Candidates gain support

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Mar 29, 2008 - Page: 10A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The list of endorsements for 6th U.S. Congressional District  candidates continues to grow as elected officials, professional organizations and former candidates lend their support before the April 5 runoff election.

Republican candidate Laurinda Calongne announced Friday that Paul Sawyer, once a competitor in the race, would support her.

Former Democratic contender Jason DeCuir gave the thumbs-up Thursday to candidate and state Rep. Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge.

Earlier in the week, Republican candidate Woody Jenkins of Baton Rouge received support from Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer, the top official in the district’s second-largest parish.

Aside from a stream of endorsements by local and national unions, Democratic candidate and state Rep. Don Cazayoux of New Roads is gaining approval from parish officials across the district.

The Democrat and Republican candidates will meet in separate runoff elections April 5. The winner of those elections will go on to the general election May 3, along with two other-party candidates and one no-party candidate.

The special elections will determine who will replace U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, who resigned from the seat in February.

DeCuir, a Baton Rouge attorney, said Thursday that he and Jackson share common goals of funding for education from early childhood to LSU is a top priority and that the public needs better access to health care.

DeCuir received about 18 percent of the vote in the March primary.

In public appearances, Jackson has discussed his involvement in implementing a statewide early childhood education program and expanding health services in communities.

“We need a congressman with a proven record of leadership in the state,” DeCuir said. “We need a congressman who is ready on day one.”

Both Jackson and Cazayoux have served in the state Legislature for eight years.

Sawyer, who received 23 percent of the vote in the March primary, said working in Congress is different from working in the state Legislature. “Although they are legislative bodies, they are worlds apart,” he said.