Jindal, Campbell sign up, Louisiana candidate qualifying begins

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana’s fall election sign-up period moves into its second day Wednesday with state Sen. Walter Boasso expected to become the third major candidate to formally commit to the governor’s race.
What’s unclear is whether Boasso will bring his regular campaign and TV advertising partner _ a cardboard cutout of gubernatorial front-runner U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal with him when he qualifies for the race.
Jindal, R-Kenner, and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, D-Elm Grove, both signed up for the governor’s election as qualifying for the Oct. 20 primary began Tuesday.
All incumbents for statewide office except Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who isn’t running for re-election formally committed to their re-election bids on opening day.
Candidates jockeyed for time before a phalanx of TV cameras and microphones after filing paperwork and paying qualifying fees. Meanwhile, the qualifying appearances of both Jindal and Campbell continued an ongoing dispute among the major candidates for governor about how many times they need to debate.
Jindal has agreed to two debates, the first later this month and one next month, but he has missed several forums in which other candidates participated. Campbell said sarcastically that he didn’t know if Jindal was still alive because he hadn’t seen him.
“Mr. Jindal, it’s time for you to stop cutting and running,” Campbell said.
Jindal said he’ll consider participating in other debates, but he’d like to see debates focus on issues, not mudslinging.
Three lesser-known candidates also added their names to the list of gubernatorial candidates. “Being an everyday person, I don’t feel you have to be a rocket scientist to see the mess we’re in in this state, and I don’t think you have to be one to get us out of this,” said Anthony “Tony G” Gentile, an independent from Mandeville.
But much of the speculation centered on whether New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin will make a bid for the Governor’s Mansion.
The formal sign-up for governor, statewide elected jobs, legislative posts _ and all other races on the primary ballot runs through Thursday. Candidates for statewide office must file paperwork in Baton Rouge at Secretary of State Jay Dardenne’s office.
The qualifying fee is up to $1,125 for candidates for governor. The runoff in any races, if needed, is scheduled Nov. 17.
Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge, wearing a back brace after a serious car accident, was the first candidate to qualify for a statewide race Tuesday morning.
He was followed by Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, a Democrat running for an eighth term in office while fighting a criminal corruption case. His Republican opponent, state Rep. Mike Strain, R-Covington, qualified and said the agriculture department needed a change, “no more indictments, no more corruption.”
Change was the theme of another candidate seeking to oust an incumbent. Royal Alexander, a Republican candidate for attorney general, signed up to oppose Democratic Attorney General Charles Foti, who also qualified Tuesday to seek re-election.
“I think voters are willing to take a chance on a new person this time around,” Alexander said.
Foti ran into criticism about his arrest of a doctor in a case stemming from the deaths of patients at a New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina. Foti accused the doctor of giving lethal doses of medications to patients, but a grand jury refused to indict her.
“The grand jury has spoken. That case is finished, and now we go forward,” Foti said after he filed his paperwork to run for a second term.
Also qualifying to run for re-election were Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, D-New Orleans; Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, R-Metairie; and Treasurer John Kennedy, a newly registered Republican from Madisonville.
Candidates for other offices, such as legislative seats, must qualify at their local parish clerk of court’s office by Thursday.