Page 79 – State Affairs

Camp revises her 2nd CD odds

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by Jack Colwell

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When Lori Camp filed for Congress at the last minute at the February deadline, she acknowledged having a “one-in-a-million shot” in a race against Congressman Rudy Yakym, the entrenched 2nd Congressional District Republican incumbent.

Camp hadn’t planned to run. She did so only because no Democrat had filed. She didn’t think Yakym should run unopposed.

Now, she has revised those odds.

“When we win,” Camp began hopefully, talking about striving in Congress “to restore and protect women’s rights” in reproductive health care and to protect democracy against “dictator” threats of Donald Trump.

She would like to think the race is moving “more into 50-50 at this point.”

But the odds are still stacked against Camp, with not a cent raised, no organization and no political name recognition. Yakym won in all 11 counties of the district in 2022 and started this year with overflowing campaign finance coffers.

But in one sense, Camp already has won.

She is winning praise from St. Joseph County Democrats, who found that lack of an effective congressional challenger in 2022 — no ticket leader to voice issues and build enthusiasm — was a factor in losing control of county government. They had been wondering if this unknown Camp would be any better. She is.

St. Joseph County Democratic Party Chair Diana Hess said Camp is “very much a solid Democrat” and is “working hard and going everywhere.”

Camp said she has put over 42,000 miles on her car, traveling throughout the 11-county district, with most of the campaigning at nights or on weekends. She still is a full-time operations and training manager at Donnell Systems, a South Bend software firm, where her husband also works.

“It’s amazing to watch her grow and get a real handle on issues,” Hess said. “Now if she could just get some money.”

Campaign finance reports at the end of June showed:

Yakym raised $2,068,157 and had $692,164 cash on hand.
Camp raised $47,721 and had $23,812 cash on hand.

Money isn’t everything, but it is vital in a sprawling district like the 2nd to have at least enough to build vital name recognition, particularly through television.

Camp said she hopes to raise $150,000, providing enough for some planned television buys.

But she won’t get any money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. It helps fund races in districts where it finds Democrats have a chance to win competitive races important in trying to win back control of the House. Nothing against Camp — they just don’t find the 2nd, rated strongly Republican, to be competitive.

Brian Smith, 2nd District Democratic chair, who carried Camp’s last-minute filing for the Democratic nomination to Indianapolis, said he sees fundraising improving in the district, with enthusiasm growing for Camp. He said she received an ovation when she spoke to district delegates at the Indiana Democratic Convention.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Smith said.

Camp expresses no regrets about her surprise candidacy, even with all the travel and realization of the nastiness of politics, brought home by insults shouted at her “by people with Trump hats” during parades.

“We should be lifting people up, not belittling or putting people down,” Camp said.

She cited surprise at two aspects of the campaign.

One is that she is receiving support from Republicans who don’t like Trump or Yakym’s full-throated support of Trump. Her largest contributor is a Republican lawyer.

The other surprise is that Yakym no longer seems to her to be such a dominating opponent.

In campaigning, Camp said, she frequently is asked, “Who’s your opponent?” Or if they know, others say they haven’t seen him and ask, “Where’s Rudy?”

Well, Yakym is on the ballot, still expected to win. Camp, too, with her last-minute filing, is on the ballot, doing better than expected.

Jack Colwell has covered Indiana politics for over five decades for the South Bend Tribune. Email him at [email protected].

How coaches sell tickets — in the political arena

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by Brian A. Howey

INDIANAPOLIS — Back in the days when I was a Chicago White Sox fan, I remember walking through Comiskey Park before the opening pitch and hearing shouts of “Coach! Coach! Coach!”

And sure enough, walking toward me was legendary DePaul University basketball coach Ray Meyer. At any Chicago sports stadium, Super Bowl-winning Bears Coach Mike Ditka would generate a similar outpouring of affection.

Coaches hold a special status in American culture, and it translates into politics.

I write this after Kamala Harris added Tim Walz to her Democratic presidential ticket on Tuesday. His résumé brings a plethora of titles to the effort: governor, congressman, Army major, social studies teacher … and coach.

It was as if Ted Lasso had jumped from a streaming service into the America body politic.

