The three days of qualifying for the fall elections is over, and there’s a ballot full for the October 24th primary.
On day one, we got the big names: the top tier candidates for governor, and most of the incumbents for the other statewide offices.
“It’s my pleasure to have been the first to sign up,” Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said Tuesday.
“I have qualified for re-election,” Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced.
“I want to be Treasurer again,” John Kennedy stated. “I made that decision about six months ago.”
Day two, the bulk of the BESE candidates qualified, along with the fourth and final contender for Lt. Governor, Baton Rouge mayor Kip Holden.
“You’ll see us making sure that the small towns and villages of Louisiana don’t turn into ghost towns,” Holden promised, if elected.
On the third and final day, Thursday, two Democrats qualified for Attorney General.
“Mr. Caldwell doesn’t stand or represent the working folk in Louisiana,” said Geri Broussard Baloney, explaining why she was challenging the incumbent.
“The things that I will bring out in this campaign are going to have those three Republican hypocrites running from a debate,” promised Ike Jackson, referring to Caldwell, Landry and Maley, the GOP candidates.
There was also the usual assortment of interesting characters, like independent Eric Orgeron.
“You see, I’m an entrepreneur. I’ve got several projects that you’re going to end up seeing that basically take people’s breath away,” declared Orgeron, who signed up to run for Governor. In fact, he seemed less interested in discussing his platform than in touting his projects, which include making a life-cast of Mike the Tiger’s paw, and manufacturing “New Orleans-style cheesecake".
There was also Adrian Juttner, a Green Party candidate for Ag Commissioner, who said he plans to, “Legalize and tax marijuana, recreationally, or for medicinal use.”
One who did not join the cast of characters was businessman John Georges. Rumors had been rife for several weeks, and had tv crews standing by to the bitter end, in hopes the owner of The Advocate newspaper would enter the governor’s race yet again.
So here’s your ballot count: nine candidates for Governor, and four for Lt. Governor; two contenders for Secretary of State, and five for Attorney General. There are two Treasurer candidates, four running for Agriculture Commissioner and four contenders for Insurance Commissioner. Each of the eight elected BESE seats has at least two candidates.