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.

BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced Alan Levine will step down as Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, a role he has held since January 14, 2008.  In his place, the Governor also announced the appointment of Bruce Greenstein.

During his tenure, Levine led DHH through significant reforms, even while dealing with massive funding and disaster-related challenges.

It took twelve days after the oil spill in the Gulf for President Obama to make his first trip to the region. Since then, he has made a few brief trips, but he has not traveled here in the last few weeks. The most recent high profile visit was from Vice President Biden last week. Yesterday, it was announced that First Lady Michelle Obama will be visiting the area next week.

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 elective  office. The offices include US Senate, US Congress, Lt.Governor and other positions.

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.

BP oil Tar Balls were found in Lake Ponchartrain again today as well  as  other locations along the coast of Louisiana;

The below is a situational awareness report of oil impacted areas led by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Army National Guard and local governments.

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. 

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Former State Representative and New Orleans City Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis announced today her decision to run for State Senate District 2.

NEW ORLEANS – Southeasterly winds and heavy rainfall associated with the low pressure system over the area have increased water in both the Company and Harvey canals, prompting the New Orleans District, in coordination with Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – West and Jefferson Parish, to close the gates at each canal.