My Ballot

Lt. Governor: Jay Dardenne.

During yesterday’s debate, Billy Nungesser proved that he has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. Dardenne lobbed the easiest softball question ever: “Billy, would you tell us what the six agencies are that you’re going to be running as Lieutenant Governor?” It wasn’t even a softball question; it was tee-ball. Nungesser said he couldn’t name the “eight agencies” he’d be running (there are actually six) and implied that Dardenne was simply setting him up.

Nungesser is running for Lt. Governor, and just in case you’ve missed it, the race for Lt. Governor is the most important election in the State right now. The man doesn’t even know the most basic details about the job he seeks.

Governor Jindal, who will coast to re-election, is angling for a Cabinet-level position, despite what he says publicly. Even though I strongly believe Barack Obama will win re-election, in the event that he doesn’t, Bobby Jindal will abandon ship in a heartbeat for his dream job: Secretary of Health and Human Services, which means we’d be stuck with the Lt. Governor running our State in the interim. It’s that important, and Nungesser, Jindal’s hand-picked candidate, simply doesn’t have the goods.

(I am not making any endorsement for Governor. I won’t be voting for Bobby Jindal, and I also won’t vote for Tara Hollis, the so-called Democratic candidate. I’ll write-in Mark Moseley instead).

I’m not a big fan of Jay Dardenne, but he’s competent. I’ve met him personally, and I know he cares about my hometown. I also know this: Jay Dardenne understands the job; he believes in the job. We don’t share the same politics, but in this particular election, that really doesn’t matter: I’d vote for Dardenne a thousand times over Billy Nungesser. Plus, there are all those terrible Vitteresque rumors about Nungesser, and they aren’t going away.

Insurance Commissioner: Donald Hodge

This is, by far, the easiest decision. Donald Hodge is a progressive Democrat who wants to become Insurance Commissioner in order to eliminate the office.

Sheriff: Chuck Wagner

I don’t understand why William Earl Hilton is running again. He said he was retired. He said he supported Sheriff Wagner. Sheriff Wagner has done a fine job; there’s no compelling reason to replace him with the old guard. Wagner’s won national awards; he’s good and decent.

I, for one, wish that Mr. Hilton had remained true to his word, and while I understand his need to engage in negative campaigning in order to bolster his own chances, I believe this entire charade undermines his legacy. That’s a shame. Mr. Hilton’s criticisms are weak, and it’d be very easy for any one of Mr. Hilton’s opponents to go negative against him. Thankfully, they haven’t.

Either way, I am not nostalgic for the glory days of Sheriff Hilton– not because I think he was bad, but because Wagner has done a stand-up job. If you want to convince voters to fire the guy you supported and re-hire you out of retirement, then you’ll need to do more than merely turn on your political machine.

Again, I just don’t get it. I like Mr. Hilton and his family, and I don’t know why he wants to reclaim an office that is being competently and professionally run. It appears vainglorious, and that’s not a good final note.

LA House District 25: Lance Harris

I don’t know his opponent, Barrett Boyd, and frankly, I don’t care to. He’s campaigned on divisive endorsements.

Lance Harris is the polar opposite– a well-known and respected businessman who reaches out to all people.

City Marshall: Jerome Hopewell

I’ve successfully buried the lede, because here’s the bombshell: