Dardenne expects to run for governor

Advocate staff file photo by ARTHUR D. LAUCK - Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne is seen in this November 2012 photo.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said Wednesday that he expects to run for governor in 2015.

“I’m not announcing that I’m running. I’ve told people my expectation is that I will run. I’m getting encouragement from a lot of people,” he said in a telephone interview.

Dardenne is the second Republican to publicly express interest in succeeding Gov. Bobby Jindal. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain also is looking at the race.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. John Bel Edwards, of Amite, said last month that he plans to run as well.

Jindal is prohibited by law from seeking a third consecutive term.

As lieutenant governor, Dardenne is the second
highest-ranking official in the state. Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco was lieutenant governor before she became the state’s first woman governor. Earl Long also used the lieutenant governor position as a launching pad for the Governor’s Office.

Dardenne was at a luncheon in Baton Rouge on Wednesday when he was asked if he planned to run for governor.

He told the audience of women in media that he does plan to run.

Prior to becoming lieutenant governor, Dardenne was secretary of state and a legislator. He is a lawyer.

Dardenne flirted with the idea of challenging U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in 2014 before dismissing the idea. He said he raised $850,000 in campaign funds last year that can be used to seek a statewide office.

He will be in Monroe next month to raise more money.

Comments

1) Comment by Michael Gary Scott - 22/03/2013

Dardenne is willing to do what Bobby never did, work for the people of Louisiana.

2) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 21/03/2013

No, Janiea, your boy,Jay, is NOT "beyond reproach." It's just you don't know everything about him.

3) Comment by DMJ - 21/03/2013

Mitch Landrieu will put in another term as mayor of Nola before running, but yes, he will attempt to be governor at some point. Although...I'd love to see him beat Vitter next time around.

4) Comment by janiea - 21/03/2013

Obviously I used a bad word. I am not apologizing for it. David Vitter is as dumb as they come if he thinks his philandering with bad women is OK. The right wing Tea party will forgive him though. Jay Dardenne is beyond reproach compared to Vitter. Career politician or not. He has never been implicated an any wrong doing. John Edwards is not very well known and needs lots of money to get his name and agenda out there, don't think that will be a successfull run. Mitch Landrieu would be a good choice but I think NOLA needs him as long as he can be mayor to get that city rolling in the right direction. Why would he leave to tackle all of the problems Jindal will leave behind.

5) Comment by janiea - 21/03/2013

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6) Comment by BRLA1982 - 21/03/2013

I think either Dardenne or John Bel Edwards will fine choices. However, I would prefer to see Caroline Fayard, Mitch Landrieu, John Kennedy and Foster Campbell all jump in the race to keep it interesting. Those that should not even bother: Fleming (awful), Landry (awful) and Vitter (getting better by learning to cooperate, but still awful).

7) Comment by DMJ - 21/03/2013

I like Dardenne ok. If I had to vote for any Repubilcan, I'd vote for John Kennedy, though I don't think he wants to be governor. Still... either way...Dardenne or Edwards. Both guys will do just fine. Honestly, I'll just be glad to be rid of Jindal.

8) Comment by Ohsofedup - 21/03/2013

Whoever runs and wins the next election will spend all his time undoing all the damage that Jindal has done over his disastrous reign as "Dictator" of the State. Any one will do a much better job than Jindal. Also hope they will rid of John White and that BESE will see they have also failed to what is right for the Public Schools, and the great teachers of the state that have been unjustly treated. Louisiana is in sad shape and we can only thank Jindal for this. Kennedy would be a great choice because he tells it like it is and is not looking putting his political future above doing his job that he was elected to do. If you are elected Governor of the State, then stay in the state and be a real leader, don't become another part time Governor that puts his own aspirations above the very people that put you in the office in the first place. Jindal's political career is finished because his poor performance record of his terms in office.

9) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 20/03/2013

If you people would quit voting for career politicians, there wouldn't be any.

10) Comment by kajunfish - 20/03/2013

The only reason he performed well with tourism with cuts is because of BP dumping money into tourism. All I see is another carrer politcian and that;s why nothing this state never changes.

11) Comment by teacherguy - 20/03/2013

I'm hoping Kennedy will throw his name in the hat...

12) Comment by Duckyluve - 20/03/2013

Hes had every other political job in the state, why not governor? Typical career politician

13) Comment by Being_Stupid - 20/03/2013

I will vote for Jay. He will easily win Baton Rouge.

14) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 20/03/2013

Wonder what BJ will be doing when this nightmare is finally over. Speaking of politicrack.

15) Comment by crazycajun - 20/03/2013

Once they start feeding at the trough you can't beat em away with a stick. I'm sick and tired of career politicians. At this point anyone off the street could do better than these career clowns. Also politicians that changed course in mid stream can't be trusted either.

16) Comment by BRLA1982 - 20/03/2013

I'm a liberal leaning Independent and I feel that Dardenne has done a pretty good job as Lt. Governor. The tourism industry took some major cuts, but he has performed well under the circumstances. If he remains fairly moderate, thinking about all voters (unlike our current failure of a Governor) and he doesn't go out on an offensive crusade to win the right-wing idiot vote. If Dardenne plays his cards right, he may just earn enough Independent and Dem votes along with GOP votes to become a Governor that people actually like and respect.

17) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 20/03/2013

Based on Louisiana's tendency to continually elect statists, Jay is sure to garner a lot of support in the Bayou State.