Harris introduced her running mate as “Coach Walz,” not as the governor of Minnesota, adding, “In 91 days the nation will know Coach Walz by another name: vice president of the United States.”

He responded by telling Harris: “Thank you for bringing back the joy.”

He added, “Those same values I learned on the family farm and tried to instill in my students, Vice President Harris and I are running to take those very values to the White House.”

Walz’s political career began in 2006 after his students urged him to run for Congress. He represented a rural congressional district that would vote for Donald Trump a decade later. He understands the rural vernacular, outlook and priorities. As a football coach, he became faculty adviser for a gay/straight alliance at his high school.

A fist-pumping Walz took the stage, patting his heart in an expression of love, and joined the political fray. Trump allies quickly jumped on Gov. Walz for signing legislation into law allowing some convicted criminals to regain the right to vote. He observed that violent crime was up during the Trump administration, adding, “That’s not even counting the crimes he committed!”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was in the Democratic veepstakes himself, observed on X: “Being a teacher, a coach, a senior noncommissioned officer. What they all have in common is supporting other people. The Trump Campaign can’t figure out what to do with this ticket. They can’t fathom a campaign, or any leaders, who are not about themselves. Seeing the contrast between him [Walz] and Vance — who has contorted himself repeatedly from a never Trumper, Silicon Valley investor, to now trying to be a voice of the working class Midwest – it is just going to be an extraordinary contrast.”

The selection of Coach Walz comes eight years after a group of legendary Indiana coaches helped elevate Trump to the White House. Indiana University’s Bobby Knight, Purdue’s Gene Keady and Notre Dame’s Lou Holtz ardently endorsed Trump in 2016.

Coach Knight, speaking at a late-April 2016 Trump rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, said, “There has never been a more honest politician than Donald Trump. You folks are taking a look at the most prepared man in history to step in as president, that man. There has never been a presidential candidate prepared to the length this man is. I am not here to represent the Republican Party. And I’m not here to represent any organization that deals with politics. I think the most important thing in the world is that we vote for the best man there is for this job.”

Knight encouraged the crowd to “throw Donald over the top” by voting for him, saying it would be “a first step toward what every one of us wants America to be like.”

Trump responded, “When I get endorsed by the tough ones, I like it. If I win Indiana, it’s over. It’s over.”

And it was. Trump clinched his first GOP presidential nomination in Indiana.

That win came as the GOP establishment in Indiana was not behind Trump. Gov. Mike Pence had endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz. When the primary dust settled, Trump won with 53% of the vote.

So, Coach Walz joining the Harris ticket brings a Midwestern voice to the fray.

Former Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Kip Tew observed on X: “Hoosier Democrats, I see a lot of Joe Kernan in Tim Walz. Similar looks, similar demeanor, military background, sports, likable, happy warrior, straight shooter.”

That comment was in reference to Joe Kernan the Notre Dame baseball catcher, Navy pilot, Vietnam POW, South Bend mayor, lieutenant governor and, finally, Hoosier governor.

Kernan lost the only race he ran for governor to Mitch Daniels in 2004. The Republican had co-opted the 1954 Milan state basketball champions theme in that campaign, which underscores how pliable the addition of sports to politics can be.

As a reporter for The Elkhart Truth, I had the opportunity to cover a General Assembly campaign by Coach Marv Wood, who had moved to Mishawaka in 1969 after coaching the “Milan miracle” basketball team to the 1954 IHSAA championship, inspiring the movie “Hoosiers.” In that classic, actor Gene Hackman played Wood, measuring the rim 10 feet above the Hinkle Fieldhouse floor to reassure his team.

Wood lost that political race, but Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood (no relation) said at an unveiling of a sculpture of the coach: “Marv was a simple, decent man with a servant’s heart, strong work ethic and impeccable values, and that not only impacted his family and his friends but legendary teams, multitudes of kids and communities here and around the State of Indiana.”

If Coach Walz can break through in rural areas and red states and be heard as a trusted voice, his addition to the ticket just might pay off.

At Tuesday’s rally in Philadelphia, Coach Walz threw haymakers at Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance: “I can’t wait to debate the guy. That is, if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”

Brian A. Howey is senior writer and columnist for Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs. Find Howey on Facebook and X @hwypol.

