In a gubernatorial race that is already fraught with competitive politicking on both sides of the aisle, one potential candidate has announced she will not be taking part in the competition. Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced Tuesday that instead of seeking re-election in the upcoming race, she will focus on the upcoming legislative session. “I will focus my time and energy for the next nine months on the people’s work, not politics,” she said in a televised press conference in the foyer of the Governor’s Mansion. Though her announcement comes as little surprise because of the lambasting she has received from her constituency and from her own Democratic party for delays in her hurricane recovery program, her reasons for bowing out of the race mark a positive turn for her. While some have speculated that her decision was only made to give former U.S. Sen. John Breaux less competition in his still-unannounced run for governor, it shows she is willing to go on record as someone who has the state’s best interest in mind. Either way the state needs a governor who is willing to focus on the best interest of the state rather than focus on his or her personal interest. Let’s hope she stands by her word and works to make some positive changes in the state as opposed to becoming complacent and simply riding out the rest of her time as governor as a lame duck. Blanco needs to continue her efforts to increase the funding allotted to higher education, health care and teacher pay. In her budget proposal released March 16, Blanco outlined these three issues as her top priorities, suggesting that millions of dollars should be set aside to make drastic and much needed improvements. The state’s education and health care have become glaring problems in recent years, and much needs to be done to bring them up to par with the rest of the country. Blanco needs to stand by her words and continue fighting to have the legislature pass the necessary measures to make these goals a reality. But the legislature also needs to work with her and avoid becoming bogged down in partisan politics – something they have been loath to do recently – and work for the betterment of the state’s education and health care. Blanco’s decision to pull out is in the best interest of the state but only if she can hold up her end of the bargain. We’ll just have to see whether her words were just political in nature or if she truly meant what she said.
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