Another Edwards to run for La. governor

State Rep. John Bel Edwards, D - Amite, District 72

Louisiana House Democratic leader John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that he intends to run for governor in two years.

Edwards characterized himself as a moderate centrist who can attract an array of voters. He said he wants to put Louisiana on a different path than the one Gov. Bobby Jindal paved.

“I’m so disillusioned by what I see after eight years of Bobby Jindal,” he said, citing declining state funding for higher education, the lack of new State Police cadets, the decline in hospital beds for mental health patients and other issues.

Edwards, D-Amite, first expressed his interest in the race Wednesday morning on a Baton Rouge radio show, igniting speculation about the election.

By law, Jindal cannot seek a third, consecutive term.

State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, a Republican, already is raising money for the race. State Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield, said he also is weighing whether to run.

Edwards is an attorney who has served in the Legislature for five years.

“I’m starting the process of raising money,” Edwards said. “This is just the beginning, and this is very much a marathon.”

Comments

1) Comment by e.ducator22 - 16/05/2013

People, you better do your homework. Pay attention to the things he votes for and against on the house education committee. It will be more of the same with a different name.

2) Comment by Thurston_Howell_III - 27/02/2013

I wish he could have opposed Jindal the FIRST time. Anybody but that bumbling idiot named Piyush!

3) Comment by Snidely70448 - 27/02/2013

Just what politics - poli=many, tics= blood suckers - needs, more friggin' lawyers. IMHO, lawyers should be barred from office for having an inherent conflict of interest. The more complicated the laws, the more their services are required.

4) Comment by Menji - 21/02/2013

*stupid w key.

5) Comment by Menji - 21/02/2013

Dude needs some pomade on that head and a snazzier suit. markedeard - Familiar with Idiocracy? The war's already lost.

6) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 21/02/2013

Yes, the dictators WILL continue to take over, as long as you continue to elect them. Educate yourself.

7) Comment by HerbF - 21/02/2013

He may be anti abortion personially, but I don't think he's against choice. I think he's for it. >>>> With two years to go there's plenty of time to improve name recognition. That's probably why he declared early. I'm happy that he's running, and I intend to vote for him.

8) Comment by DMJ - 21/02/2013

"Will the school vouchers and the new teacher evaluation and tenure rules get a fair evaluation?" This from the guy who bashes the Affordable Care Act every chance he gets, even though the main provisions haven't even taken effect yet.

9) Comment by foldgers - 21/02/2013

Well, anyone but Strain I will vote for!

10) Comment by twinkie1cat - 21/02/2013

Aagent: The punitive teacher evaluations and tenure abuse rules are already doing their damage just as Jindal and White planned. Experienced teachers are retiring in droves. We will soon be left with nothing but Alternate certified, rank beginners who cannot move to another state, and Teach for America. In other words, Louisiana will have no teachers and therefore no educated people. When the people are uneducated the dictators are free to take over and the voters will say, "Duh, I'll vote for the guy with the R by his name".

11) Comment by twinkie1cat - 21/02/2013

John Bel Edwards fought valiantly on the Education Committee to prevent the passage of Bobby Jindal's school destruction IEDs. Just for that effort alone I say Go! Go! He is clearly a person who does not care about the political ramifications and stands up for what is right. He could be a ray of hope for Louisiana.

12) Comment by agagent - 21/02/2013

I congratulate Edwards on his educational achievement and his military service but that does not mean I support of his policies. I do not see him as a centrist based on his positions and rhetoric.

13) Comment by Buck - 21/02/2013

John Bel, how can I contribute?

14) Comment by agagent - 21/02/2013

Will the school vouchers and the new teacher evaluation and tenure rules get a fair evaluation or will someone like Edwards stop them? Will the unfunded obligations of the state retirement plans be addressed or will we wait for a worst crisis? Status quo is not good enough, as too many public schools are failing or under performing. Most states and businesses are dealing with deficits in their pension plans. Correcting those problems become more difficult with delay.

15) Comment by rekamyah - 21/02/2013

"Name Recognition"? That figures. Dems will base their vote choice on just about anything EXCEPT qualifications. Gotta go, I'm off to the courthouse to change my name to Obama so I can run for national office next election!

16) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 21/02/2013

As long as you people continue to elect statists, the very examples of stastism mentioned below will continue to flourish. Want different results? Do something different.

17) Comment by agagent - 21/02/2013

Talk is cheap. Medicaid will continue to cripple the state budget after Jindal is gone, and demagogues will continue to blame governors for huge Medicaid deficits caused by liberals. Unless reformed, Medicaid will continue to drain funds from higher education and health and hospitals and will bankrupt many states. States cannot print and borrow money like the federal government. Obama and the Democrats are reckless and irresponsible for running up trillion dollar annual federal deficits.

