The Louisiana elections season for 2010 has generated many surprises. For one, very few people would have expected nine candidates for Lt. Governorf. Also, there are a number of local races which have more candidates than that which was expected. Here is the unofficial look from the Secretary of State's office:
On the same day that Louisiana Secretary of Health and Hospitals, Alan Levine, has announced his coming departure from the Governor Bobby Jindal administration, Chief of Staff, Timmy Teepell has taken leave of absence and will work for the Republican Governors Association, called RGA, beginning Aug. 1.
Teepell plans to return to his state job in November.
During his tenure, Levine led DHH through significant reforms, even while dealing with massive funding and disaster-related challenges.
When the deep water Horizon well first began spurring thousands of gallons of oil into the Gulf, sympathy from around the nation poured into Louisiana. The country and the world watched in horror as the Bayou State once again wrestled with the elements of nature and the manmade disaster that followed. “First Katrina, now the oil. How many hits can the state take?” was a common expression of concern. But as more states become directly affected by the polluted waters, and the Louisiana political and business leadership continues to call for more drilling, national sympathies are beginning to wane. Is Louisiana pushing the envelope, and trying to have it both ways?
Here are the names of candidates qualifying on Wednesday for
Louisiana Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon and Louisiana Republican U.S. Senator, David Vitter have qualified for the U.S. Senate position currently held by Sen. Vitter. Also, qualifying in that race is Anthony Gentile, a Libertarian and Cary Deaton, a Democrat. Deaton's entry might come as a surprise to many political pundits.
One day after BP tar balls were found in interior waters and a small part of Lake Pontchartrain was shut down, Governor
Bobby Jindal blasted the federal government in what could be considered his most stinging criticism of the governmental action since the onset of the oil spill. In particular, Jindal cited a plan that was rejected which the state and local government claim would have provided some protection to vulnerable coasts.