improve lives efficiently.”

In response to Louisiana’s insurance crisis, he filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 60 to study whether recent legislative reforms are working. “People are literally having to make decisions between buying food or paying their car insurance. That’s not a place that we can have our constituents in.” Although the resolution failed to pass, Sen. Myers has vowed to bring it up until his initiative to study the issue is successful.

Sen. Myers has championed safety bills targeting nitrous oxide and new synthetic drugs. “We’ve had friends…who had family members lose their lives. It can cause nerve damage, brain damage. But it has still been readily accessible via the internet.”

SB 78 and SB 98 were signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry in 2025. “I authored these critical measures to help stop drug overdose deaths and keep harmful inhalants out of the hands of our children.”

On the challenges of policymaking, he reflects: “When you touch that red or green button on your desk, somebody’s life is changing… Even if it’s a bad bill, I can’t abstain. I have to vote.”

Brach is passionate about revitalizing the Oil Center in Lafayette. “It has the bones—big wide streets, the park, the university. We’ve gotten funding to support beautification, signage, and investment.” His work this past legislative session has helped secure appropriations for new boulevard work and infrastructure improvements in the Oil Center.

His perspective on lawmaking is grounded in humility and practical understanding: “You can’t be an expert on everything, but you have to know a lot about everything. This morning I had a call about pompano nets… I didn’t even know what a pompano net was. I had to go Google it.”

Despite the intense demands of legislative life, Brach remains grounded. “During session, I leave Sundays and come home Fridays… I FaceTime with my wife and son in the evenings. I’m usually one of the last to leave the Capitol. If I can do this—have a family, have a job, and serve—then so can others. We need more people stepping up.”

He takes pride in the mutual respect among legislators. “We can disagree. We always will. But at the end of the day, we have a mutual respect… We love each other. We take care of each other.”

“Some legislation doesn’t get the headlines, but it changes lives. That’s what I care about.””

Visit brachmyers.com to learn more about Senator Brach Myers, his legislative priorities, and ways to get involved.

“I want to inspire more talented kids to stay here and get involved. They are the future of our state.”

*Sen. Myers and his family fish whenever they can. Enjoying the outdoors whenever there is a free day is a great past time, which he shared on our interview.*

Thank you, Sen. Brach Myers, for your service to our community and state!

103 episodes

#Society #Travel #Jan Swift