As deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bobby Jindal, Stephen Waguespack is at the epicenter of a generational shift in Louisiana politics. At 34, he’s only three years younger than his Republican boss. But together, they’ve been facing down an institutional apathy in state government that’s older than most parish courthouses.
Waguespack hit the ground running with Jindal’s opening sessions by doing the same thing he did on the governor’s 2007 campaign—helping direct policy. By being an articulate mouthpiece for the administration on everything from ethics reform and teacher pay to economic development infrastructure, Waguespack has redefined the role of deputy chief of staff.
“Helping the governor hit a home run in the first two special sessions of his administration is something I will never forget,” Waguespack says. “To be a part of passing sweeping ethics reform legislation, wiping out several harmful business taxes and investing historic amounts of dollars into our roads, coastline and critical assets like Pennington in the first few months on the job was just a great experience.”
When it comes to a particular leadership style, Waguespack says he has taken cues from Jindal, which means being alert to all possibilities and surrounding yourself with people just as dedicated and passionate as you are. Waguespack adds that good policymaking happens when all interested parties are brought to the table and the concept is vetted on every level. “You’ll never hear what people are trying to tell you if you don’t take the time to listen,” he says.
For Waguespack, one of the biggest thrills is being back home in Louisiana. Prior to joining the Jindal administration, he was a lobbyist on Capitol Hill. But to truly catch the context of Waguespack’s sentimentality, you have to look back to the early 1980s, when a failing Louisiana economy sent many families [including Waguespack’s] outside the state looking for work.
“I hated to leave at that time,” Waguespack says. “But looking back at that experience, it just makes it that much more rewarding to be back home in Louisiana and in a position to help make a difference so that more of our families can stay here—where they belong.”
Age: 34
If you could have a job other than your own, what would it be?
“First base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.”
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