School superintendent reverses decision to drop AP African American Studies class

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by Tammy Joyner

After weeks of controversy, Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods announced Wednesday he had reversed his decision to drop a college-level African American studies high school class, saying the state will now fund the class and include it on the state’s list of course offerings.

The about-face comes a day after Attorney General Chris Carr said the advanced placement African American Studies course does not violate Georgia’s “divisive concepts” law. The law governs what can be taught in K-12 classes about race, gender, history and other sensitive topics.

“Communication from the attorney general’s office completed the clarification process surrounding the adoption and instructional expectation for all AP, IB [International Baccalaureate], and dual enrollment courses and curriculum,” Woods said in a statement posted on the Georgia Department of Education website Wednesday. “It has been determined that this law shall not restrict local school systems from adopting any AP, IB, or dual enrollment course. Each such course will be exempted from the provisions of the divisive concepts legislation, so long as these courses are implemented in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs.”

Woods’ initial decision not to recommend the class for the 2024-25 school year drew heavy criticism from teachers, students, lawmakers, clergy and civil rights groups. Critics called Woods’ decision an attack on students’ rights. They also said students who had signed up for the course would have to scramble to find another AP class to fulfill college requirements.

NCSL: States urged to start building 2030 redistricting checklists now

Posted on August 8, 2024August 9, 2024 by Krista Kano

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The next redistricting cycle is several years away, but those involved with various states’ processes are imploring lawmakers to begin preparing now.

Their message was delivered at a National Conference of State Legislatures summit session intended to preempt challenges states may face when it comes to inmate data reallocation, commissions, map criteria, public input and remedial mapmaking.

Karin Mac Donald, director of the California Statewide Database, said that when it comes to inmate data reallocation — the process of adjusting the residency record of inmates — “start early and make a plan.”

California’s process took several years and required collaboration between her office, lawmakers, the department of corrections and the Census Bureau.

She advised thinking about whether new legislation is required, if technical changes are needed, and whether the funding, software, staff or training is in place to execute the process.

She also suggested becoming familiar with the data sets and securing a test file from the department of corrections in advance to learn how to clean addresses manually or with the help of software tools, set thresholds for minimum acceptable level of confidences and more.

Jonathan Cervas, an assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, said states also need to think about who is making their maps.

While most states enact maps through their legislatures, some use commissions that can include legislators, citizens or both and whose maps may or may not require legislative approval. Membership across the country ranges from four members to 16.

Arizona’s commission consists of four citizens appointed by legislators and a fifth citizen commission chair who may not be a member of either major political party. Its maps become law without legislative intervention, Cervas said.

In developing the commissions, Cervas said several items need to be considered including the number of members, whether that number is odd or even, how maps are approved, the level of involvement by the legislature, and the overriding criteria for developing a map.

There are also the “functional problems,” he said, like how commissions are budgeted, how staff are hired, how long it should exist, and how members are compensated.

“I don’t think anyone has a good answer on the proper way to construct a commission,” he said.

Because each state operates so differently, Cervas said there is not a reliable study on best practices as it is difficult to pinpoint which aspects of each plan works best.

Still, he said, citizen commissions are “seen as the gold standard if your goal is to take politics out of it.”

Helen Brewer, an NCSL policy specialist, said states must determine not only the criteria by which they draw maps, but also how those criteria rank.

Michigan, for example, requires contiguity above all, followed by preservation of communities of interest, avoiding intentionally favoring a political party, avoiding intentionally favoring an incumbent or candidate, preserving political subdivisions, and lastly, compactness.

In contrast, Missouri prioritizes compactness first, followed by contiguity, preservation of political subdivisions, proportionality and competitiveness.

They are among five states that rank criteria either in statute or in the constitution, while others set criteria more informally.

Brewer said a strict ranking provides map makers with clear instructions, but cautioned that “mapmakers are dealing with infinite and sometimes conflicting data points, so they may need more flexibility.”

Quyen Do, deputy research director of the Oklahoma legislature, said her state implemented several measures to facilitate public input.

Some were “low-hanging fruit,” like setting up an email and dedicated website with an online feedback form.

