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The Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition today announced Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards has been selected as its chairman and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has been chosen as the Coalition’s vice chairman.
Fellow Coalition governors elected Edwards and Reeves as their new leadership during the OCS Governors Coalition Annual Meeting to serve two-year terms for the group.
Edwards will replace Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, outgoing chair of the group and Reeves will replace Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy as vice chair.
The coalition, formed in 2011, is a bipartisan effort to advance safe offshore energy development through responsible resource management, as part of a comprehensive national energy policy.
The coalition has been a leader on state and federal discussions and coordination for offshore energy issues and environmental protection.
“Governor Edwards’ leadership in Louisiana has prepared him well to assume the role of Chairman of the OCS Governors Coalition, and I look forward to his accomplishments on safe offshore energy issues,” said outgoing chair Ivey. “I am excited about working together with Governors Edwards and Reeves to maintain the organization’s effectiveness and help lead state and federal discussion on safe offshore energy development.”
“I’m honored to become the next chairman of the OCS Governors Coalition. I look forward to building on our momentum as we work together to build a path to economic recovery for our states and nation, while also protecting the environment, our nation’s energy supply and our citizens,” said incoming chair Edwards.
Edwards added, “Thank you to Governors Ivey and Dunleavy on their successful tenures, and I am excited to work with my fellow governors and President Biden’s Administration to share information on an array of energy issues and discuss the best ways to supply the nation with energy to meet our critical needs – from renewables, wave power and carbon capture and sequestration to oil and natural gas."
Formed in 2011, the coalition of bipartisan coastal governors includes Ivey, Dunleavy, Reeves, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and Edwards.
This coalition advocates for safe offshore energy development through responsible resource management and supports proactive offshore energy production as part of a comprehensive national energy policy.
The coalition provides a discussion and policy platform for offshore energy issues shared by coastal states and the federal government.

Terrebonne General Medical Center has named Kirbie LeCompte, RN, to physician practice clinical service line administrator.
LeCompte was instrumental in her former role as director of employer and consumer health,where she played a pivotal role in building TGMC’s Executive Health, Workplace Readiness, Wellness for Life which included U-Thrive, Well & Wise, and Corporate Wellness programs. LeCompte is also a leader on the TGMC Innovation Team, which pursues groundbreaking initiatives designed to improve patient care and experience. LeCompte has been with TGMC for five years and continues to drive growth and build relationships in our community by being a part of community-based initiatives like Live Healthy Houma and Market at the Marina.
As physician practice clinical service line administrator, LeCompte will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the hospital’s employed physician practices, growing the practices and ensuring quality patient care is at the forefront.
In addition, the service line administrator is also responsible for building and maintaining close relationships with community physician practices, promoting services offered by the organization, and becoming a liaison for community physician.

