RSS Feed

At this point during the last open gubernatorial cycle, in the summer of 2013, then-Rep. John Bel Edwards was preparing to take his long shot bid for governor from zero to 60 in the following months. He already had parts of his team in place and was planning to hold strategy meetings in July and begin polling in earnest shortly thereafter.
Good planning, of course, led to positive results as Edwards became the only Democratic governor in the Deep South two years later. He ran a multiyear campaign and created a template that both Republicans and Democrats can follow in the next open cycle in 2023.
Each election is a unique event, but the quickly approaching race for governor yet again promises something different. There will be a larger focus on digital outreach and identifying early and mail voters — and we may see more candidate campaigns than ever farming that work out to PACs and dark money groups.
To that end, outside spending may potentially break expenditure records once again. The top candidates will certainly need some help in the primary. Political outfits on the right, like the Republican Governors Association, will be eager to play after eight years of Edwards, but with a large field of GOP contenders expected, groups like the RGA may have to sit it out until the runoff.
Who makes the runoff in 2023 is an intriguing question. Late author and journalist John Maginnis often explained to folks visiting Louisiana that statewide races in our open primary system typically yielded runoff candidates on the extremes — as in Mike Foster versus Cleo Fields and Edwin Edwards versus David Duke. 
Yet as Louisiana continues to trend Republican, and as appreciation grows for the moderate approach Edwards took during the last open cycle, that runoff formula may be changing. For example, don’t place any bets you can’t cover on the Louisiana chapter of the AFL-CIO automatically endorsing the strongest Democrat in 2023. The union’s membership has grown more conservative in recent years and many members simply want a supportive governor.
Does that mean a Republican could make history by picking up the union’s endorsement? Louis Reine, president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, said it’s possible.
“The membership isn’t beholden to a political party,” he said, “and members will vote for the best candidate based on their support of working Louisiana families.”
Some in the potential 2023 field are already making some unmissable moves.
Last week, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser appealed to lawmakers and asked for additional money for early childhood education.
It’s a strong issue for Nungesser, and one legislative appropriators have been accused of overlooking this session.
The approach is noteworthy — Nungesser is becoming more confrontational than usual in staking out policy stances and there’s probably more to come.     
Two other potential GOP candidates also locked horns earlier this month in a minor way via Twitter. Attorney General Jeff Landry, from his official office account, tagged Treasurer John Schroder in a post containing some professional advice. Landry wanted Schroder to join the efforts of treasurers in 15 other states where financial institutions are being warned they could lose state business if they bend to federal pressure to “de-carbonize.”
The Twitter nudge could have been overlooked as friendly advice had Schroder not met with family and friends just days prior to kick off the exploratory phase of his potential run for governor. 
There will be plenty of Republicans to choose from in the race if it continues to shape up this way.
The newest name in the mix belongs to Sen. Rick Ward, who is being encouraged to take a serious look at the race after the regular session is adjourned on June 10. 
On the Democratic side, meanwhile, there are only questions marks. As reported in LaPolitics Weekly earlier this year, Sen. Gary Smith is thinking about a bid. Other Democratic names, however, will eventually surface.
There’s also a long list of Republicans who have been approached by supporters about running, but aren’t publicly making moves at this time, including but not limited to Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chair Bret Allain, Congressman Garret Graves and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain.
Is it too early to start campaigning for 2023? Probably not, given today’s political landscape.
If anything, the hour may be getting a touch late for candidates with low statewide name recognition and just a few bucks in the bank.
After all, as Gov. Edwards taught us, an early bird can indeed get the worm.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics. com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

