The Reveille hopes that when you step into the voting booth Saturday, your decision on
who will lead Louisiana for the next four years rests on more than just a guessing game.
We hope that our in-depth look at the candidates and the important issues surrounding the
election can help you eliminate all but your perfect match.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To find out how to request an absentee ballot or how to register to vote, go to www.elections.state.la.us
Other important dates:
* Oct. 15: Last day to register to vote in runoff
* Nov. 3: Absentee voting begins for runoff
* Nov. 8: Absentee voting ends at noon
* Nov. 15: Runoff election
KATHLEEN BLANCO
Democrat, Lafayette
Religion: Catholic
Top issues:
1. Education
2. Economic development
3. Health care
4. Oil and gas
In March of this year, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she came to public office for service, not for politics. She is now the front-runner for governor of Louisiana, a position known more for its politics than anything else.
Blanco, the top democrat in the race, backs up her public service claim through her past roles in government.
“I’m running because I have the experience, vision and the drive to get things done,” Blanco said. “I did it as a former legislator, as chairman of the Public Service Commission and as lieutenant governor.”
Her time in office has not been without accomplishment.
She created 21,000 new tourism jobs during her tenure as lieutenant governor. Also during that period, she moved tourism’s economic impact on Louisiana from $6.5 billion to $9 billion.
While serving Louisiana during the last 20 years, Blanco also has maintained a marriage of 38 years, raised six children and is now a grandmother of five. Her experience with raising a large family has helped push education to the top of her priority list.
“We have a chance now to change our out-migration problem by improving our community and technical colleges, along with our four-year colleges and universities,” Blanco said. “My administration will work with every public university and college in the state to ensure that they improve their standing among their fellow schools across the country.”
After two decades of serving Louisiana’s government, Blanco decided to run for governor for a specific reason.
“My decision to become governor is simple,” Blanco said. “I love Louisiana. Our state has so much potential. But, we need to believe in ourselves.”
HUNT DOWNER
Republican, Houma
Religion: Catholic
Top issues:
1. Economic development
2. Education
3. Public safety and homeland security
4. Infrastructure
Republican candidate Hunt Downer hasn’t always been the clean-cut, coat-and-tie politician he is today. His first job required different garb – he drove a school bus.
And before beginning his career as a state representative in 1972, he was a roughneck, working in the oil and gas fields of Terrebonne Parish.
“I paid my way through Nicholls State University that way,” he said.
But when Downer returned from Loyola Law School in 1972, the members of his hometown in Houma, had other career choices in mind for him.
“There was an open seat for representative,” said Downer. “And people kept asking me, ‘Hey, Hunt, why don’t you run?'”
Downer took the opportunity and never looked back. He has served as state representative for 28 years, including four years as House Speaker Pro Temp and another four as House Speaker.
Until three years ago, Downer ran as a Democrat. But breaking from party lines in 2000, he headed the Democrats for Bush campaign. And when Downer visited the White House in 2001, he switched his party affiliation at the personal request of the president.
In his bid for governor, Downer is focusing on cutting taxes and repealing regulations to attract new industry, improving the state’s infrastructure and preserving Louisiana’s coastline.
Downer, who is currently Brigadier General of the Louisiana National Guard, says the sacrifices of men and women in uniform warrant the votes of all citizens, including college students.
“We think, ‘it doesn’t affect me.’ Well, it does,” he said.
For Downer, the state of Louisiana is too precious not to care about.
“I would live nowhere else,” he said. “I could give a litany of reasons why. We are warm and friendly, we have great natural resources, a unique culture and heritage.”
A typical Louisianian, Downer can’t help but add, “Oh, and the seafood. You’ve got to love the seafood.”
RANDY EWING
Democrat, Quitman
Religion: Methodist
Top issues:
1. Economic development
2. Budget and spending
3. Tax reform
4. Highways
Democrat Randy Ewing is the only major candidate from north Louisiana, and an endorsement by a prominent south Louisiana supporter further sets him apart.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin endorsed Ewing in September, and carrying the New Orleans vote could be enough to win.
Frank Ransburg, a political science professor at Southern University, said Nagin’s endorsement of Ewing is “symbolically significant.”
“In Louisiana, we look at politics as being divided along the north-south border,” he said.
Ransburg said because of the large population of New Orleans, a mayoral endorsement could bring a candidate a large amount of votes, but that is not certain.
“It’s better to have the endorsement than to not have it,” Ransburg said.
Ewing is from Quitman and was elected to State Senate in 1988, where he served until 2000. His 12 years in the senate included a stint as president.
Ewing was one of the initial supporters of TOPS and wants to keep Louisiana graduates in the state.
“If we expect our graduates to remain in Louisiana, we must do all we can to ensure that there are good-paying jobs here for them,” Ewing said. “We cannot blame students for leaving to make a better future for themselves and their families.”
Ewing’s platform issues, detailed in his “Leadership First” plan, include creating jobs for Louisiana residents. A proposed 200,000 new jobs was one of the selling points for Nagin’s endorsement.
To draw businesses to the Bayou State, Ewing plans to form a committee of community and business leaders from around the state to make a business-friendly working environment.
Ewing also plans to improve highway conditions for better mobility. One of Ewing’s top highway priorities is the extension of the I-49 corridor from Lafayette Parish to Orleans Parish, connecting two of the state’s major business centers – Shreveport and New Orleans.
Ewing left politics in 2000 to spend time with his family. He said his loved ones are the reason he is running for governor.
“Everything that Rosemary [his wife] and I care about is here in Louisiana – our children and grandchildren and their future,” Ewing said. “I am running because I can make a better life for them and for all of Louisiana’s children.”
