Posted on 08/20/2003 5:25:19 AM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore)
Qualifying for the Oct. 4 election began Tuesday, and six of the seven major candidates for governor crowded the Secretary of State's Office to sign up. None of the three potential Republican candidates lurking on the sidelines of the race stepped up. One, former Commissioner of Administration Dennis Stine, said Tuesday afternoon that he would not run.
Ten candidates have so far signed up to run for the state's highest office.
Candidates for hundreds of other state and local offices have until 5 p.m. Thursday to put their names on the Oct. 4 ballot.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Hunt Downer showed up early, 15 minutes before qualifying officially opened at 8 a.m.
"I want to dispel every rumor. I am running for governor," he said, acknowledging having heard talk that he might drop out of the crowded governor's race to run for attorney general.
Fellow Republicans Bobby Jindal, a former health administrator, and Jay Blossman, chairman of the Public Service Commission, went through the paperwork process and handed over their $1,125 filing fees not long after the 8 a.m. opening
Jindal said being an Indian-American won't hurt him in the race.
"Voters in this state are going to select the best candidate. I don't think that it is a hindrance," he told reporters jammed into a hallway on the Capitol's 20th floor.
After paying the fee and signing the paperwork, Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, another Democrat, echoed other candidates when he said voters' interest will start to pick up.
"I think people will start getting focused on the race at the end of August or after Labor Day," he said.
The fourth major Democrat in the race, former U.S. Rep. Buddy Leach, plans to qualify today.
Four lower-profile candidates also qualified for the governor's race -- Republican Alan Allgood of Harvey and independents Eddie Mangin of Chalmette, John "Doc" Simoneaux of Plaquemine and J.D. "Boudreaux" Estilette of Lafayette.
On Tuesday, Stine announced that he will not run for governor. Stine, president of Stine Lumber Co. in Sulphur, said he decided it was just too late.
"I just don't have the time to make it happen," said Stine, who served in the Legislature and as commissioner of administration under former Gov. Buddy Roemer.
Two other Republicans, New Orleans businessman John Georges and former U.S. Rep. Clyde Holloway of Forest Hill, are still considering a last-minute entry into the governor's race.
Both Georges and Holloway said they will make up their minds Thursday, the last day to qualify for the governor's race.
Editor's note: Capitol news bureau reporter Scott Dyer contributed to this report.
Thank goodness. Hopefully Georges and whatsisface will STAY out and not jump in at the last minute.
Holding Foster against Jindal is unfortunate, and not fair to Jindal. I think if Jindal becomes governor we'll look back and actually have something to thank Mike Foster for, for recognizing a very talented, conservative individual and getting him involved in government.
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