NSU seminar aimed at potential candidates ‘Running for Office’

A local Nicholls State University entity that encourages women to become public service leaders is holding its spring institute campaign seminar at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge this month.

The Louisiana Center for Women and Government at NSU is sponsoring a one-day campaign seminar on March 9 at the Old State Capitol from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The registration deadline has been extended to March 5. The LCWG encourages interested men and women to register in order to receive all the materials on the day of the seminar, including the seminar textbook, “Running for Office” by Dr. Ron Faucheux.

LCWG officials said seating is limited. Nearly 2,000 candidates are expected to run for the 1,033 positions up for election in Louisiana in 2007 at the state, parish and local levels.

The theme of the event is “The ABC’s of Running for Office.” The seminar will be taught by professional political consultants schooled on all of the topics a candidate will need to know to win an election.

“We’ve had the spring institute seminar since 1990. They are usually held during the political year or when there is a major race, like the governor’s race this year. We haven’t had a seminar since 2000,” said Jan LeBlanc, a LCWG representative.

The following is a list of seminar topics and speakers:

• Ethical fund-raising for political candidates, taught by Charlotte Cantwell and Sally Nugesser.

• What candidates need to know, taught by Kathleen Allen.

• Candidates’ guide to reading and interpreting polls, by Dr. Kirby Goidel.

• The first 25 things every smart candidate must do, which will be conducted by Faucheux.

The LCWG was established in 1990 to help encourage the future leadership of women by preparing them for public service through non-partisan provision and support of education. The center also co-sponsors the Governor’s Conference for Women, as part of its efforts educate more women from across Louisiana about issue that affect them.

In addition, the LCWG is sponsoring its annual Hall of Fame Awards luncheon on March 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Hilton-Baton Rouge Capitol Center. The keynote speaker is Raymond Strother.

In recent years, there have been four women from the Tri-parish area inducted into the Hall of Fame for their major contributions to their communities, state and nation. They are: Laura Badeaux, Marilyn Kilgren, Ethel Knobloch, Velma Callais-Rogers and Carol LeBlanc, all of Lafourche Parish.

The 2007 Inductees are New Orleans resident Irma Muse Dixon; Mary Ann Lemmon of Luling; Metairie resident Melinda Schwegmann and the late Pinkie Wilkerson of Grambling.

For the campaign seminar or Hall of Fame luncheon registration form, contact the seminar sponsors at Nicholls State University at (985) 448-4770.