Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle has added his name the list of hopefuls seeking the 3rd Congressional District seat in Louisiana.
Angelle, who lost his bid to be Louisiana governor last year, announced his candidacy for the seat today.
In a statement, Angelle says he intends to make Washington politicians listen as southwest Louisiana families struggle to survive with oil prices at historic lows.
“The last time the oil and gas economy was under attack was when Washington declared a moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling,” Angelle says. “But we fought back, we stood up, we spoke out, and we made Washington listen.
Angelle is pursuing the seat that Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany is giving up to run for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by David Vitter. Both Vitter and Angelle lost the Louisiana governor’s race to John Bel Edwards last year. Angelle was out after the primary election, and Vitter lost the general election. Shortly thereafter, Vitter announced he would not seek re-election in the Senate.
In the 3rd District race, Angelle will face competition from former state Rep. Brett Geymann, a Republican from Lake Charles who announced his candidacy earlier this week. Others in the race include former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Rees, Lafayette businessman Gus Rantz, Lafayette Parish School Board Member Erick Knezek and oil executive Gregory Ellison, The News-Star reports.
In his statement, Angelle says he vows to defend the Second Amendment and protect religious freedoms while not bowing to political correctness.
“I’ll continue to be a partner to our coastal ports, support our local farmers, and work with our economic development partners to cut the red tape and allow job creation,” he says.
Angelle accuses Washington lawmakers of being reluctant to repeal the Afford Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and says the nation’s capital is making things worse in bad times.
“Our people need to know that Washington has our back. Instead, Washington’s answer is more regulations and a massive job-killing tax hike. It makes absolutely no sense,” he says.
—Alexandria Burris