Others required more planning, like holding 30 regional town halls that were recorded and live streamed, providing public training on how to use Dave’s Redistricting and allowing public map submissions.

Lawmakers should also consider whether hearings are held before or after draft maps are created and how public input is collected, stored, collated and reviewed, she said.

Jeff Wice, special counsel for the New York legislature, explained that remedial mapmaking occurs when there is a legislative impasse, if a commission implodes, as was the case in New York and Virginia, or if a court finds a violation and requires a new map.

In those situations, a court may hire a “special master” to take the lead in drawing remedial maps, he said.

NCSL advised states to consider whether political parties may submit nominees for the special masters, what rules they must follow, whether states or redistricting commissions will have to provide staffing and facilities for remedial processes and whether they will have to cover the cost of remedial mapmaking.

Krista Kano is a staff writer for Gongwer Ohio/State Affairs. Reach her at [email protected] or on X @krista_kano.

Tennessee’s new AI Advisory Council seeks ‘very best solutions’

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by Andy Sher

Tennessee’s new Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council members held an organizational meeting this week for two dozen members from state government and the private sector to discuss their mission and the technology’s promise and potential pitfalls.

State Finance Commissioner Jim Bryson, the panel’s co-chair, described to fellow members the joint effort by the General Assembly and Gov. Bill Lee’s office to create the body as “recognition of the dramatic and disruptive impact that Generative AI is having on our society, our economy and government.”

“This is a journey we’re on. We don’t know exactly where we’re going to end up, to be honest with you, in a lot of ways,” Bryson said. “And that’s why we’re all here. It’s a new technology. So we’re going to learn. We’re going to adapt and we’re going to come out with the very best solutions that we can possibly come up with.”

Also serving on the panel are two Tennessee-based experts with renown in the field of AI, which uses deep-learning models capable of generating high-quality text, images and other content based on the data they are trained on.

One of them is Lynne Parker, a recently retired University of Tennessee-Knoxville associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative. The other is Prasana Balaprakash, director of AI programs at the federal government’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The council’s other co-chair is state Chief Information Officer Stephanie Dedmon with the state’s Strategic Technologies Solutions office.

One of the council’s purposes is to adopt a strategy supporting the state’s vision, operational priorities and that creates enterprise-wide opportunities, Dedmon said.

“There’s a lot of work at hand we have to do as a council, but we look forward to working with everyone,” Dedmon said, emphasizing the scope of efforts goes beyond state operations. “This is really about workforce, impact on the labor market, education, training, strategic initiatives. How do we implement it in a responsible and secure way both for our state agencies and other areas of the state?”

Ryan Allen, an assistant commissioner with the state’s Labor of Workforce Development whose responsibilities include areas such as data analytics, said the department is tasked with bringing a “huge trained workforce” to Tennessee “and how we can use AI to make that a more efficient process.” But he noted the department has some eligibility-based programs where officials want to ensure the process is “safe and unbiased” in use of AI.

Ann Marie Walp, president of the Tennessee Cable and Broadband Association, said for her industry, an issue is how to focus best on customer service issues, increasing efficiency and how best to “harness such a powerful tool to make Tennessee better. I know there’s a lot of fear surrounding the issue, but I think more excitement than anything.”

Callie Cook, global director for research and development with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. She said as a statewide recruiter she was particularly interested in its effects on the workforce and learning how to use AI to continue recruiting “great companies” to the state.

Fellow member Lang Wiseman, an attorney with the Baker Donelson law firm who previously served as Gov. Bill Lee’s deputy and legal adviser, said he was most interested in the intersection of private industry and government but also the “tremendous” production of data and how to use it effectively for more efficiency in government and the private sector — “but also recognizing the dangers that come from that.”

Patrick Sabatani, senior vice president of business and legal affairs for Warner Music Nashville, said he was representing the private concerns of the music industry. Earlier this year the recording industry joined Lee’s effort to protect musicians and songwriters from artificial intelligence exploitation. The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act added voice as a protected personal right to existing state law. The new law eventually passed following weeks of fighting in the Legislature over balancing the First Amendment rights of the news and film industry as well as others.

