ON THE HILL

The Times-Picayune ^ | 05/19/02 | Bruce Alpert and Bill Walsh

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WDSU television news anchor Norman Robinson has confirmed that he is considering a run against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans. The Louisiana Political Fax Weekly reported that Robinson was "mulling" the idea after being "encouraged" by unnamed people to challenge the six-term incumbent. When asked in a telephone interview Friday whether his mulling might blossom into a candidacy, Robinson said, "It may; I don't know." He said his status as a local household name gives him the luxury of not having to decide whether to take the plunge anytime soon. Robinson said he would run "if I thought I could really do some good. . . . I have a different concept of what it means to be a public servant . . . to really serve the people, not get rich off the public trough." Was that a broadside against Jefferson? Not at all, Robinson said. "I have no thoughts on Jefferson. None." Robinson isn't the first WDSU anchor to consider dabbling in politics. Last year while on maternity leave, Melanie Sanders appeared in and narrated a campaign commercial for the mayoral campaign of her husband, City Councilman Troy Carter. A telephone call to the station for comment on the ethics of Robinson's situation wasn't returned.