While none of the endorsements was particularly surprising, Jindal's decision not to issue an endorsement in several races, including legislative races that will be voted on in Lafayette Parish, is noteworthy.
Gov. Bobby Jindal this week released endorsements in most statewide and legislative races. While none of the endorsements was particularly surprising, Jindal's decision not to issue an endorsement in several races, including legislative races that will be voted on in Lafayette Parish, is noteworthy.
Starting from the top, Jindal declined to make endorsements in the lieutenant governor's race pitting incumbent Jay Dardenne against Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and in the race between interim Secretary of State Tom Schedler and his opponent, House Speaker Jim Tucker. All of the candidates in those races are Republican.
Closer to home, Jindal skipped on issuing an endorsement in the newly created black-majority House District 96 race, which has a field of six candidates. He also declined to endorse a candidate in House 42, a curious decision since a fellow Republican, Anthony Emmons, is trying to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Jack Montoucet. U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry attended a fundraiser for and has supported Emmons' candidacy.
The governor also decided not to make an endorsement in the state Senate District 24 race in which conservative Democratic incumbent Sen. Elbert Guillory is fending off two opponents, most notably Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins who previously held the Senate 24 seat.
House Speaker Jim Tucker,
R-Terry Town, had a some-
times rocky relationship with
Gov. Bobby Jindal during his
tenure atop the House. Jindal
declined to endorse either
Tucker or his fellow Repub-
lican, incumbent Secretary of
State Tom Schedler, in the Oct.
22 election.
As anticipated, Jindal endorsed Republican Holly Boffy, the 2010 Louisiana Teacher of the Year from Lafayette, over incumbent Republican Dale Bayard in the BESE District 7 race. Jindal reportedly wants to stack the state school board with reform-minded members, and Boffy's recent call for ending teacher tenure dovetails with the governor's desire.
And Jindal evidently has no problem with late-comers to the GOP, endorsing Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, who switched from D to R earlier this year, over Joseph Cao, the Republican former Congressman from New Orleans.
Gov. Jindal's endorsements in statewide races:
Insurance Commissioner: Jim Donelon
Commissioner of Agriculture: Mike Strain
Attorney General: Buddy Caldwell
Treasurer: John Kennedy
Gov. Jindal's endorsements in BESE races:
BESE District 1 James Garvey
BESE District 3 Glenny Lee Buquet
BESE District 4 Walter Lee
BESE District 5 Jay Guillot
BESE District 6 Chas Roemer
BESE District 7 Holly Boffy
Gov. Jindal's endorsements for Senate:
SD01 AG Crowe
SD06 Bodi White
SD07 David Heitmeier
SD08 John A. Alario, Jr.
SD09 Conrad Appel
SD10 Daniel "Danny" Martiny
SD11 Jack Donahue
SD15 Sharon Weston Broome
SD16 Dan Claitor
SD17 Rick Ward III
SD18 "Jody" Amedee
SD19 Garrett Monti
SD20 Norby Chabert
SD22 Fred Mills
SD23 Patrick Page Cortez
SD25 Dan "Blade" Morrish
SD26 Jonathan Perry
SD27 Ronnie Johns
SD28 Paul "Doc" Miller
SD29 Rick Gallot
SD30 John Smith
SD31 Gerald Long
SD32 Neil Riser
SD33 Mike Walsworth
SD34 Francis Thompson
SD35 Bob Kostelka
SD37 Jane Smith
Gov. Jindal's endorsements for House:
HD01 James Morris
HD04 Patrick Williams
HD05 Alan Seabaugh
HD06 Thomas Carmody
HD07 Richard T. Burford
HD09 Henry L. Burns
HD13 James R. Fannin
HD14 Samuel P. Little
HD15 Frank A. Hoffmann
HD18 Major Thibaut
HD19 Charles R. "Bubba" Chaney
HD20 Steve Pylant
HD21 John F. "Andy" Anders
HD22 Billy R. Chandler
HD24 Frank A. Howard
HD28 Kirby Roy III
HD31 Nancy Landry
HD33 Michael E Danahay
HD35 Brett F. Geymann
HD36 Chuck Kleckley
HD37 John E. Guinn
HD38 Julie Harrington
HD39 Don Menard
HD40 Ledricka Thierry
HD41 Mickey J. Guillory
HD43 Stuart Bishop
HD44 Ricky Hardy
HD45 Joel C. Robideaux
HD46 Mike Huval
HD47 Bob Hensgens
HD48 Taylor F. Barras
HD49 Simone B. Champagne
HD51 Joe Harrison
HD52 Gordon Dove
HD56 Greg Miller
HD59 Eddie J. Lambert
HD60 Karen St. Germain
HD65 Clifton R. Richardson
HD66 Hunter Greene
HD68 Stephen F. Carter
HD69 Erich E. Ponti
HD70 Franklin J. Foil
HD71 J. Rogers Pope
HD73 Stephen E. Pugh
HD74 Scott M. Simon
HD76 J. Kevin Pearson
HD77 John M. Schroder
HD78 Kirk Talbot
HD79 Anthony V. "Tony" Ligi
HD80 Joseph P. Lopinto
HD82 Cameron Henry
HD84 Patrick Connick
HD86 Chris Broadwater
HD87 Girod Jackson III
HD88 Johnny Berthelot
HD89 Timothy Burns
HD90 "Greg" Cromer
HD91 Walt Leger III
HD92 Thomas P. Willmott
HD93 Helena Moreno
HD95 Sherman Mack
HD97 Jared Brossett
HD98 Fenn French
HD100 Austin Badon
HD101 Harold Williams