Politics Column for Sunday, 10/14

Jindal draws Iowa paper’s ‘Thistles’

Gov. Bobby Jindal caught the attention of the Des Moines (Iowa) Register’s editorial staff last week.

In its “Roses & Thistles” comments, Jindal got a thistle for “having the temerity to come here to lecture Iowans about their judges.”

Jindal left behind his Louisiana problems to go on a bus tour across Iowa to campaign against the re-election of Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins.

“This is the governor of a state whose courts have consistently been ranked No. 49 out of the 50 states in the respected state courts survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” the article said. “Iowa consistently ranks in the top five or 10 states overall in the survey of business lawyers.”

“Maybe Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad should head down to Louisiana and take a bus tour to persuade the good people of that state to reform their system of electing judges,” the article concluded.

Jindal makes more staff changes

Gov. Bobby Jindal made more staff changes last week.

Most of the changes involve relatives of the governor’s political advisor Timmy Teepell.

Teepell’s younger brother Taylor will move from deputy legislative affairs director to deputy chief of staff. Teepell’s brother-in-law Matt Parker will move from intergovernmental affairs director to legislative affairs director. Anthony Ramirez, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, will move into Parker’s old job.

Shannon Bates, the governor’s spokeswoman, said Taylor Teepell will get a $40,000 pay raise, increasing his annual salary to $130,000. Parker will make $120,000 by filling a position that previously was vacant. Bates said Parker made $95,000 in his old job.

Ramirez’s salary will climb from $44,000 to $70,000, she said.

Dardenne’s cultural courtship of France

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne left Sunday on a 10-day cultural and economic development trip to France and Belgium.

What started as a brief trip to sign treaties pledging cooperation in education and cultural matters between the countries with strong French ties grew a life of its own, Dardenne said.

“The Committee of 100 asked me to join them on an economic development mission,” he said. “It became an extensive and tightly packed trip with an awful lot of activity.”

Most of the time will be spent in France, he said.

“It’s very much a working trip,” said Dardennem who released a list of day-by-day events.

The trip is being coordinated with the Committee of 100, CODOFIL, the Office of Consul General of France in New Orleans, the French-American Chamber of Commerce-Gulf Coast, Louisiana Economic Development and the Department of Education.

The travel itinerary includes Namur and Brussels, Belgium, and Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Caen and Suresnes, France.

Dardenne said up to 50 Louisianians will participate in various events along the way, including two French speaking legislators — state Sen. Eric Lafleur, D-Ville Platte, and state Rep. Stephen Ortego, D-Carencro. Toward the end of the trip, there will be a big reception for tour operators to encourage visits to Louisiana, he said.

State names Drake
a ‘network leader’

Former Zachary Superintendent Warren Drake is one of five “network leaders” at the state Department of Education working with local school districts to implement major change in public schools, including more rigorous classes.

Drake said this is part of his philosophy: “Err and err and err again, but less and less and less.”

Lawmakers compare road trips to Capitol

State lawmakers tried to outdo each other on travel woes during a hearing on Louisiana’s road and bridge problems.

State Rep. Johnny Berthelot, R-Gonzales, said it took him well over an hour to travel the 27 miles from his home to the state Capitol.

Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Robert Adley, R-Benton, was not to be outdone.

“I drove from Benton, La., and Lewis and Clark had an easier time,” Adley said, joking.

Petitions fail in effort to recall 3 lawmakers

Recall efforts against three legislators have ended without promoters gaining sufficient signatures on petitions to prompt an election.

The Secretary of State’s Office said petition drives against Republican state Reps. Greg Cromer, Kevin Pearson and Ray Garofalo failed. Cromer and Pearson are from Slidell, and Garofalo is from Chalmette.

Recall petitions require the signatures of one-third of the voters in a district.

Earlier efforts seeking the ousters of Gov. Bobby Jindal and House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, also died.

The recall efforts were largely fueled by dissatisfaction over legislators support of Jindal-pushed private school vouchers and teacher tenure law changes.

State workers warned against participation

State Civil Service Director Shannon Templet is reminding rank-and-file state employees of prohibited election activity as the Nov. 6 elections approach.

Prohibited activity includes opposing or supporting a political candidate or political party.

“You cannot display political signs in your yard, bumper stickers on your vehicle or wear a button or pin that could be perceived as supporting a person or party,” Templet said. “Also, you cannot ‘like’ a candidate or party on Facebook or follow on Twitter or any other social media.”

Employees also cannot take an active part in the management of the affairs of a political party, faction, candidate or any political campaign.

So what can a classified employee do related to elections?

“You may vote,” Templet said. “You may be a commissioner or poll watcher. You may express your opinions privately, and you may sign a recall petition. You may support or oppose a cause. Examples of a cause would be a tax election, a bond issue and constitutional amendments.”

Analyst to discuss presidential race

Political analyst Elliott Stonecipher will be the speaker for Monday’s meeting of the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

Stonecipher will discuss the upcoming presidential election.

Press Club meetings are held at De La Ronde Hall in downtown Baton Rouge, 320 Third St. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and news media are allowed to ask questions.

District 1 candidates to meet and greet

Candidates running for area congressional and judicial offices in the Nov. 6 elections will be featured at a north Baton Rouge meet and greet reception Tuesday.

The reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Delmont Service Center, 3535 Riley St.

The event is being sponsored by state Sen. Sharon Broome, state Rep. Regina Barrow, Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards and the Louis A. Martinet Society.

Political analyst Clay Young will serve as the moderator as candidates present their platforms and answer questions from attendees.

Invited candidates include those running for the 6th and 2nd congressional districts; Public Service Commission District 2; associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, District 5; 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, 2nd District; and city court judge.

GOP women to host candidates forum

Members of the East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Women are hosting a Meet The Candidates Forum on Wednesday in Baton Rouge.

Invited guests include candidates for City Court, Metro Council, constable and justice of the peace.

The program begins at 11 a.m. in the Drusilla Seafood Ballroom in the shopping center at the corner of Drusilla Lane and Jefferson Highway. Cost is $25. Pre-registration is required.

Jeannene Kogler, EBRPRW president 2010-12, said the event will allow the audience to get a close look at conservative candidates.

Advanced reservations with pre-payment required through EBRPRW’s website, www.batonrougerepublican-women.com. Questions regarding the event can be answered by calling (225) 927-4385.

Scalise stumps
home turf

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise will speak to the Republican Women’s Club of Jefferson Parish Thursday in Metairie.

Scalise, R-Jefferson, is running for re-election.

The program begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Metairie Hotel, Four Gallleria Blvd. The cost for lunch is $29.

To make a reservation, call Carol Ryan at (504) 885-0950 or email Carol at caryan1@cox.net

League to host forum for justice candidates

The Baton Rouge League of Women Voters will hold its monthly Lunch With the League public policy luncheon on Thursday in the Audubon Room at Drusilla Restaurant, 3482 Drusilla Lane, in Baton Rouge.

This month the League will hold a Candidate Forum for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 5th District.

Doors open at 11:15 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. and the program will begin promptly at noon.

Cost of the lunch is $22 for members and $27 for non members.

Reservations may be made and tickets purchased on the League web site at www.lwvbr.org or by calling the League office at (225) 927-2255. Payment at the door is by cash or check only.

Compiled by The Advocate Capitol news bureau.