District 31 state representative hopeful Nancy Landry is cementing her frontrunner status with the type of establishment backing typically reserved for incumbent lawmakers. Landry is capitalizing on a broad coalition of support she built up in her narrow election loss for the same seat last year, and connections she has continued to foster through her recently launched political consulting and lobbying firm, Pelican Strategies.
On Monday, Landry picked up the endorsement of WESTPAC, one of four political arms of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Both Landry and her opponent, fellow Republican Troy Theriot — who has proudly touted his credentials as a small business owner — recently met with WESTPAC’s board. LABI Vice President and WESTPAC Executive Director Ginger Sawyer informed Landry of the endorsement in a letter along with a $2,500 check.
Also this week, state Rep. Joel Robideaux, an independent, gave Landry his official endorsement. “Nancy worked with the Acadiana area delegation during the last legislative session and impressed us all with her knowledge and tenacity,” Robideaux stated in his press release.
Landry’s campaign has also just announced an Oct. 29 fund-raiser at La Fonda with a host committee of more than 50 couples. Among the hosts are a number of elected officials and influential business and community leaders including state Sen. Mike Michot, state Reps. Page Cortez and Fred Mills, Parish Tax Assessor Conrad Comeaux and his wife, Performing Arts Society of Acadiana Executive Director Jackie Lyle, as well as Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation Director Jan Swift and Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Don Briggs. The chair of the $250 per couple event is Ann Knight, chairman of Knight Oil Tools.
Landry and Theriot face off in the Nov. 4 special election for the District 31 House seat. They are vying to replace Don Trahan, who resigned after taking a new post with the state Department of Education.