Having put $10.1 million into his campaign account, John Georges, in the eyes of many, is thought to be looking at a rematch with Gov. Bobby Jindal. An alternative scenario is suggested by a remark, attributed to him by a secondhand source, that he was confident he could beat Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. It’s not the power of the office that would attract him so much as its potential for succession to governor, should Jindal for whatever reason not complete his second term. Or, if Jindal does serve four more years, Georges, now 50, as lieutenant governor, would be well-positioned to run for governor in 2015. Worse than for Dardenne would Georges’ candidacy be for Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, who is signaling his intent to run. The Republican can write a check to put him at Dardenne’s level, but not at Georges’.
— At least two groups of Louisiana firms made the final cut for the $15 million seafood promotion contract, to be financed by a grant from BP. Three groups made presentations this week to a committee of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. According to sources involved, one is a partnership of Graham Group of Lafayette and Williams Creative of Shreveport. Another is Zehnder Communications of Baton Rouge teamed with the research firm GCR in New Orleans and two national firms, APCO Worldwide and MESH Integrated Branding and Advertising. The third group has not been identified. The full board was to receive the committee’s recommendations at a Tuesday meeting, but it was canceled for lack of a quorum and has been rescheduled for May 9.
They said it: “I appreciate that, but you need to be on Dancing with the Stars.” —Rep. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, on Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater’s reasons for wanting to sell the state employee health plan
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)
