New contender: Retired Army Lt. Col. Greg Ellison announced Tuesday night he will run for Congress, eyeing the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany. KATC-TV in Lafayette reports Ellison, a Republican who founded oil exploration company Kitty Hawk Energy after graduating from West Point and serving 20 years in the military, made the announcement at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. Boustany has announced he will run for U.S. Sen. David Vitter’s seat after the senior Louisiana senator announced his will not seek re-election following his defeat to Gov. John Bel Edwards in December.
Ready to work: Republican Senate President John Alario has selected Democrats to lead the Louisiana Senate committees dealing with taxes and the budget. The Associated Press reports Sen. Eric LaFleur, of Ville Platte, will work as chairman of the Finance Committee, which helps to craft the state’s annual budget and will grapple with closing deep shortfalls. Sen. J.P. Morrell, of New Orleans, was chosen as chairman of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, which handles tax legislation and develops the state construction budget. The positions are among the most powerful in the Legislature and will be front and center for Gov. John Bel Edwards’ mid-February special session on state finances.
Old faces: The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted today to give leadership roles to the three returning members. The Associated Press reports that Jim Garvey, a lawyer from Metairie, was named president. Garvey is in his third term on the education board and succeeds Chas Roemer, who didn’t run for re-election to the panel. Holly Boffy, of Lafayette, was selected as vice president. Kira Orange Jones of New Orleans was chosen as secretary-treasurer. All three officers serve one-year terms.
