When the verdict came in, the first thing I thought to myself is—what a shame.

Although years ago I had urged publically that Bill Jefferson resign due to the embarrassment to the state and so he could concentrate on his defense, I also felt that the state and the New Orleans area needed strong leadership during the most trying of times.   Jefferson could not provide that quality since he was embroiled in such personal traumas.

My next thought was what will the verdict due to New Orleans and Louisiana politics.

Frankly, that will be discussed at our “Politics With A Punch” Event tonight with Karen Carter Peterson who ran against Jefferson and lost to him in a run off.  I am sure that another panelist, Jackie Clarkson, who is Councilwoman At Large has her own views. 

It will also be discussed at Bayoubuzz’s “How To Win Your Election”.

For starts, after talking to a political consultant about this issue, I believe the verdict will have a significant affect upon the upcoming New Orleans elections since there is now a major political void that needs to be filled from the once very powerful Jefferson  machine.  I also believe that ethics becomes even more of an issue than ever before and you can bet that campaigns will hit home on that theme in local and statewide politics.   You can also take it to the bank that more attempts will be made to toughen the Governor’s own Ethics requirements for disclosure which he watered down in tough debate during the session which caused Republican House.Speaker, Jim Tucker, to stand up to the Governor on this issue. 

Then, after thinking about the implications, suddenly my mind shifted when I received two press releases.

One was from Congressman Joseph Cao  who said:

“This is a difficult day for the people of New Orleans and Louisiana, but now we can turn the page on a negative past to focus on a positive future. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Jefferson and his family during this time.”

--Congressman Anh Joseph Cao (LA-2)

Moments later, I received another email—this one from the Louisiana Republican Party. 

Roger Villere said, “Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. released the following statement upon the announcement of former Democrat Congressman Bill Jefferson’s eleven-count public corruption conviction:

“Nearly four years ago, late night comedians began to joke about the $90,000 seized in Jefferson’s freezer and the American public had yet another opportunity to mock politics as usual in Louisiana.

But much has changed in the last four years.

In 2007, Governor Jindal called the legislature into a special session to pass sweeping ethics reforms that vaulted Louisiana from near dead last to the top of the Center for Public Integrity’s rankings. Then, just last year, William Jefferson’s former constituents replaced him with Joseph Cao, a former ethics professor at Loyola University.

Today’s verdict underlines the reality that public corruption is no longer tolerated in Louisiana.””

Villere’s statement is not totally correct.  The Center for Public Integrity rankings only dealt with the legislature, not the Governor’s office.  The center will be releasing its own rankings of the Executive branch at a later time and many will debate whether there is full disclosure by Governor Jindal which could theoretically lead to public corruption, if not by someone in the Jindal administration but in future administrations should the law not be tightened.  He is also wrong if about late night comedians.  Governor Jindal has been the brunt of at least one comedian just last week, Jon Stewart.  Still, while Villere is advocating for his party, credit should be given to Governor Jindal for helping to usher in much stricter ethics laws for almost all other government agencies, other than his own administration.

While Punch tonight will be full of serious discussion and levity, despite our anger at the Congressman for what a jury determined betrayed the people of New Orleans and Louisiana, I think that Congressman Cao hit the right sober chord.  It is time to pray for Congressman Jefferson and his family but hope that justice we be done .  It is also time to look at the future.  And, believe me,that conviction will resonate throughout Louisiana politics for a number of years to come.  Obviously, the first venue will be the upcoming New Orleans elections.