News

Field for governor may not be settled

by Jeremy Alford, LaPolitics

Tony Clayton

Tony Clayton, a special prosecutor for the 18th Judicial District Court, is considering a run for governor as speculation grows about the impact an African-American Democrat would have on the early, all-white field.

“I’m a conservative Democrat,” he told LaPolitics. “I believe in smaller government, I’m pro-life and I’m for traditional marriage. I hunt, and I believe in the second amendment. I also think our oil companies play an important role in Louisiana and I don’t think we should be trying to run them out of the state.”

Clayton would be a big personality in a big race and a poll is expected to be in the field soon to test his name statewide.

The Port Allen resident is already well known in the greater Baton Rouge area for having prosecuted serial killer Derrick Todd Lee and later co-authoring “I’ve Been Watching You” about his experiences. He’s also the former chairman and a current member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors.

Clayton said he has always had a passion for public service, but did not take the race for governor seriously until donors and supporters started encouraging him to qualify.

“I’m flattered and it’s something I’m talking to my wife and family about,” he said.

Clayton now shares the most prominent question mark in the race with retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who has no party affiliation. Honoré told LaPolitics earlier this month that he was still undecided, but hinted his candidacy was a real possibility.

Played out on the back of an envelope, their entry into the race, either separately or together, would do little to frontrunner U.S. Sen. David Vitter in the primary, analysts say. But it could reopen the runoff scenario and shake up the rest of the field, beginning with state Rep. John Bel Edwards of Amite, so far the only Democrat polled with a seemingly secure spot in the runoff.

Honoré is nowhere near as moderate as Edwards and he would cut Edwards off at the far left, whereas Clayton may want to compete against the state rep for part of the party’s base.

“I don’t believe that John Bel Edwards has a lock on black Democrats,” Clayton said. “I believe that they are going to vote intelligently. Even if I don’t run, I’ve never supported John Bel Edwards in the past and he won’t be one of my candidates.”

Edward did not respond to a request for comment.

If Honoré can somehow galvanize the state’s 737,000 no-party voters, and Clayton gets in alongside the general, the question then becomes how does it affect the other established Republicans.

Clayton, though friends with Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, might eat into his black support in the Baton Rouge region, providing some benefit to Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle. But it may not be enough to deter from Dardenne’s strong third place showing in recent polls, which may allow him to climb even higher if Edwards’ share of the vote drops as a result.

Additionally, Honoré, as an environmental justice candidate, probably wouldn’t shy away from going after Angelle’s close relationship to oil and gas.