Calling an audible: Two days before the candidate sign-up period was set to start, Gov. Bobby Jindal changed the election date to fill a vacant Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education seat. The Associated Press reports Jindal moved the election for the District 4 seat representing 10 north Louisiana parishes from March 28 to Oct. 24 and pushed back qualifying from this week until September. The change was requested by Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who claimed the special March election would cost more than $428,000 and didn’t meet the legal requirements for a BESE election. Jindal announced late Monday that he would make the change requested.
One thing leads to another: Louisiana’s budget problems are making Grambling State University’s presidential search more difficult, with possible job applicants apparently worried they’d be walking into a financial mess. University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley released a letter this week from the search firm hired to recruit candidates that says the threat of deep budget cuts has stymied efforts to find a new Grambling leader. The Hollins Group says some potential candidates won’t consider applying until the financial future of the historically black college is clearer. The Associated Press has the full story.
And the award goes to: Louisiana Clean Fuels is accepting entries from public and private companies who wish to be considered for the second annual Louisiana Clean Fuel Leader Awards program. All government and private fleets, alternative fuel providers and truck stop electrification stations are eligible to enter. The awards are based on 2014 data and will be presented by Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain on Thursday, May 22, at the Louisiana Clean Fuels 15th Anniversary Gala and Expo in Baton Rouge. Award categories include Fleet of the Year and Municipality of the Year. The group is accepting entries online.