Sabatini said members of Nashville’s creative industry “encounter [AI] every day in both the good and the bad. It has the potential and the peril.” He noted the community remains engaged in litigation with some AI companies that are using Generative AI in ways that “we find to be unethical.” On the “flip side of the coin,” he said, the creative community worked to “give Randy Travis his voice back” after being left unable to speak or sing following a stroke.

State Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds said she is “really curious” to see how AI will change practices to “operationalize it” in areas ranging from teaching and learning to helping families. But she said children still need to learn how to read and do math. Reynolds asked how the technology can be employed to advance with “the fact that we still have to do some of the hard things so our kids are still learning” skills by flesh-and-blood teachers.

ORNL’s AI initiative chief Balapraska said the operation rests on “secure, trustworthy and energy efficient AI” for scientific discovery and national security. “We are really working on the cutting edge AI, frontier AI models, bringing trustworthy AI models.” Areas where it is used include material discovery and climate risk, he said.

Parker, the former UT official, said she comes to the committee as “really a champion” for how the state and Tennessee can become a “leader in the data-intensive, data-driven AI economy.”

She looks at the issue from the perspective of research, education, workforce development and infrastructure for research in education. “How we can work together with our communities to help us all be able to not only make sure we experience the benefits of AI. But also do it in a responsible manner, managing the risks.”

The statute requires the finance chairs to submit a status report on the council’s activities by May 1. The chairs will then submit to the governor and speakers reports for the end of 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council members are:

Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson, co-chair
Finance and Administration CIO Stephanie Dedmon, co-chair
Finance and Administration Deputy COO Grant Minchew
Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence
Education Commissioner Lizzettee Reynolds
Economic and Community Development Director Callie Cook
Human Resources Commissioner Juan Willliams
Labor and Workforce Assistant Commissioner Ryan Allen
Safety and Homeland Security Deputy Commissioner Gregory Mays
Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti
Office of Legislative Information Services Vinay Dattu
Senate Finance Chair Bo Watson
Senate Commerce Chair Paul Bailey
House Finance Chair Patsy Hazlewood
House Commerce Chair Kevin Vaughan
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Richard Littlehale
Lynne Parker, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (retired)
Prasana Balaprakash, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Lang Wisemen, Baker Donelson law firm
Patrick Sabatini, Warner Music Nashville
Cody York, CIO-Rutherford County
Joe Baker, Ole Smoky Mountain Distillery
Ann Marie Walp, Tennessee Cable and Broadband Association

Yellow Sheet Report for Wednesday, August 8, 2024

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Yellow Sheet Report Staff

Parts of state’s voter procedures illegal, judge rules Arizona Capitol Times The Elections Procedures Manual treaded on free speech when prohibiting behavior in and around voting locations, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled Monday. Court allows legislative ballot referral on tipped workers to go to vote Capitol Media Services A judge has rejected a bid to block a public vote on a plan by restaurants to pay their tipped workers even less than they do now. Trump-aligned group sues Richer over voter roll Capitol Media Services A group with links to Republican interests has filed what is likely to be the first of a series of lawsuits against county officials over what it claims is the failure to check for and purge voter rolls of those who are not citizens. State argues case against so-called fake electors not political Capitol Media Services Attorney General Kris Mayes says that her staffers asked the state grand jury not to indict Donald Trump as part of the fake elector scheme. Arizona Republican becomes first fake elector to plead guilty for role in Trump scheme Politico An Arizona Republican who falsely claimed to be a legitimate presidential elector for former President Donald Trump — part of a sweeping effort by Trump and his allies to subvert the 2020 election — has pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme. Arizona grand jury was interested in indicting Trump in fake electors criminal case, attorney general says CNBC An Arizona grand jury that indicted 18 allies of former President Donald Trump on criminal charges related to trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state was interested in indicting Trump as well, but was asked not to do so by the state attorney general’s office, according to a new court filing. Arizona Board of Regents names new Executive Director KVOA Today, the Arizona Board of Regents announced Chad Sampson as executive director of the board. Sampson has served as interim executive director of the board since March. Two justices are killing the Arizona Supreme Court's credibility Arizona Republic Former Gov. Doug Ducey stacked the Arizona Supreme Court with partisan cronies, and now we’re paying the price with a court as ethically challenged and morally compromised as the U.S. Supreme Court. When it comes to the U.S.-Mexico border, can people think beyond politics? Los Angeles Times I was not breaking any laws when I set out on foot to leave gallons of water on Bureau of Land Management lands in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Why a Swing State Republican Mayor Backs Kamala Harris for President – and Says Others Should Too US News n the two weeks since President Joe Biden dropped his presidential reelection campaign, support for Vice President Kamala Harris is growing – even among some Republicans.

