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One of Louisiana’s most famous – if not infamous – former officials officially announced his candidacy this week for a congressional seat that includes portions of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.
Reactions to former Gov. Edwin Edwards’ Monday announcement came fast and, in many cases, were furious. But the 86-year-old Edwards, who discusses unabashedly the eight years he served in federal prison after conviction on corruption-related charges, says he is undaunted by critics and is confident in the support he expects to receive.
“Since I got out of prison and traveled around the state, I have seen that people are disenchanted with government,” Edwards said. “They aren’t getting anybody on the telephone. There is infighting and acrimony.
“I can use my experience and ability to work with people on principles and to make compromise. I am familiar with petroleum, with energy. My children and most of my grandchildren live in this district. It is an opportunity for me to serve.”
Edwards, a Democrat, joins a crowded field of candidates seeking to fill the 6th District seat being vacated by William Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.
Cassidy is challenging Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., for her position.
Previously announced candidates running for the state’s 6th District seat are Democrats Quentin Anderson, a United Way manager from Baton Rouge and real estate broker Richard Lieberman of Laplace.
The Republicans include Garret Graves, former chairman of the Coastal Protection and Recovery Authority; Craig McCulloch, a business owner and physical therapist from Ethel; and state Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge. Also in the race from the Baton Rouge area are Tea Party writer and retired Navy captain Bob Bell; veteran Norm Clark; nonprofit fundraiser Paul Dietzel II; attorney Cassie Felder; and education consultant Charles Thomas.
Edwards is not eligible to run for a state office because of his federal felony conviction. But there is no such bar for seeking or holding a congressional seat.
“He has incredible name recognition and has a number of accomplishments that he achieved during the time he served as governor, served in Congress and served in prison,” Graves said, noting dryly, “Congress is full of un-convicted felons right now.”
Graves, whose coastal restoration activities have earned him wide recognition in the Bayou Region, also expressed concerns about the Edwards candidacy in a more serious tone.
“We don’t want this race to become a sideshow,” Graves said. “We need to stay focused on the issues and not let this become a circus. We need to stay focused on the river issues, the coastal issues, employment, health care and the budget and not let this become a distraction to the race.”
McCulloch came out swinging upon learning of the Edwards candidacy.
“The Edwards Administration is a stain on our state’s history,” he said. “We can’t get caught up in the hype and forget his political legacy. This is the same man who extorted money from companies wanting to do business in Louisiana so that he and his friends could pad their pockets and the same man who stiff-armed the legislature into passing $730 million in new personal taxes, $61 million in higher corporate income taxes and $190 million in additional gasoline taxes. He’s a career politician and a convicted felon.
“Our district needs an honest, conservative business owner, who shares our values, who can go to Washington and be a part of the solution. That’s what separates me from Edwin Edwards. I will go to Washington and work tirelessly for you to balance our budget, create jobs and fix our broken health-care system.”
Jason Dore, executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party, took aim at both Edwards and his party.
“After failing to recruit credible candidates for multiple election cycles, the Louisiana Democrat Party finally landed a notable candidate for public office. Unfortunately, Edwin Edwards is known for all the wrong reasons,” a statement from Dore reads. “His antics may be fit for a reality show, but not public office. The Edwards Administration brought Louisiana higher taxes, increased gambling and a culture of corruption that has harmed our image and business climate for decades.
“The days of Huey Long and Edwards-style politics are behind us. Gov. Edwards is the poster child for the ‘good ‘ole boy’ way of doing things. Given the current state of the Louisiana Democrat Party, we shouldn’t be surprised by the Edwards candidacy. Edwin Edwards is the personification of the Louisiana Democrat Party. As a state, we’ve moved beyond those days and we should not look back now. We’ll work tirelessly in the months to come to make sure that a conservative Republican is elected to serve the people of the 6th Congressional District.”
In some places within the district, public appearances by Edwards since his release have more resembled homecomings for a conquering hero. He was grand marshal of the Hercules parade during Houma’s 2013 Carnival celebration and was given the key to the city, before an adoring crowd of seniors.
While some local voters have expressed serious reservations about the idea of someone with Edwards’ record being able to run at all, others have painted him as a latter day Robin Hood, excusing his crimes and minimizing their seriousness by suggesting that federal prosecutors and the judge before whom he was tried were out to get him.
In addition to portions of Terrebonne and Lafourche, the district includes portions of Ascension, Assumption East and West Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. Helena and St. John the Baptist parishes.
An open primary election is scheduled for Nov. 4. In an open primary, voters may cast ballots across party lines and are not restricted by political affiliation. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote plus one vote, a runoff will be held between the top two vote getters Dec. 6.
Edwards was convicted in 2001 on 17 counts of a 26-count indictment, whose charges included racketeering, extortion, money-laundering and mail fraud. He served as governor from 1972-80, 1984-88 and 1992-96 and he previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
After his release, Edwards gained new notoriety, as the co-star with his wife, Trina, mother of his infant son, in a short-lived reality television show.
He dismisses criticism based on his criminal record and his age, noting that other members of Congress have served while in their 80s, and emphasizing that with his career of service, holding office and representing Louisiana is for him a natural role that he is fully capable of taking on honorably and effectively.
“Since I volunteered to serve in the Navy in World War II, even when I was in prison I was helpful to my fellow inmates,” Edwards said. “I want to serve because there are things that need to be done.”
Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards speaks at the Baton Rouge Press Club, Monday, March 17, 2014, in Baton Rouge, La. Edwards announced that he would join the race to represent the state’s Baton Rouge-based 6th District of the U.S. House of Representatives. Edwards served two terms as governor in the 1970s. He was re-elected in 1983 and made another comeback for a fourth term in 1991. (AP Photo/Travis Spradling)
