[StBernard] Louisiana Politics is Stranger Than Fiction

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Sat Sep 8 21:56:43 EDT 2007


Louisiana Politics is Stranger Than Fiction
Posted by Jeff Crouere September 07, 2007 12:58PM
Categories: Political Commentary
September 7, 2007...In so many areas, Louisiana lags way behind other
states: education, healthcare, economic development, to name a few. However,
in one category, Louisiana stands head and shoulders above any other state,
colorful and strange politics. With the end of qualifying, we now know the
field in the upcoming political races. In possibly the strangest political
development seen in recent years, two metropolitan New Orleans politicians
will have to face their own sons in the October 20th election



In St. Bernard, Parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez faces several
opponents, including his son, Henry Joseph Rodriguez, III. The younger
Rodriguez admitted that his entry into the race caught his father by
surprise and spurred a heated discussion. According to Rodriguez, III,
"Politics is in our blood."

True, just ask Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-large John Young, Jr., who
must face his son, John Young, III in his re-election bid. Young, III is 22
years old and has never run for office before. He said, "I'm simply
embracing political action." The elder Young expressed his love for his son
stated, "I'm sure this confusion will be resolved soon." We'll see.

Undoubtedly, these campaigns will be interesting, although they will not
hold a candle to the State Senate District 6 race. In that campaign,
incumbent State Senator Julie Quinn (R-Metairie) will have plenty of company
on the campaign trail. Quinn faces a large field of candidates including two
state representatives and a former congressional candidate. However, the
most unusual candidate she will confront is former television anchor Mary
Lou McCall, the ex-wife of her boyfriend Jefferson Parish
Councilman-at-large John Young. McCall will be making her first foray into
politics. She is the mother of John Young, III, who will be running against
her ex-husband. She also kicked off her campaign yesterday by filing a
lawsuit against her former television partner, retired New Orleans
Archbishop Philip Hannan, maybe the most beloved figure in the community. It
was a very unusual way to start a campaign, yes indeed.

In the Governor's race, businessman John Georges made his switch official by
changing to Independent. He has a long history of giving contributions to
the GOP, but has been on the receiving end of vicious attacks by party
officials, so it was no surprise that he left the party. He joined State
Senator Walter Boasso (D-Arabi) in leaving the GOP for greener pastures.
Boasso became a Democrat and hopes that his gubernatorial chances will
improve now that he has left the GOP.

Governor Blanco toyed with the media and the frontrunner U.S. Congressman
Bobby Jindal (R-Kenner). After announcing that she would not run for
re-election, rumors persisted that she would change her mind and run. On the
final day of qualifying, there were reports floating around political
circles that Blanco would change her mind and eventually qualify. In fact,
her security team made a sweep of the Secretary of State's office, leading
people to believe she would qualify. Well, it was all a ruse to toy with the
media and Jindal. In the words of one GOP official, "they were playing with
his mind."

In the upcoming election, voters will witness plenty of characters, but they
won't see U.S. Senator David Vitter, who will undoubtedly have a very minor
role in this election. Before the D.C. Madam story, Vitter would have played
a major role in the election. At this point, few candidates will be eager to
share a podium with the now tainted Senator.

All of these developments will make for a very interesting election. There
is father vs. son, ex-wife vs. girlfriend, with some crazies thrown into the
mix. In Louisiana, politics is never boring, and this year will be no
exception.







More information about the StBernard mailing list