Posted on 12/09/2002 7:50:09 AM PST by Theodore R.
Alexander gives image of being less-polished Staff and Wire Reports Posted on December 9, 2002
MONROE - Soft-spoken and reserved, Rodney Alexander doesn't seem like a typical, polished politician, but he's been in political life for three decades.
The 56-year-old Democrat has been a state legislator since 1988. Before that, he was a Jackson Parish police juror, beginning in 1972.
The Quitman resident squeaked out a 518-vote victory over Republican Lee Fletcher of Monroe for the 5th District congressional seat that covers Northeast and Central Louisiana, according to complete but unofficial returns from the election held Saturday. The official count will come Tuesday.
Alexander's campaign style for the congressional race typically involved talking with small groups of people, rather than holding large rallies.
"He's not that interested in the limelight, which I think is a good quality. He's not interested in being in front of the television cameras," said state Sen. Tom Schedler of Slidell, a Republican who has worked with Alexander more than seven years on health-care issues. "He just does his job well, and he does it quietly."
Schedler chairs the Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Alexander filled the same capacity on a similar committee in the state House of Representatives.
Alexander's quiet presentation doesn't mask a hidden agenda or lack of knowledge, Schedler said.
"He's a straight shooter. I work with him closely. He has a quiet demeanor, yet a very forceful demeanor and a very loyal demeanor," said Schedler, known in the state Capitol as an honest and direct lawmaker. Alexander called the runoff between him and Fletcher a race between the blue bloods and the blue jeans, characterizing himself as the blue jeans.
Alexander campaigned as "pro-business, pro-life and pro-gun," a conservative platform for a Democrat trying to get elected in a district known to favor conservatives.
But his campaign wasn't without pock marks or negativity.
He attacked Fletcher in near-daily releases from his campaign office, outlining what he called "Lee's lies."
Fletcher dug up four lawsuits against Alexander for failure to pay taxes and other obligations. Fletcher said that proved Alexander was untrustworthy.
Alexander, an insurance agent who has worked in the construction business, blew it off as a common occurrence for businessmen to get sued for a variety of issues.
Alexander, who is married and has three children, also said he would support Republican President George W. Bush on key issues such as the war against terrorism and a possible invasion of Iraq.
Fletcher, who trained under two North Louisiana congressmen, had hoped to earn his own seat in Congress.
Alexander first entered politics in 1972, following in his father's footsteps by earning a seat on the Jackson Parish Police Jury. Later, Alexander won a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he eventually became chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee.
Alexander made health care the foundation of his campaign. From his seat in the Louisiana Legislature, Alexander championed issues like LaCHIPS, which provides health insurance for poor children in Louisiana, and the Rural Hospital Preservation Act, which mandates that HMOs include rural doctors.
While Alexander calls him the "blue jeans" candidate, he is actually the "blue blood" in the race. He is from a wealthy "blue blood" family in Jackson Parish. It is Lee Fletcher who probably wears the "blue jeans."
How can anyone call themselves conservative and stay in the Democratic party?
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