They Said It (08.08.24)

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by David Jacobs

“I’m concerned that some of the changes are based upon politics rather than based upon merit and science.” —Congressman Garret Graves, on Gov. Jeff Landry’s changes to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, in The Advocate

“Louisiana is ready to move past our days of listening to plantation owners, but it seems our federal government is not.” —Landry’s statement following the cancellation of the $800 million Wallace Grain Export Facility project, which the company blamed on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in The Illuminator

“Tell your child not to look at them.” —Landry’s message to parents who don’t support posting the Ten Commandments in public schools, reported by various outlets

“If it’s got the word insurance in it, and you’re buying it, it’s some of the highest premiums, the highest rates you’ve ever seen, we’ve ever seen in our state.” —Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple speaking at the Petroleum Club in Morgan City, reported by KQKI

“I get the governor on the phone faster than anybody other than his wife…We’re two Coonasses who like to have a good time.” —Shane Guidry on his relationship with Landry, in The Advocate

“You just can’t make up law.” —Terry Ryder, who served as a senior attorney to three former Louisiana governors, on Landry’s administration claiming public record exemptions that are not in the law, in The Advocate

“Just a normal guy and such a contrast with the weird guys on the other side.” —Mitch Landrieu on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz following his selection as Kamala Harris’ running mate, on X

Our History: Edwin Edwards

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by David Jacobs

The man who defined late-20th-century Louisiana politics, for better or worse, was born in Avoyelles Parish on yesterday’s date in 1927.

Edwin Washington Edwards’ gift for public speaking was evident early. He preached in the Church of the Nazarene as a teen but returned to his family’s Roman Catholic faith.

Edwards didn’t smoke or drink; his vices famously were gambling and womanizing, along with loose political ethics. He rose from the Crowley City Council to the state Senate to Congress and the governor’s mansion in 17 years.

In his first race for governor in 1971, Edwards’ record of racial tolerance attracted Black voters recently enfranchised by the 1965 Voting Rights Act, while the French-speaking son of Acadiana also counted on Cajun voters. The state’s two most prominent minority groups formed a solid political base that supported an unprecedented four terms as governor.

His first term was marked by structural reform, as he helped usher in the 1974 Constitution and reshaped how Louisiana collects oil revenue. He promised help “to the poor, the elderly, the unemployed, the thousands of Black Louisianans who have not yet enjoyed the full bounty of the American dream,” and appointed women and minorities to key state positions.

The 1970s oil boom, along with changing the severance tax from 25 cents a barrel to 12.5 percent of value, filled state coffers and boosted Edwards’ popularity. Constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term, he left office in 1980 only to return four years later, easily defeating incumbent Dave Treen, the state’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction.

But the oil boom went bust during the 1980s, and a third-term fiscal crisis coincided with federal indictments, though not convictions, for mail fraud, obstruction of justice and public bribery stemming from the sale of hospital certificates. Bowing out of the 1987 runoff when he faced likely defeat against then-Congressman Buddy Roemer, Edwards’ political career appeared to be over.

But once again, Edwards returned four years later, outpacing the politically wounded Roemer—voters rejected his tax overhaul package and disliked his switch to the Republican Party—and toxic former Klansman David Duke to win his final term.

“Vote for the crook. It’s important,” read the famous bumper sticker.

As it turned out, both Duke and Edwards were found to be crooks. While Duke served a year in prison in 2003 and 2004 for bilking his supporters, Edwards was convicted in 2000 on racketeering, extortion and fraud charges for selling casino licenses.

Edwards was sentenced to 10 years and went to prison in 2002, gaining release in 2011. While serving his sentence, he divorced his second wife and started a relationship with Trina Grimes, who would become his third.

