State GOP unveils Victory Fund numbers

Gov. Bobby Jindal is raising money through the Louisiana Republican Party to elect conservative members to the Legislature and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the latest figures showing the so-called Victory Fund’s progress are out. A report filed Friday by the party shows Jindal raised more than $20,000 alone on Oct. 6 from sources inside and outside the state. Those donors and gifts include Manish D. Sthanki of Baton Rouge, $5,000; C. Valluzzo of Baton Rouge, $5,000; B&J Martin Inc. of Galliano, $5,000; Johnson & Johnson of New Jersey, $5,000; Advance America of South Carolina, $3,500; Rosepine Retirement and Rehab of Rosepine, $1,600; and Intel Political Action Committee of Washington, D.C., $1,000. The party, however, isn’t waiting for more dollars to roll in before making use of the fund. During the final two weeks of September, the party spent in excess of $241,000 on direct-mail pieces supporting Republican candidates, according to a subsequent report filed Monday. Senate District 19 in the bayou parishes is getting substantial attention; there, Republican Garrett Monti is facing off against state Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco. Monti’s campaign has received $10,000 in cash from the party and $8,000 in direct-mail assistance. Overall, a large portion of the direct-mail expenditures by the fund appear to be going to BESE contenders. Holly Boffy in BESE District 7 has received nearly $64,000 in mail support; Jay Guillot in District 5, $33,000; Chas Roemer in District 6, $34,000; and Jim Garvey in District 1, $35,000. —Jeremy Alford