Add another name to the list of potential candidates eyeing the Baton Rouge mayor’s race. Former Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff LeDuff confirms he’s considering a run, though he has not yet formed a committee or hired any consultants.
“I’m really just starting to get a lot of calls about it,” LeDuff says. “But have I made up my mind? No.”
LeDuff served as police chief from 2004-2010. Since his retirement more than five years ago, he has started a private security company that does safety and security training for companies, groups and individuals. The firm, Open Eyes Safety Training, has formed a partnership with Custom Security, which sells security systems.
“They sell the hardware, then we come in and teach people how to survive in this wicked world we live in,” he says.
LeDuff says he is enjoying the work with his business so much he turned down an offer to work in Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration, and he’s not sure if he wants to give it all up to run for mayor.
“I just haven’t decided if I want to get back in the rat race and work every day,” he says. “Freedom is such a wonderful thing.”
LeDuff says he will make a decision within the next month. So far, Metro Councilman John Delgado and state Sen. Sharon Weston Broome have announced their candidacies. Attorney Marty Maley has said he is thinking about running. Other possible hopefuls said to be mulling include mayoral run are Councilman Chandler Loupe and State Rep. Ted James.
—Stephanie Riegel