18) Comment by swinham - 21/02/2013

Once again, postscript56 has it right. John Bel Edwards is the party's best hope. This West Point graduate has experience and a message that transcends political ideology. He also has something the bulk of the legislature lacks, courage. Louisiana needs balance and a governor with a clear interest in Louisiana who places common sense above anybody's playbook.

19) Comment by DMJ - 21/02/2013

agagent, and TommyRucker, you guys are already on the defensive? Nervous? Relax, I'm sure an orangutan with an R next to his name will capture the governor's mansion.

20) Comment by agagent - 21/02/2013

Edwards is a personal injury lawyer. Edwards cannot separate himself from the liberal agenda of most Democrats: more government spending and growing dependence on government, Obamacare and unsustainable spending on Medicaid, higher taxes and a bigger government, higher unemployment and a growing number of workers not in the labor force, and declining average household income. He is not a friend of small businesses, given his profession and LABI ratings of just 13% in support of business. Edwards will also rile liberals for opposing abortion.

21) Comment by TommyRucker - 21/02/2013

The name Edwards will get a lot of votes in Louisiana as we have a lot of people looking for entitlements and that seems to be the way the nation is headed, at least until the collapse comes. The more people who become dependent on government, the more such dependency will be sought because it will be about survival and that is the way the power hunger politicians want it to go. Unfortunately the present pathetic and its all about 'me' generation are doing whatever is needed to assure the 'entitlement rush' continues with its ultimate negative consequence. Jindal is the closest thing to a REAL leader this state has seen in a long long time. it is amazing how the 'entitlement group' hates him.

22) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 21/02/2013

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23) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 21/02/2013

Edwards sounds like just one more statist, nothing to see here folks, move along.

24) Comment by spqr - 21/02/2013

Edwards name recognition? I will listen to what he has to say. Almost anyone but the Jindal anti-Christ.

25) Comment by Bighug - 21/02/2013

I guess that wasn't it.

26) Comment by Bighug - 21/02/2013

Hey, jedleland, maybe the Advocate doesn't want the public to be reminded that open carry is legal in the state. Is that what you referred to that got your comment blocked? If so, this one will also be removed.

27) Comment by ScotB - 20/02/2013

Good luck!

28) Comment by jedleland - 20/02/2013

as for edwards he has a chance but not with pictures like that. remember mike foster came out of nowhere too, even though e was an R. my guess is that jindal is dirtying the GOP brand much the same way W did nationwide. a deep red state like this would be expected to go with another R but states often have governors that are elected from a non majority party its often about personality, and crucially who came before. W is a pariah now in the GOP not mentioned or acknowledged anywhere. jindal i suspect is building up a legacy simialr to that in his state, hence his 37% approval rating and front page news about LSU falling apart only a few days after his many travels to further his career hit the front page. a D could very much win in this state but they need to be charismatic, well funded, conservative (blue dog) and mention 'jindal' in every single speech just to remind us.

29) Comment by jedleland - 20/02/2013

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30) Comment by postscript56 - 20/02/2013

DMJ - Edwards has something better than name recognition right now. He's got an answer. What has hurt Dems in Louisiana is they have had no answer to being tied to the black liberal in the White House. Conservatives in Louisiana have controlled the message and defined Democrats so consistently no one has been able to overcome that stigma. But that won't stick to Edwards. He's plenty defined on his own and he has well thought out alternatives to the same, tired, failed Atlas-Shrugged-philosophy conservatives have locked themselves in to. I predict his campaign resurrects the Democratic party in Louisiana. Not predicting victory...yet. But this is the best news for Democrats in a long time. Don't mind saying right now he has my vote.

31) Comment by DMJ - 20/02/2013

John Bel Edwards doesn't have the name recognition to overcome the D that's next to his name. Maybe Mitch Landrieu, but New Orleans needs him for another term.

32) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 20/02/2013

Are you referring to term limits on the candidates or the Great Unwashed Masses who continue to ELECT these candidates?

33) Comment by antiloser - 20/02/2013

Being_Stupid how about term limits for stupidity?

34) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 20/02/2013

For generations, both the democrats and republicans have held control of government. It's time to try something radically different if we're to expect different results.

35) Comment by Ruby - 20/02/2013

Hey "Being_Stupid" is that because the Republicans are doing such a fine job in running this State?

36) Comment by Being_Stupid - 20/02/2013

We should only have term limits for Democrats, not Republicans.