Politics for March 30, 2008

• By CAPITOL NEWS BUREAU
• Published: Mar 30, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Twitter
• Social Media

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

New group seeks legislative clout

New state Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, said his top priority for the session is to ensure the effectiveness of the newly formed, 26-member capital legislative delegation.

Carter said the group has met with local government, chamber and other officials and hope to wield the same kind of clout as the Jefferson Parish legislative delegation.

Representative set to finish walk

After 12 days and almost 226 miles, state Rep. Patrick Williams plans to finish his walk from Shreveport to Baton Rouge on Monday morning, in time for the beginning of the 2008 regular session.

The Shreveport Democrat will start the final leg in the parking area across from the Governor’s Mansion between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. for the final part of his walk to the State Capitol. A rally is scheduled for 11 a.m. on the front steps of the Capitol.

“I’m walking to remind the governor and my colleagues in the Legislature that we must improve health care, education, and employment opportunities for the citizens of Louisiana,” Williams said.

Jindal appoints 9 to mineral board

A former state legislator and the husband of a legislator are among Gov. Bobby Jindal’s nine appointees to the Louisiana State Mineral Board.

Ex-state Rep. John “Juba” Diez, of Gonzales, and Ben Katz, of Monroe, the spouse of state Rep. Kay Katz, are among the appointees. Diez is now a marketing representative for Voelkert and Associates. Katz is a Monroe city councilman.

The Mineral Board is the state body with the authority to lease state property for the development and production of minerals, oil, and gas.

Other appointees are: Byron A. Adams Jr., of New Orleans, general manager of BT Capital L.L.C.; Emile B. Cordaro, of Shreveport, government affairs manager of Southwestern Electric Power Co.; and Bay E. Ingram, of Slidell, president of Healthcare Holdings of Louisiana and Ingram Investments.

Also, W. Paul Segura Jr., of Lafayette, president and chief executive officer of Segura Development; Darryl D. Smith,  of Hammond, owner of Louisiana One Holding L.L.C.; Helen Godfrey Smith, of Shreveport, president and chief executive officer of Shreveport Federal Credit Union; and Matthew J. Ungarino of Metairie, a partner at Ungarino and Eckert L.L.C.