BATON ROUGE — What’s in a name? For the LSU AgCenter Food Innovation Institute — known as FOODii — it is the promise of partnering researchers with entrepreneurs to shape the future of food production, consumption and, as the name suggests, innovation.
Launched in July 2013 as the LSU AgCenter Food Incubator, the institute began with 10 tenants. Its mission was to develop emerging food ventures and provide technical services to companies to help them survive and grow during the start-up period by providing business support, services and resources.
FOODii now boasts 25 to 40 tenants at any given time, allowing for individualized attention.
In the intervening eight years, emerging technologies and challenges presented by climate change have necessitated the expanded mission and name change. Through innovation and education, the FOODii of 2021 seeks to ensure a sustainable food supply, protect the environment and improve the economic well-being of the world’s growing population.
As a result, plant-based start-ups are becoming increasingly popular, said FOODii coordinator Gaye Sandoz.
“Our plant-based and specialty product lines are growing and include Panaro Food Innovations sweeteners, Hanley’s salad dressings and mushroom Bacom Bits, Skinny Roux, Fletcher Farm strawberry jalapeño barbecue sauce and many others,” she said.
FOODii’s areas of focus include food product development, marketing products and services, and food safety and security. The last of these is crucial as the prospect of food terrorism targeting processed food becomes a larger threat, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness.
“We are excited about the possibilities presented by the Food Innovation Institute,” said LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson. “FOODii is a resource center where budding entrepreneurs learn to produce, promote and protect their food product. Also, the institute is looking at alternative food sources that will safeguard the environment and is prioritizing food security to ensure a safe supply chain and healthy food access for all.”
FOODii embraces the concept of “food for the future,” which includes advances such as:
—3D printing of food to deliver meals based on a person’s metabolic panel. FOODii researchers will develop formulations for food capsules that are loaded into a 3D printer to print a meal.
—Alternative sources of food and protein. Partnerships with local businesses make it possible to create sustainable products such as flour made from insects and crops other than wheat.
—Production of meat and seafood from animal and plant cells grown in a cultivator. This type of cellular agriculture expands the food supply and reduces incidences of foodborne illness.
Having a future focus also means mentoring high school students through the Young Entrepreneur’s Academy of Baton Rouge. There are currently three student entrepreneurs working in FOODii programs.
“FOODii has added value to food companies and restaurants in Louisiana. Some of these clients include Walk On’s, Fiery Crab, Camellia Beans and Sal and Judy’s,” Sandoz said. “Through these connections, our food sciences students can work or volunteer with these clients and receive vital experiences that prepare them for their careers and hopefully keep them in Louisiana upon graduation.”
FOODii is well positioned to grow. The current facilities in Ingram Hall and the Animal and Food Sciences Laboratories Building have 11,323 square feet available. Phase 1, which added a new bottling line, is now operational, and with the addition of Phase 2, the total space will grow to 19,126 square feet. It will feature the bottling line plus refrigeration and freezer spaces, a storefront and more.
“As we’ve grown, so has the need for a larger space to produce these value-added and specialty food products using Louisiana commodities such as dairy, sugar, rice, seafood and sweet potatoes,” Sandoz said.

A Berwick man was arrested Tuesday night in Kenner and is accused in Monday night's shooting on Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, police said.

Lamarcus Jermaine Francois, 27, Francis Street, Berwick, was arrested Tuesday evening on a warrant alleging attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon or dangerous instrumentalities and aggravated criminal damage to property.

Morgan City police were called at 6:42 p.m. Monday by a report of shots fired in the area of Poncio Street and Railroad Avenue, according to the department's report. They found one male victim with a bullet wound in his thigh.

The victim was taken to a New Orleans hospital, where he was treated and released.

Investigators with the Morgan City Police Department developed Francois as a suspect in the shooting. On Tuesday, investigators secured an arrest warrant.

Tuesday evening, investigators learned Francois was in the Kenner area. They and officers with the Kenner Police Department were able to locate Francois in Kenner and place him under arrest.

Morgan City police said the investigation is still active, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Morgan City Police Department at 985-384-2310. Tipsters also can leave tips at www.morgancitypolice.org or on the MCPD Facebook Page using the messenger application.

Chief James F. Blair thanked the Kenner Police Department and the citizens of Morgan City for their assistance.

The Louisiana Senate’s spending committee advanced two bills that would redirect money from highway department salaries to road construction and maintenance.
The proposals in their current form would free up more than $1 billion over five years to build and maintain roads and bridges but would force lawmakers to find other money to run the department. Senate Finance Chair Bodi White said he expects the bills will be amended to soften the effect on the state’s general fund.
The bills join House Bill 514, which would make permanent a 0.45% sales tax scheduled to expire in 2025 and dedicate money collected after that to roads, among the pending instruments legislators are considering in the session’s final days to create a recurring revenue stream for transportation infrastructure.
“It gives us some choices of what we’re going to do,” White said.
House Bill 40 by Rep. Mark Wright, a Covington Republican, would gradually eliminate over seven years the amount of money from the Transportation Trust Fund the Department of Transportation and Development can use for salaries and benefits.
Gasoline taxes fund the fund. Of the approximately $700 million collected annually, about $400 million goes to the department’s employees, Wright said.
He said the change would provide more money for roads and bridges and give the Louisiana Legislature “more engagement” with DOTD, which would have to come to the relevant committees to ask for general fund dollars.
House Bill 511 by Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, takes a similar tack with vehicle sales taxes, which currently go to the general fund. The bill calls for an additional 10% of that money to go to the construction subfund of the TTF over 10 years until reaching 100%.
Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, said the state has been running a surplus in recent years but suggested the three bills taken together could create a “hole in the budget” at some point. Wright said future lawmakers always could change course if needed.
The Senate Finance Committee also advanced House Concurrent Resolution 6 by House Appropriations Committee Chair Jerome Zeringue. The resolution directs St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Orleans parishes and two southeast Louisiana levee boards to come up with a plan to help pay for the state’s share of the cost of a hurricane and flood protection system in their area. State officials will make the first $400 million payment on the $1.1 billion debt with federal American Rescue Plan funding in September.
The debt is a state obligation, but some state legislators have argued the local governments that benefit most directly should chip in, noting local governments also are getting ARP money. The resolution does not specify how much the locals should contribute.
The session must end by 6 p.m. Thursday.