[StBernard] Some political rumors - Shopping for a candidate

[Westley Annis]

Someone sent me this who found it posted to some political blog.  Thought it
might be of interest since it's about politics in St. Bernard. 

 

 

"Shopping for a Candidate"

 

Should we be surprised there are interesting political developments in of
all places St. Bernard parish?  After all, this is the parish where we could
always count on former councilman and parish president Henry "Junior"
Rodriquez to regularly be in the news, keeping St. Bernard on the political
map with his "colorful" comments and antics.  Before Junior there was former
parish president and eccentric businessman Lynn Dean with his
duckweed-eating, underwear-ditch-swimming manner of running parish
government.  And we can't dismiss the events of the current parish
president, David Peralta, and the alternative sex life between he and his
estranged wife that has produced some entertaining news recently.

 

Now the latest word coming from the streets of "the parish" says Walter
Leger, Jr., a well-established New Orleans attorney and a board member of
the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, along with St. Bernard
attorney and Assistant DA Greg Noto, have been on a shopping venture as of
late.  No, they're not looking to buy the latest Porche, BMW or Cadillac -
they're looking to buy a candidate to challenge Ray Garofalo next year for
his state rep seat.  But it looks like there are no takers so far, even
though insiders say they have approached more than one person.  Perhaps what
they don't realize is the prospective candidates they have approached are
smarter than they thought.  

 

Besides Garofalo having strong reelection numbers in a recent poll performed
by WVUE pollster John Grimm of Multi-Quest, a Metairie based research firm,
some say it will take at least $200K to mount a campaign that has any chance
against Garofalo.  Garofalo, a successful businessman and a lawyer himself,
can easily finance his own reelection efforts.  Plus he is expected to get
the strong backing of every business organization in the state, particularly
LABI and NFIB.  

 

It's a tough mountain for any challenger to climb, especially when someone
like Leger who sits on a supposed "pro-business organization" like the St.
Bernard EDF, you think would favor "pro-business development" incumbents
like Garofalo, who has racked up and impressive pro-business record in only
his first three years in Baton Rouge. 

 

Yes, politics does indeed make for strange bedfellows - especially when the
real motive behind Leger's and Noto's recruitment efforts could be nothing
more than good ole fashioned political revenge against Garofalo, who pushed
this current legislative session for pro-consumer legislation that would
have torpedoed the wallets of plaintiffs' attorneys - like Leger and Noto.
It's interesting to note that Leger's son, Walter III, is the current
Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Louisiana House and a colleague of Garofalo.  We
will see if that creates a strain on their working relationship.

 

What further makes this interesting is Noto's desire to get his hands
dirtied in the state rep race, considering Noto is already a well talked
about candidate for District Attorney, should the current DA Jack Rowley
decide to retire not see reelection and retire.  This could easily cause
problems for Noto since there will certainly be political alignments
supporting Garofalo, who has been a strong legislative advocate on behalf of
law enforcement and a public supporter of both Sheriff James Pohlmann and DA
Rowley.

 

It's also a well-known, local secret that At-large Councilman George
Cavignac is looking to challenge Garofalo.  As of late Cavignac has been
attempting to steer the parish council with "feel good" motions and
resolutions to position himself in a better light with the public, should he
challenge Garofalo.  Some political insiders are saying Cavignac is
depending heavily on St. Bernard Hospital CEO and political ally Wayne
Landry to finance his campaign.  

 

Landry, who made an unsuccessful attempt for St. Bernard Sheriff in 2011, is
already well suspected to be gearing up for a run for parish president next
year.  If Landry can afford to finance his own campaign and Cavignac's
remains to be seen.  However, it would appear Cavignac does not have what it
takes to appeal to Leger and Noto since other prospective recruits have been
approached.  Probably due to what some local insiders say is perceived
baggage Cavignac carries.

 

If nothing else, it appears next year's parish president's race won't be the
only interesting race to watch down in the parish.  The state
representative's race might offer some fun fireworks of its own.  We will
see if Leger and Noto can offer enough to someone to challenge Garofalo or
if they will return from their little shopping venture empty handed.  And if
they do find a candidate, we'll see if they can deliver on the campaign
funds and ground soldiers it will take to defeat Garofalo.