Six Gubernatorial Candidates Declare "Education" the Top Priority in Louisiana

Alexandria (LA) Daily Town Talk ^ | 03-08-03 | Evans, Robbie

[Theodore R.]

MONROE - Education will be a top priority of the next governor, according to six candidates vying for the position this year.

The gubernatorial candidates attended a forum held Friday by the Louisiana School Boards Association, which is holding its annual convention at the Monroe Civic Center. The candidates who participated in the Friday forum included Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, former state Senate President Randy Ewing, state Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, former congressman Buddy Leach, former Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle and state Treasurer John Kennedy.

[Theodore R.]

The word never goes away: "education." Indeed "education" is now merely a code word for "give us more money." The more that is spent, the worse the product. LA is going to "educate" itself into bankruptcy, even if the children can't spell "bankruptcy."

[Kuksool]

- Kennedy supports maintaining the state's accountability program and would try to pass a law that all state officeholders serve a short time as a substitute teacher in a public school, which he believes would encourage legislators to solve the problem of low teacher pay. -

Keendy must be a product of the public schools. Just how does a law requiring politicans to serve as a subsitute teachers solve the problem of low teacher pay? This concept makes no senses at all.

[Theodore R.]

With a name like "John Kennedy," he could get votes in LA. Some in LA still salivate at the name "Kennedy." The last time a "John Kennedy" ran for president, he creamed Richard M. Nixon in Democrat LA. Howver, when St. EMK (now married to a LA native) ran in the 1980 LA primary, he was rejected in favor of GA Jimmy.

[Kuksool]

If John Kennedy can dilute the 'RAT vote from Kathleen Blanco and Richard Ieyoub, then perhaps the Pubbies have a chance holding the Governor's Mansion.

[t4texas]

Throw the cow over the fence some hay!

[rmvh]

I always thought "self preservation" and our government keeping us from being murdered by rag heads would be more important than education.

[KC Burke]

I always thought "self preservation" and our government keeping us from being murdered by rag heads would be more important than education.

I hear the satire in your post, but must point out that this is about a State office. And as much a public education is a controversy, it is a State matter and is rightly near the top of the list. Like you, I would have liked to have seen other matters rated higher.

Defense against arbitrary power by Equality under the Law, should be the first cause of any state governor. The legal structure of law and its even application is the first thing that keeps the feds out of that fray and preserves ordered liberty.

Defense of person, property and title are the next most important issues for a just state government.

Then we get to the basic services that are properly legislated and the provisions for them without wasting what private property is taken in taxes to provide for them. Frugality is admired and recognized on the local government level in a manner that is entirely different from the national level. Public schooling, adopted through statute, rightly falls here. Governors should talk about it in that context.

Crimes like illegal immigration can be dealt with locally as well, despite the federal perview. We just need to get the states to adopt measures that don't encourage it and LA is a long way ahead of CA, AZ and others as I understand it.

[rmvh]

Re your # 7....Defense against arbitrary power by Equality under the Law, should be the first cause of any state governor.

What good is a successful defense (in the foregoing arena which you place first) if you are killed because of some lapse in state government?

Self preservation is the first natural drive and requirement of all humans and as such should be the first requirment of the law for any government...state, local, federal, or, (unfortunately as we can these days discarded at the UN), any world body.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Not unless we can pitch some GOP candidates overboard. Unless there is "one" spectacular breakout candidate, we're not even going to make the runoff, and that will be a tragedy.

[Kuksool]

Even though it is still early, I would rate the LA governor's race as leaning towards the 'RATS. You are correct in that the Pubbies must rally behind a candidate to qualify for the run-off. I just hope members of the LA GOP won't throw emotional fits like Lee Fletcher and Clyde Halloway.