Former LA Governor Dave Treen Says He's the "Man With the Plan"

Monroe (LA) News-Star | 03-13-03 | Evans, Robbie

[Theodore R.]

Treen says he's the one with plan Robbie Evans / City Government Reporter Posted on March 13, 2003

Former Gov. Dave Treen wants to be known as "the man with the plan."

Treen, a 74-year-old Republican from Mandeville, made a stop in Monroe on Wednesday to formally announce his candidacy for governor. Treen joins a growing list of candidates to replace lame-duck Gov. Mike Foster later this year.

Treen served as a congressman from 1972 to 1980. He was governor from 1980 to 1984.

"I know how to manage government," Treen said. "I bring to the office experience, integrity and a plan to address and solve our state's problems."

Treen's campaign centers around a Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy, which he said would bring an additional $1 billion a year to the state. The levy would be on oil and gas transported through the state.

Treen said the levy would allow the state to provide $310 million each year for education, $200 million of which would be used to give teachers a $3,000 a year raise. He also said he would double the tax exemption for senior citizens from $6,000 to $12,000 a year.

"We also have some taxes that need to be removed in order to encourage businesses to come here," Treen said. "It's absolutely ridiculous to tax businesses on borrowed money."

Treen said his plan is identical to a smaller plan he proposed during his term as governor. Although it passed the Legislature, it did not have the majority votes needed to become law, he said.

"After I am inaugurated, I will call a special session to put this into effect," Treen said. "I think it has a better chance this time because we weren't in the financial crisis we are in now."

[Theodore R.]

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Though he comes from the New Orleans metro area, it was always Northeast LA that gave Dave Treen his best showing. In losing to Edwin Washington Edwards (D) in 1972, he carried most of the counties surrounding Monroe. In his 1983 defeat, however, he won only in LaSalle Parish in the northeast part of the state. So he announced his candiday in Monroe on Wednesday.

This year Treen, who turns 75 later in the year. is competing with six other Republicans in an attempt to gain a "general election" berth. However, the seven Republicans could so splinter their votes, that two Democrats may go into a unique LA "general election." LA -- the only state where "general elections" are not necessarily "general elections."

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Treen is not my first choice. In addition to being too old, he hasn't held any office since getting demolished by Edwards in '83.

[Theodore R.]

Treen was a Reagan man at the 1968 convention in Miami Beach, but at Kansass City eight years later, he stood with President Ford.

He ran so poorly for reelection as governor in 1983 that he could not plausibly seek the Senate in 1984, when asked to do so by the White House. Then J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., blocked Treen from receiving a federal judgeship from Reagan. Johnston, now a powerful highly-paid lobbyist in D.C., used his privilege of "senatorial courtesy" againt Treen.

Then Treen endorsed Democrats Bennett Johnston for senator in 1990 and Edwin Edwards for governor in 1991 because they were both opposed by former Klansman David Duke. Treen himself was a States' Rights Party elector in the 1960 presidential election, prior to his switch to the GOP. And he lost the 1999 special election for Congress. Still he wants to be governor because he "has a plan."