Jindal Announces 2007 Intentions

Congressman to Take Second Crack at State Mansion


KENNER- Just over a week after winning a landslide re-election to his suburban New Orleans congressional seat, Republican Bobby Jindal announced his bid to seek the office of governor in next year’s state elections.

Jindal issued the statement in an e-mail to supporters from his unsuccessful run for governor in 2003 and his previous two elections for Congress.

"I am not interested in playing a political blame game. I want to run for Governor for one reason and one reason alone: To rebuild Louisiana into the best state possible. The best state for education, the best state for high quality health care, the best state for high-paying jobs, and a state government with the highest of ethical standards,” said Jindal in his e-mail announcement.

The Republican congressman is the second challenger to Governor Kathleen Blanco to publicly throw his hat in the ring.

Republican Jefferson Parish businessman John Georges declared his desire to run for the state’s top office almost a year ago.

Blanco announced her intention to seek re-election earlier this year at a meeting of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee. Fellow Democrat Foster Campbell, who represents north Louisiana on the Public Service Commission, has also expressed an interest in running for governor, even if Blanco remains in the race.

Republican State Senator Walter Boasso of Arabi has been encouraged to enter the gubernatorial contest by a number of people he met during a state tour he conducted to advocate passage of his constitutional amendment that would consolidate levee districts in the New Orleans region.

Boasso has said he is mulling a bid and would issue a decision early next year.