[StBernard] State senator announces Web site, not governor's bid

[Westley Annis]

State senator announces Web site, not governor's bid

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Political watchers thought they were going to the
announcement of a new candidate for next year's governor's race, but
instead, state Sen. Walter Boasso announced the creation of a Web site for
citizens to get involved in state government.


Boasso, a first-term senator from St. Bernard Parish, remained noncommittal
Monday about whether he would run for governor in 2007, saying he hadn't
ruled it out but hadn't made a decision yet.

"We'll have plenty of time to make that decision," he said on the state
Capitol steps.

However, the 60-second radio ad for the citizens' action Web site, called
"Get It Done Louisiana," sounds like a campaign ad, with a narrator
introducing Boasso as "speaking out and standing strong for Louisiana" and
Boasso complaining about Louisiana government as "pathetic."

"I built a successful business because I believed in an idea and pursued it
with focus and determination. Too many politicians only show focus and
determination for their own careers. That must change," Boasso, R-Chalmette,
says in the radio spot.

Boasso doesn't mention the new Web site until the final seconds of the
advertisement.

The state senator described the site as a way for the public to hold
government accountable and to give people a forum to speak to their elected
officials. The site at http://www.getitdonela.org gives viewers links to
elected officials and lets them sign up for an e-mail newsletter from Boasso
that he said will keep them informed about issues in government.

Boasso said he paid to set up the Web site and is seeking donations to
continue it, but he wouldn't say what other groups or individuals, if any,
have contributed so far. He said he would also run TV and print ads to
publicize the site.

Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco has said she is running for re-election next
year. No other candidates have formally announced a bid for governor, though
Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell has said he is
considering it and Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, who lost to Blanco in
2003, is widely speculated as a candidate.

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