This past weekend’s elections in Louisiana brought with them the first official day of spring, one new member of Congress and a couple of local upsets. The primary also gave us a pair of high-profile runoffs that will play out on April 24.
In regard to these top races, we already knew there would be no pickups or flips for the mainline parties. The 5th Congressional District (in northeast Louisiana) and House District 82 (in Jefferson Parish) will remain Republican and the 2nd Congressional District (NOLA mostly, but reaching into Assumption Parish) will remain Democratic.
We also already knew that the winner in the 5th District — Julia Letlow has become the first Republican woman from the state to serve in the U.S. House — and the 2nd District — Sens. Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson are in a runoff — will both take office sharing some of the same political goals. Particularly, both of the new members will need to immediately engage with the rapidly-unfolding redistricting process, albeit for different reasons.
For Letlow, concerns will need to be addressed about the population losses in north Louisiana. State lawmakers, to be certain, know some changes will have to be made to one or both of the northern districts. So a fight is coming, whether Congresswoman-elect Letlow wants one or not.
As for the next member representing the 2nd District, wether it be Carter or Peterson, they will instantly become a powerful voice on the subject of majority-minority districts. Not only will the freshman member have to protect their own district, there are many Democrats campaigning for a second majority-minority district in Louisiana. While that may be a non-starter in the GOP-led Legislature, a conversation will be had nonetheless.
Carter or Peterson will also be tasked with finishing up their legislative duties in Baton Rouge. The runoff (April 24) is slated near the sessions’s midpoint (it begins April 12 and ends June 10), meaning bills, projects and other priorities could be left hanging if the victor decides to head to Washington sooner rather than later.
While there’s no guesswork involved in knowing which party will prevail in the 2nd District, those watching from Washington are curious which wing of the Democratic Party will come out on top. On the Hill, Peterson has been described as more progressive, whereas Carter is viewed as a dependable vote for the White House.
Meanwhile in Jefferson Parish, there’s still a state House seat up for grabs, to replace former Rep. Charles Henry, who stepped down earlier this year. Most of the noise in that race has been made by Edwin Connick, a medical equipment sales rep with Medtronic who is the first cousin of Sen. Pat Connick, and Laurie Schlegel, the wife of Judge Scott Schlegel. They both made it to the runoff this weekend, with Connick leading 40% to 36%.
Laurie Schelgel’s campaign went negative in the final week, dropping a mailer that attacked Edwin Connick as being a champion of the “political machine.” The mailer also suggested this to voters: “Jefferson Parish Can’t Afford Another Connick.” Edwin Connick, for his part, heads into the primary having outspent his opponent three-to-one. He has a bit of momentum, as evidenced by the direct mail piece that was meant to pick off voters; his name recognition is enviable in Jefferson Parish; and he has enjoyed a strong fundraising presence in Baton Rouge in recent weeks.
In related ballot action:
—District Judge Marcus Hunter, a former state representatives, is in a runoff for the Monroe based-seat on the 2nd Circuit against J. Garland Smith after leading 44-32 this weekend. In a video message to supporters on the morning of Election Day, Hunter said, "I love y'all and there ain't nothing you can do about it!"
—In the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s District 4, Democrat Cassie Williams led Republican Michael Melerine into the runoff, 29-28. Williams outpaced Melerine by 405 votes. Outside spending was said to be intense, but only produced a turnout of 9.7 percent. The runoff will likely be a bit milder, with the GOP holding an edge.
—There were 26 tax propositions on ballots in 13 parishes this weekend and — believe it or not — every single item passed across the state. The propositions included the 0.45% St. Mary School Board sales tax for teacher and staff pay.
—Interim St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard, a Democrat, will get the job for real after besting Republican Dwain Butler 59-41.
—Talk about a squeaker.: Incumbent Cameron Parish Assessor Scott Lavergne, who has no party affiliation, just barely hung on against Republican David Conner. Lavergne was re-elected by 62 votes.
Another election and another reminder that every vote counts. If you’re ready for some more electoral action, you’re in luck. The second round is just around the corner and coming to a precinct near you in just four weeks.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

DEAR ABBY: My beautiful 17-year-old stepdaughter, “Amelia,” recently became sexually active. She’s in a “serious” relationship with the boy she had sex with. They have been together for six months, and from what she’s told me, they both gave each other their virginity and protection was used. She has not disclosed this to her parents.
My husband and Amelia are very close, but she and her mom recently had a falling-out. Amelia pledged me to secrecy, and I immediately scheduled her to see an OB/GYN to get her on birth control.
My question is, should I tell my husband? I feel awful not telling him, but she has told me she doesn’t want either of her parents to know. I’m grateful she comes to me for things like this, but eventually, it’s going to come out when my husband sees the explanation of benefits from the insurance.
Amelia’s mom and I have a solid relationship, and my husband and her mom also have a good one. I don’t want to keep secrets regarding their daughter, but I don’t want to betray my stepdaughter either.
Please help.
STRUGGLING STEPMOM

DEAR STEPMOM: It isn’t necessary to betray your stepdaughter’s confidence to get her the help she needs.
Go online to plannedparenthood.org, locate the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic and share that information with Amelia. The organization provides a wide range of low-cost services to women and men, including family planning, STD diagnosis and treatment, and birth control on a confidential basis.
You should also encourage Amelia to discuss this with her parents. She is behaving responsibly in wanting to protect herself.

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for decades, but 10 years ago she had, at the least, a texting affair with “Brad,” a longtime friend of her brother’s. Her brother, who knows about the affair, lives on a large tract of land owned by their father.
Brad is there often to go hunting with her brother. My wife and I used to visit frequently, but now there is some concern that Brad might be there and we’ll have a conflict, so we don’t go as much. The affair was very upsetting to me, but my wife insisted we keep it quiet so her brother could continue his friendship with Brad.
Over the years, she has occasionally had online contact with Brad and even told him that she appreciated him talking with our son because our son has few friends. But now our son, who knows nothing about the affair or how bad it hurt me, has become friendly with Brad. It is very difficult hearing him talk about things they do together.
Should we tell our son about the affair?
STILL HURT IN TEXAS

DEAR STILL HURT: Tempting as it may be to “out” your wife to your son, keep that information to yourself.
I question the wisdom of Brad having been encouraged to cultivate a relationship with your son since this friendship is the fruit of that decision. Because you prefer not to hear what your son and Brad are doing, the next time it comes up, change the subject. He may or may not catch on and question you about the reason, but if he does, all you need to say is you’d rather not discuss it.
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