After prison, he and Trina had a child and co-starred in a short-lived reality television show, “The Governor’s Wife.” He attempted one more political comeback in 2014, losing to Congressman Garret Graves by a 62-38 percent margin, only the second defeat of his long political career.

Edwards died of respiratory failure in 2021 at his home in Gonzales. He was 93.

Reactions to his death reflected his complicated legacy.

“Edwin was a larger than life figure known for his wit and charm, but he will be equally remembered for being a compassionate leader who cared for the plight of all Louisianans,” then-Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “Our state has lost a giant, and we will miss him dearly.”

LSU journalism professor Robert Mann, who worked for some of Louisiana’s most prominent recent Democrats, said Edwards “had eloquence, creativity, a razor-sharp mind, executive abilities that many lacked, and leadership skills that many envied…He had everything, and yet squandered it by devoting much of his time to enriching his friends. I’ve rarely seen a wider chasm between the promise for greatness and reality.”

Rodney Kennedy, writing this year for Baptist News Global, found parallels between Edwards and Donald Trump following the latter’s recent conviction.

“For my money, Edwards was smarter, slicker, savvier and funnier than Trump, but Edwards and Louisiana taught Trump and MAGA how to dance with the devil,” Kennedy says.

Editor’s note: The information in this piece came from Baptist News Global, The Associated Press, The New York Times and the Secretary of State’s office.

News You Can Use (08.08.24)

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by David Jacobs

—Governing: The havoc extreme heat wreaks on aging infrastructure

—Governing: What Tim Walz is known for in Minnesota

—Campaigns & Elections: Democratic training group moves to boost GOTV push

—NCSL: Meet your new intern: Artificial intelligence

—Education Week: Louisiana uses history, pop culture to defend Ten Commandments mandate

—BRProud: Louisiana lawmakers debate causes of high auto insurance rates

—The Advocate: ‘He is a liar’: Top candidates for Baton Rouge mayor clash over postponed debate

—The Advocate: ‘Major concerns’ over Jeff Landry’s proposed changes to Louisiana coastal agency, Garret Graves says

—The Advocate: Surprise collapse of $800 million grain facility plan draws activists’ praise, Landry’s criticism

—WBRZ: Entergy offering Louisiana customers heavily discounted smart thermostats costing one cent

—WDSU: Louisiana delegates wild about Walz ahead of the DNC

—Business Report: Louisiana’s next big industry: The China challenge

—The Advocate: Details about Baton Rouge judge’s ousting still murky

—NOLA: A once fiery-politician, Mayor LaToya Cantrell turns to silence as investigators close in

Field Notes (08.08.24)

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by David Jacobs

— GROUP TARGETS MILLER OVER AUTO INSURANCE: Louisiana’s Future is Now, Inc., headquartered in McLean, Virginia, has created and shared an attack video targeting Senate Judiciary A Chair Greg Miller, claiming he “continuously blocks or weakens legislation intended to reduce the influence of personal injury lawyers on our insurance costs.” The video urges people to call Senate President Cameron Henry and urge him to remove Miller as chair. Miller said he got one of the robo-texts himself and noted the odd timing, two months after session in a non-election year for legislators. “The idea that this anonymous out-of-state group knows anything about Louisiana insurance issues is laughable,” he said.

— RULING EXPECTED IN SUPREME COURT CHALLENGE: The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal is expected to issue a ruling by 2 p.m. today in a case that could decide who will represent the new majority-minority district on the state Supreme Court. A lawsuit alleges that Leslie Chambers doesn’t live in the district and failed to file state income taxes in at least one of the past five years, while claiming Marcus Hunter did not file income taxes in multiple years. If the suit is successful against both, John Michael Guidry would be left as the lone qualified candidate. The trial court ruled that both challenged candidates could stay in the race.

— WOODY LEAVES TREASURY: Woody Jenkins has resigned from the state Treasury. The longtime politico and publisher said launching a new publication serving the new City of St. George makes it impossible for him to also serve as director of governmental affairs and external relations for Treasurer John Fleming. In a statement, Treasury spokesperson Jeff Crouere expressed appreciation for his work and credited him with taking the lead on legislation to allow gold and silver to be used as legal tender in Louisiana.