Posted on 09/16/2003 7:15:12 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Candidates want to expand lieutenant governor's role Louisiana Gannett News
Posted on September 16, 2003 BATON ROUGE - Although the 1974 Louisiana Constitution provides few specific duties for the state's second highest elective office, a majority of candidates for lieutenant governor agree the position ought to be involved in expanding the state's economy.
Shortly after adoption of the current constitution, former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards authorized then-Lt. Gov. Jimmy Fitzmorris to act as the lead in seeking industrial investment in the state. Several years later, the Louisiana Legislature voted to put the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism under the office of lieutenant governor where it is today.
But during a forum the Press Club of Baton Rouge held Monday, five of the seven candidates for the office made it clear they favor expanding official duties to include economic development and jobs promotion.
"It's a good thing people are talking about economic development and economic development and economic development. It's the number one issue in the state," former Congressman Clyde Holloway said.
Holloway, one of six Republicans running for lieutenant governor, said he got into the race for one reason: to create an economic environment that will lure former residents back to the state to live. "I have four children; three of them are living out of state, all (are) college-educated."
Kirt Bennett, 24 years younger than the 59-year-old Holloway, offered similar reasons for focusing on economic development, saying he got into the race for the sake of his three preschool children. "I chose to run so that my children can stay in this state and grow their futures. I want to be an ambassador for economic development." He said there needs to be an effort to prepare the state for trade with Latin American countries that are poised to enter the market here as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Rep. Mitch Landrieu, the only Democrat in the race, said the state needs to be "re-imaged" to underscore Louisiana's preparation to participate in the economy of the 21st century. Citing various scientific research projects that promise job opportunities, he said the state needs to be promoted on the basis of this future development.
"I want to be the next lieutenant governor to re-image the state to the rest of the country and the world. But Landrieu also said the job should include promoting the state's efforts to improve education and the readiness of its citizens to handle the jobs of the new economy.
Rep. Melinda Schwegmann said, "I want to be your lieutenant governor again." She said that many of the comments about tourism promotion to support the existing economy were done when she served in the office 1992-96 and that innovations she brought to the office are still in place.
"First thing we need to do is amend the constitution to expand the duties (of the office)," J.F. "Rick" Ankesheiln, an insurance broker, said. "You need a strong lieutenant governor to work with the governor to get these things done."
Ankesheiln is running on an informal ticket with gubernatorial candidate Alan Allgood. The only other "ticket" links Holloway and Jack "Jay" Blossman.
While they talked about economic development, the candidates agreed their primary purpose is to serve as backup for the governor, acting as chief executive in his absence or as permanent replacement if he becomes incapacitated.
Karl Schorr and "Silky" Sullivan, the other contenders for lieutenant governor, did not participate in the forum.
The candidates
NAME: J.F. "Rick" Ankesheiln.
AGE: 54.
HOMETOWN: Gretna.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: vice president for claims, Marsh U.S.A. Inc.; insurance broker.
NAME: Kirt Bennett.
AGE: 35.
HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: executive director, Young Leaders Academy.
NAME: Clyde C. Holloway.
AGE: 59.
HOMETOWN: Forest Hill.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: nursery owner; former three-term congressman.
NAME: "Mitch" Landrieu.
AGE: 43.
HOMETOWN: New Orleans.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat.
PROFESSIONAL: attorney; four-term state representative.
NAME: Karl E. Schorr.
AGE: 41.
HOMETOWN: Thibodaux.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: pharmacist; nurseryman; horticulturalist.
NAME: Melinda Schwegmann.
AGE: 56.
HOMETOWN: New Orleans.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: real estate developer, state representative, former teacher and former one-term lieutenant governor.
NAME: "Silky" Sullivan.
AGE: 61.
HOMETOWN: New Orleans.
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican.
PROFESSIONAL: restaurant and lounge owner.
Campaign finance
Candidates for lieutenant governor filed reports Sept. 4 or affidavits about the same time to cover the period of June 27 through Aug. 25.
J.F. "Rick" Ankesheiln
Funds on hand at start of reporting period: $2,842.16.
Receipts: $2,480.
Loans: $4,000.
Expenditures: $2,612.84.
Cash on hand at close of period: $6,709.34.
Kirt Bennett
Funds on hand at start of reporting period: $28,370.18.
Receipts: $34,316.
Expenditures: $45,027.92.
Cash on hand at close of period: $17,302.26.
Clyde Holloway
Filed an affidavit saying he has not received more than $200 from a single source nor spent more than $5,000 total in his campaign.
Mitch Landrieu
Funds on hand at start of reporting period: $222,240.26.
Receipts: $186,100.
Expenditures: $140,421.79.
Cash on hand at close of period: $268,074.29.
Karl E. Schorr
Funds on hand at start of reporting period: none.
Receipts: $4,989.94.
Expenditures, $3,894.57.
Cash on hand at close of period: $1,095.37.
Melinda Schwegmann
Funds on hand at start of reporting period: $103,570.83.
Receipts: $29,350.
Expenditures: $3,670.11.
Cash on hand at close of period: $129,250.72.
"Silky" Sullivan
Filed an affidavit saying he has not received more than $200 from a single source nor spent more than $5,000 total in his campaign.
Where they stand
Following are results of the most recent independent poll in the race for lieutenant governor.
Mitch Landrieu: 35 percent.
Melinda Schwegmann: 11 percent.
Clyde Holloway: 11 percent.
Kirk Bennett: 2 percent.
Other candidates: 2 percent.
Undecided: 39 percent
(Statewide poll of 600 taken Aug. 22-25 by Southern Media and Opinion Research, Baton Rouge; margin of error is 4 percentage points.)
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