Alice Foster Will NOT Run for LA Governorship

Shreveport, LA ,Times | 11-05-02 | Staff Reports

[Theodore R.]

Alice Foster will not run for governor Louisiana Gannett News Posted on November 5, 2002 BATON ROUGE - First Lady Alice Foster's trial balloon ride was short-lived.

After talking it over with Gov. Mike Foster over the weekend, she issued a statement Monday morning that seemed to shoot down a possible candidacy for governor.

"A number of people suggested that I run for governor and asked me to seriously consider it," Alice Foster said. "There are many issues about which I care deeply and on whose behalf I have been very active for seven years.

"However, I am a very private person and Mike and I are looking forward to retirement together," she said in a statement issued by the governor's press office hours after Louisiana Gannett Newspapers reported she would consider the race.

The first lady, 62, has been active in fighting litter, refurbishing the Governor's Mansion and raising money for breast cancer research. But her role has been behind-the-scenes and while aware of issues as they unfold, she has not been directly involved in policy development.

Her quick exit from the gubernatorial stage disappointed LSU political scientist Wayne Parent.

"Aw!," he said when told of Alice Foster's statement. "I was looking forward to that. To those of us who watch these things closely, that would certainly have added some spice."

The idea that Alice Foster's friends have urged her to run for governor is an indicator that traditional Foster supporters have not yet settled on a candidate.

Most people had assumed Mike Foster would back Republican state Rep. Hunt Downer of Houma, as had been the insider's conventional wisdom, Parent said.

Mike Foster said he has not yet settled on a candidate, but fully intends to be involved in the selection of his successor.

"This is a very critical election," Mike Foster said. "I just want someone honest."

The governor is evaluating all the possible candidates before deciding which one to back with his money - he has between $300,000 and $400,000 left in his campaign account - and the prestige of his office.

The governor's race is sooner than it seems: the primary is Oct. 4, less than 11 months away. The runoff election is Nov. 15, 2003.

There are already several announced candidates who are actively raising money and making speeches. Only one, former state Rep. Buddy Leach, D-Lake Charles, is already on television in a massive campaign to build name recognition.

Besides Leach and Downer, other candidates include Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, D-Lafayette, former Senate President Randy Ewing, D-Quitman; state Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, D-Lake Charles, state Treasurer John Kennedy, D-Mandeville; and state Sen. Ken Hollis, R-Metairie.

[Theodore R.]

With such a large Democrat field, the Republicans had better just run one candidate to have any hope of making the "general election" of 2003.