Gov. Blanco will not seek re-election
Published: Mar 20, 2007UPDATE FROM WBRZ CHANNEL 2
Gov. Kathleen Blanco has announced she will not seek re-election. The announcement came during a live satellite feed to television stations around the state shortly after 6 p.m.
UPDATE 5:37 P.M. FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Kathleen Blanco, whose popularity plummeted after two hurricanes devastated Louisiana during her first term, will not seek re-election, according to a letter written by Blanco and obtained by The Associated Press.
"Today, I am announcing that, after much thought and prayer, I have decided not to seek re-election as your governor," Blanco said in the letter, which was provided by a source in the Democratic Party on condition of anonymity.
Kathleen Blanco has scheduled a three-minute television address over a satellite feed tonight amid talk all over the state that she is reconsidering her plans to seek a second term.
Dozens of sources in the Louisiana political world confirmed that they had heard that Blanco will discuss her future in this rare type of address.
But none said that they had spoken to her directly.
Normally talkative sources who are close to the governor were mum this afternoon. Marie Centanni, the governor’s press secretary, declined to characterize the announcement.
Blanco will go on the satellite feed at 6:02 p.m. for three minutes, said Chuck Bark, news director at WRBZ-TV.
Blanco’s predecessor, former Gov. Mike Foster, said he is surprised by the talk because Blanco has been so “tenacious” in tackling a job that was complicated by the most damaging hurricane in U.S. history.
“She sure didn’t look like somebody who was going to drop out,” Foster said. “No one can accuse her of not giving it all she had.”
Blanco repeatedly has said she plans to seek a second term despite criticism of how she has handled recovery efforts since hurricanes Rita+ and Katrina.
She faces potential opponents from her own Democratic Party, including former U.S. Sen. John Breaux and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell. Some Republicans are lining up too, including U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, who ran second to Blanco in the 2003 election.
In December a special legislative session ended with almost none of the governor’s post-storm package being approved. She recently unveiled a proposed budget that would give pay raises to government employees and boost education programs.