Attention turns to former U.S. Sen. Breaux in governor’s race

In a move that was not entirely unexpected, Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced last week that she would not seek a second term as Louisiana’s chief executive.

Blanco, who came under intense criticism for her action n or inaction n in the days following Hurricane Katrina, was faced with sinking poll numbers that would have made her odds of being re-elected a long shot. Numerous independent surveys showed Blanco trailing Republican front-runner U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal by as much as 35 percentage points.

In a public address from the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge, Blanco thanked her supporters and noted that she would now be able to “focus on the people’s work and not politics for the next nine months.”

Blanco also discussed an ambitious agenda for the upcoming legislative session that includes the old staples of teacher pay raises, raises for civil servants, and additional funding for education. The session will begin in late April.

Many legislators have noted that the session will now have an unpredictable air as Blanco, now serving as a lame duck executive, may not have the clout to force legislators to yield to her agenda.

In a prepared statement, State Sen. Butch Gautreaux (D-Morgan City) thanked Blanco for her service.

“She made huge strides in the areas of ethics and transparency in government. Her economic development agenda has landed Louisiana with some mega projects that will provide quality jobs for Louisianans,” he said. He also noted that “the next none months will provide her the opportunity to do the best job possible for the state without the concern of how an issue plays politically.”

However, political attention now turns to who will pick up the mantle and seek the job in the wake of the Blanco announcement. Election day is Oct. 20.

Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux has expressed an interest in seeking the governorship if questions concerning his residency are answered satisfactorily. Breaux, a long-time Louisiana resident, recently switched his voting registration to Maryland where he now lives. He works as a member of a prestigious law and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.

According to the state constitution, a candidate for governor must have been a resident of the state for the previous five years in order to qualify for the position. However, courts in the past have been hesitant about declaring candidates ineligible for seeking public office and have mostly left that matter for voters to decide.

An opinion for the state attorney general can be expected soon, as well as a likely lawsuit from the state Republican Party should the decision allow Breaux to seek the office.

Other major candidates who have announced include state senator Walter Boasso, a Republican from Arabi, and Public Service Commission member and former state senator Foster Campbell, a Democrat from Shreveport.

In recent weeks, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon had been mentioned as a possible candidate. However, in a telephone interview the congressman said he has no intention of leaving his Washington, D.C., post.

“I’m flatted that people would consider me for the governor’s race, but we have a whole lot of work to do up here,” Melancon said.

With the Democratic party now in the majority, the congressman said the Tri-parish region’s issues n coastal restoration and hurricane protection n stand a better chance of being approved.

“We’ve got too many things on the front burner up here to turn back now,” the congressman said, noting that he never aspired to be governor. “We just had an election and now we’re here… the people hired me for this job. The real work for me is here.”