Richard Ieyoub
Democrat, Lake Charles
Religion: Catholic
Top issues:
1. Economic development
2. Education
With six well-known candidates for Louisiana governor on Saturday’s ballot, Democrat Richard Ieyoub said his successes during his years of service will stand out and prove to voters he is the best person for the job.
Ieyoub served seven years as Calcasieu Parish district attorney and is currently in his 12th year as Louisiana attorney general.
The 59-year-old from Lake Charles is married to Caprice Brown Ieyoub and has seven children.
Ieyoub said he deserves the vote from University students because he will ensure them a brighter future within the state.
“I have the proven leadership ability to improve the economy and create better financial and economic opportunities for our young people,” Ieyoub said.
Ieyoub, who holds a bachelor’s degree in history from McNeese State University and a law degree from LSU, said he plans to stop students from having to leave the state after graduation by actively seeking new industries to come to Louisiana and improving the job market.
“As governor, I’m going to sell Louisiana to the outside world,” Ieyoub said.
The gubernatorial candidate said outward migration, or the “brain drain,” is one of the biggest problems currently facing the state and he will provide the active and bold leadership to solve it.
Ieyoub said he does not want Louisiana’s most intelligent and driven young people to feel like they have to leave the state to succeed and find a high-quality job.
“We have to convince them that there are opportunities in Louisiana,” Ieyoub said.
Ieyoub said some of his biggest accomplishments during his time as attorney general prove that he cares about students and wants to keep them in Louisiana after graduation.
As attorney general, Ieyoub played a large role in taking successful legal action against the tobacco industry for attempting to addict young people through influential advertisements and marketing.
The tobacco settlement brought $4.6 billion to the state during a period of 25 years. About 25 percent of the money from the settlement is used to finance TOPS.
Ieyoub said the new governor should have a record of solid accomplishments and his record is much stronger than any other candidate.
Ieyoub plans to propose an additional $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes, which would generate $400 million for teacher pay raises.
As governor, Ieyoub said he plans to visit campus frequently and discuss the future of the state with students because he feels it is important for the governor to be visible.
Bobby Jindal
Republican, Baton Rouge
Religion: Catholic
Top issues:
1. Economic development
2. Education
3. Coastal erosion
4. Health care
Bobby Jindal has taken on political positions before, and becoming Louisiana’s next governor is on the top of his already expericenced list.
After working as a part of President George W. Bush’s administration and serving as president of the University of Louisiana System, Jindal is pursuing the position of governor because he said he sees the potential the state has to provide more options to its citizens.
“I became a father 20 months ago, and I hope my daughter has enough education and economic opportunities in the future so that she never has to leave the state,” Jindal said. “I was born and raised [in Baton Rouge], my mom went to LSU and my wife has never lived outside the state. I want to make sure people have educational and economical options in the future.”
Jindal said Louisiana is the only southern state that has lost population through the years, losing as many as 140,000 people in the last decade.
“On campus, there are a lot of graduates that want to work here but there simply aren’t enough jobs,” he said.
Jindal said he has an 18 point economic plan that proposes solutions to slow Louisiana’s “brain drain.” Some suggestions are cutting taxes on corporate investments, cracking down frivolous lawsuits in the state and selling the state to CEO’s and entrepreneurs to help the state’s expansion plans.
He also wants to waive interest rates that are placed on patents and ideas that come from Louisiana.
“Our state ranks in the Top 10 for research ideas, but they usually go out to other states because the state is entitled to share revenues if they stay here,” Jindal said. “We need to keep our ideas in Louisiana instead, and revenue will come from these ideas creating new jobs.”
The Republican candidate from Baton Rouge graduated from Brown University in 1991 and earned his graduate degree from Oxford University in 1995. From there, he has served as assistant secretary for planning and evaluation for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Bush and president of the University of Louisiana System.
“When I was secretary I saved hundreds of millions of taxpayer money on our health care system, and Louisiana became the third-best state in preventative health care,” Jindal said.
He has received support from Gov. Mike Foster, former U.S. representative Bob Livingston, state representative Tony Perkins and U.S. Sen. John Breaux.
Buddy Leach
Democrat, Leesville
Religion: Episcopal
Top issues:
1. Economic development
2. Education
3. Raise teacher pay
4. Coastal erosion
Economic development and improving education top gubernatorial candidate Buddy Leach’s agenda.
“My wife, Laura, and I realize that at any point we could lose our children and grandchildren to another state with better jobs and educational opportunity,” he said.
Leach, an LSU graduate, said he and his wife are able to relate to the challenges of being a college student and believe the future of Louisiana is rooted in the education system.
“We’ve endowed scholarships and academic programs, created work-study jobs and supported campus jobs because we know the challenges young people face,” Leach said.
Leach said he has a specific plan to transform the state’s economy.
“Louisiana needs a bold new change, and that requires bold new ideas,” he said. “My plan to place a fee on foreign oil processed in Louisiana will generate over $1 billion a year,” Leach said.
Leach said the new money raised can be used as revenue for the state in lieu of a tax raise.
Leach said these funds can be placed in a trust fund to raise teacher pay to the national average, finance a comprehensive Pre-K program, enhance higher education, match coastal restoration program funds, and eliminate a state income tax on seniors 60 and older.
After Leach served as an Army intelligence officer during the Cold War, he served in the Louisiana Legislature from 1968 to 1978, as a Louisiana Congressman from 1978 to 1980 and in the Legislature again from 1983 to 1988.
During his 20-year absence from politics, Leach has practiced law in his hometown of Leesville and ventured into business by creating job opportunities and health care coverage for Louisiana as CEO and President of Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company and North American Land Company in Lake Charles.