Governor's race loses 3 suitors (Louisiana)

Shreveport Times ^ | 6/12/03 | John Hill

[LdSentinal]

BATON ROUGE - Two Republicans and a Democrat are dropping out of the Louisiana gubernatorial race today in a major seismic development that shook the political landscape Wednesday.

Former Gov. Dave Treen and state Sen. Ken Hollis of Metairie will endorse state Rep. Hunt Downer of Houma, who is emerging as the consensus Republican candidate.

"It will all shake out and shape up within the month," Downer said. "I'm excited."

Democratic state Treasurer John Kennedy, who has canceled fund-raisers, will issue a public statement this morning that he is dropping out, a development that probably most benefits former Senate President Randy Ewing of Quitman because they appealed to conservative Democrats.

The Louisiana Republican Party announced that Treen, Hollis, Downer and state Republican Party Chairman Pat Brister of Mandeville will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. today in the state Senate briefing room.

Senate President John Hainkel, R-Metairie, declined to confirm whether he would be dropping out later, after he's had an opportunity to talk with his supporters. "Hainkel is too busy dealing with the (state's) budget issues," Hollis said.

Downer emerged as the Republican consensus candidate following a meeting Monday in New Orleans of nine GOP strategists that was called by GOP fund-raiser Boysie Bollinger of Lockport, a shipyard owner and one of President George W. Bush's chief financial backers.

Downer, Hollis, Treen and Hainkel made presentations about their strategy. Two invited Republicans - Public Service Commissioner Jay Blossman of Mandeville and former Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle - declined to attend. Gov. Mike Foster's candidate, Bobby Jindal, was not invited.

The group included Bollinger, U.S. Rep. Richard Baker of Baton Rouge, state Board of Regents member Mike Woods of Shreveport, Bill Fenstermaker of Lafayette, Lansing Cobb of Alexandria, Jack Laughton of Lake Charles (who had given a fund-raiser for Downer), Tommy Coleman and Joe Canizaro of New Orleans and a strategist from the Republican Governor's Association.

"The joke was that even Edwin Edwards from prison said there were too many Republicans in the race," Woods said.

Hollis confirmed he is exiting and making an endorsement. Treen said the fact that he, Hollis, Brister and Downer will appear jointly at today's press conference tells the story.

"Things are happening in the governor's race," Hollis quipped. He plans to leave the press conference and go immediately to an afternoon meeting of his key supporters in New Orleans to discuss his decision.

Hollis said Bollinger called him Monday night to tell him the Republican leaders had decided to endorse Downer, a move that carries a lot of financial weight in a crowded race.

Hainkel is expected to follow suit at a later date, following his work on the state budget bill and other pressing issues in the legislative session that is reaching a crescendo. The session, as constitutionally mandated, must end June 23.

Kennedy was secluded from the media but had his press secretary, Jason Redmond, answer all inquiries. "We are not going to have any official comment today. We will be issuing a statement first thing in the morning."

Two legislators who had expressed interest in running for state treasurer said Kennedy had made courtesy calls to them.

"I have not talked with him directly," said state Rep. Tony Perkins, a Baton Rouge Republican who finished fourth in the U.S. Senate race and now is uncertain about his plans. "I have not really thought through this scenario. I didn't think John would get back in the race."

State Sen. Willie Mount, a Lake Charles Democrat who was moving toward the race, said she would not run for the office with Kennedy standing for re-election.

Ewing, who was campaigning in Northwest Louisiana on Wednesday, believes he will be the beneficiary of Kennedy's departure. "Our philosophy and our practical approaches to things are similar."

The rapid developments "represent a narrowing of the field," Ewing said. "We will just keep on plowing."