State Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, has thrown the first media jab in the race for governor with a radio spot that started airing on black radio stations two weeks ago in the Acadiana region.
The buy, for which details were not disclosed, overlaps the area where TV commercials have been running for Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle.
The radio spot labels Angelle as “Bobby Jindal’s right-hand man” for supporting hospital privatizations and cuts at Southern University. The announcer adds, “Without Republican Scott Angelle, Jindal could have never done the damage he’s done to Louisiana.”
The spot ends with a brief introduction of Edwards, describing him as a Christian and West Point grad. Contacted for comment, Edwards said, “The bottom-line is Scott Angelle is only telling half the story. He’s a workhorse, but the wagon he is pulling is being driven by Bobby Jindal.”
Angelle, who has been appointed to several positions by the governor, offered a comment through his campaign manager Ryan Cross.
“Scott Angelle has been fighting for the people of Louisiana since before Bobby Jindal had a driver’s license,” said Cross. “We appreciate Rep. Edwards’ acknowledging Scott’s workhorse mentality, but we are only beholden to the hard working people of Louisiana.”
Democrats being recruited to run for governor
The open primary system in Louisiana makes for interesting politics, especially in this year’s race for governor where a lone Democrat is having to protect his polled runoff position against a field of Republicans, at least two of which would benefit from another Democrat in the race, thus forcing an all-GOP runoff.
State Rep. John Bel Edwards is that lone Democrat. Also announced for the race are three Republicans, including Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and U.S. Sen. David Vitter.
While it’s unknown who is behind the recruitment effort, at least three well-known Democrats have been approached about running for governor. None of them appear to be jumping in.Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has been encouraged to run, say aides, but he has decided to remain a candidate for lieutenant governor. Holden has made it “very clear” that he only wants the No. 2 spot, despite being asked repeatedly to run for governor.
Other sources say former Opelousas mayor and one-time state Sen. Don Cravins Sr. has received visitors as well, but he’s stayed mostly quiet about it.
State Sen. Rick Gallot, R-Ruston, has been approached indirectly to gauge his feelings on running. He said he can read the politics on the move pretty well.
“Any candidate who would engage in that sort of tactic right now would be a signal of the kind of leadership they would provide as governor, and it would be an extension of what we’re getting from the current administration,” he said. “It’s a divide and conquer technique.”
Vitter’s cell phone offers personal touch
Locally-elected officials have received a special perk for attending recent association meetings this year: U.S. Sen. David Vitter’s personal cell phone number.
At the Police Jury Association convention in January and the School Board Association meeting last month, Vitter provided his digits to the entire audience over the microphone.
Campaign spokesperson Luke Bolar said Vitter made it a practice long ago and recently made similar public announcements for the Louisiana Sheriffs Association and the Alliance for Good Government.
“It is really his personal cell,” Bolar said, adding it’s the number he uses to reach his boss and that the senator’s family uses to reach Dad. The School Board Association was a pretty big crowd, and many had pen and paper ready. “There was a little uptick in calls after this one, but nothing major,” said Bolar.
Blueprint will be low key his session
Blueprint Louisiana, the good government group backed by businessmen and civic activists from around the state, is unlikely to play any kind of leading role during the upcoming regular session, according to its chairman, Dr. Phillip Rozeman.
But its membership doesn’t want the political class to take that the wrong way – the group will be active in supporting keys areas while lawmakers try to make sense of the budget mess, but it’s more focused on drafting an agenda for the fall elections.“This session, higher ed is an emergency and our group continues to support allowing the autonomy required to help our colleges get through the crisis,”
Rozeman said. “We base this on creating the new normal of higher ed as a market-based enterprise.
”Blueprint will likewise lend support on “already staked-out ground” in transportation, early childhood education, public schools, coastal restoration and crime. It’s backing of the Common Core standards have not changed, either.
“On health care, public-private partnerships were part of the original framework and we will continue efforts to support this reform as well as the concept of dollars following the patient,” said Rozeman.
But there will be no Blueprint-developed bills this session. Instead, members are working on an agenda for gubernatorial and legislative candidates to review. The group may stray from using the route of pledges for candidates this year, Rozeman said, but still plans on spending money to get support for its priorities and to inform voters of who’s onboard.
The top four election issues for Blueprint include transportation/infrastructure, health care delivery, higher ed funding and budget reform.
They Said It
“Don’t zombies eat brains? If so, why would they be at the Capitol?” —Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, on a zombie movie being filmed on the Capitol grounds, via Twitter
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