On the money: A special election to choose Louisiana’s next state treasurer will be held in October, The Associated Press reports. Republican John Kennedy won the Dec. 10 runoff election for the U.S. Senate and will be sworn into office Jan. 3. His resignation will trigger the need for a special election to replace him as treasurer. Kennedy didn’t file his resignation paperwork by the Wednesday deadline. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office says Kennedy needed to submit his resignation by the deadline to put the special election on the March ballot. Since Kennedy did not, the election will be on the October ballot. Edwards’ office says the treasurer election will be officially set for the October ballot when Kennedy files resignation paperwork. After Kennedy resigns, his top assistant Ron Henson will lead the office until a treasurer is elected. Kennedy was in Washington on Wednesday for Senate orientation.
At the helm: The Louisiana Community and Technical College System board of supervisors has picked a new chancellor for Baton Rouge Community College. The Associated Press reports the board unanimously selected Larissa Littleton-Steib for the position on Wednesday. Her appointment takes effect on Jan. 2. Littleton-Steib, a Louisiana native, currently serves as vice chancellor for workforce development and technical education at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. BRCC has eight campuses and sites in the region and had more than 2,600 graduates in 2016.
A new direction: After a short tenure marked with controversy, Charlie Melancon is stepping down from his leadership post as Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries secretary. As the Associated Press reports, Melancon has clashed with recreational fishermen and Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves since taking over the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in January. Melancon has also run into controversy about programs he cut and changes he made in response to a legislative auditor’s report that found shoddy management of agency finances under Melancon’s predecessor during former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration. Calling Melancon a “tremendous public servant and great friend” in a statement issued Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said he and Melancon agreed the agency should move in a different direction.
