The election for Louisiana’s next state treasurer is wide open—at least that’s what a few of the polls starting to surface in the race show, according to Jeremy Alford.
“That’s not much of a surprise,” Alford writes in his latest column. “Just getting voters to pay attention to this race will be a monumental challenge. Few actually care about the office, it is anything but politically sexy and there will be no other statewide elections on the Oct. 14 ballot.”
So far, only three candidates—all Republicans—have stated their intentions to seek the office: State Reps. Julie Stokes of Kenner and John Schroder of Covington, and state Sen. Neil Riser of Columbia. But many others are mulling a run, Alford says, and the field is expected to further fill before qualifying ends on July 14.
“The latest development in the race comes courtesy of a woman who has not yet officially announced that she will be a candidate for state treasurer,” Alford writes. “Still, Angele Davis, president and CEO of the Davis Kelley Group, certainly looks the part.”
Davis, a Baton Rouge native, has already scheduled fundraisers and her performance in those events will tell us a lot about how this race might shape up, Alford says.
“Davis’ host lists do show a who’s who of Louisiana politics—contributors and heavyweights like Boysie Bollinger, Jimmy Maurin, Mark Romig, Gary Solomon and others,” he writes. “But the name the candidates really want to be with is Kennedy, who has not yet tipped his hat on who he might support.”
Though interest might be light among voters, Alford says, the treasurer office is an important position in Louisiana. He notes the next treasurer will be in charge of overseeing the state’s bank accounts, and will chair and set the agenda for the state Bond Commission.
“And that’s where the real political leverage can be found. The commission oversees all government borrowing and it’s a place where donors and influencers commingle in hopes of scoring favorable votes and, more importantly, inclusion on agendas,” he writes.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
