La. Commissioner Candidates Among First to Sign up for Fall Campaigns

Two Republicans running for Louisiana insurance commissioner were among the first candidates to register their campaigns for the fall elections: state Sen. James David Cain, of Dry Creek; and incumbent James Donelon of Metairie.

Candidates for elected posts ranging from Shreveport mayor to Louisiana secretary of state have until the evening of Aug. 11 to fill out the required paperwork.

Donelon said he thought the insurance race would be unpredictable this year because the 2005 hurricanes made homeowners insurance an especially crucial topic for so many south Louisiana residents. As a result, he said, voters will be casting ballots at a “volatile, emotional time.”

“No one really knows how that will play out,” Donelon said after registering.

The Sept. 30 special election for insurance commissioner and secretary of state were called because the statewide posts were vacated with the resignations of former Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley and former Secretary of State Fox McKeithen, who died in July 2005. Donelon, Wooley’s former top assistant, took over the job until Wooley’s successor is elected and takes office.

Two state senators registered for the secretary of state race: Jay Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge, and Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans. Also expected to enter that race were Mike Francis, a former state Republican Party chairman and oil drilling company owner from Crowley; and former Caddo Parish Police Juror Jim Crowley, who has no party affiliation.

Al Ater, who took over the secretary of state job from McKeithen, chose not to seek election to the job.

If needed, a runoff for the September election will be held on Nov. 7. The winners of the secretary of state and insurance commissioner jobs will finish terms that end in early 2008 and would have to run again next year if they wanted to keep the posts for the next full term.

Other races on the September ballot include several local mayor positions, two vacant state House seats, nine judgeships and the Public Service Commission seat for the Baton Rouge-based district. The incumbent PSC member, Jimmy Field, was the only candidate to register for that race on Wednesday.

Six of Louisiana’s seven congressmen also registered to run for re-election on Nov. 7. Aides to Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, said his paperwork would be completed on Aug. 10.

One of the more crowded races is the campaign to be Shreveport’s next mayor: eight candidates have already signed up.