Inauguration ceremonies set in BR
Multiple events to begin terms for officials and legislators
“Football collides with politics.” State Rep. Anthony Ligi, Louisiana House delegation chairman
Inauguration 2012 will be chock full of events as Gov. Bobby Jindal, other statewide elected officials and legislators prepare to begin new terms of office.
Events begin Saturday and continue after formal swearing-in ceremonies are over Monday.
Jindal has a series of events on tap including a gala, a church service and a luncheon with lawmakers.
Three of Louisiana’s other six statewide elected officials have special events planned for their friends and supporters.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Legislature’s Republican legislative delegation hosts an invitation-only event at the Capitol Hilton in downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday evening.
The event starts the once-every-four years round of activities celebrating election victories.
This time around, Republicans are rejoicing with all seven statewide elected officials among party ranks as well as GOP majorities in both the Louisiana House and Senate.
Louisiana House delegation chairman and state Rep. Anthony Ligi said the GOP caucus event is conflicting with the New Orleans Saints-Detroit Lions playoff game, so arrangements have been made for big-screen TVs, so game watchers won’t miss anything.
“Football collides with politics,” said Ligi, R-Metairie.
Inauguration day itself coincides with LSU playing Alabama for the BCS National Championship in New Orleans, and accommodations have been made with that in mind too. The governor’s inaugural ball was moved from the usual Monday night to Sunday night.
Jindal is hosting the 8 p.m. Sunday gala at The Renaissance Hotel on Bluebonnet Boulevard.
Meanwhile, a few Interstate 10 exits away, state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell will welcome invited guests to his own “inaugural celebration” at the Crowne Plaza on Constitution Avenue.
“Buddy has invited his family, friends and staff to an inaugural celebration,” Caldwell spokeswoman Amanda Larkins said. “It’s his way of saying ‘Thank you.’ ”
Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has a Monday-morning breakfast scheduled at the Pentagon Barracks for family, friends and supporters before he heads to the Old State Capitol for mid-day swearing-in ceremonies.
“I will have a short speech, and he (Jindal) will too, I hope,” said Dardenne, making note of ceremony participants anxious to be on their way to New Orleans and the LSU game.
State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has invited donors and supporters to join him for an early afternoon reception after the swearing-in ceremonies at the Poydras Building — the agency’s headquarters across the lake from the State Capitol.
Secretary of State Tom Schedler, state Treasurer John Kennedy and Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain have no special inaugural events planned, according to their offices.
Each plan on participating in already-scheduled events of others, spokesmen said.
Democratic lawmakers decided not to sponsor a function, said Chris Frink, caucus director.