Jenkins won’t run in fall

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 9, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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As qualifying for state and federal elections begins today, recent Republican congressional candidate Woody Jenkins said Tuesday his name will not be among those entering the fall races.

“It’s a very critical time in America and very important that our party unifies,” Jenkins said. “It’s probably the only way we’re going to win.”

Over the past several weeks, Jenkins, a former state representative, has been considering another run for the Baton Rouge-based 6th U.S. Congressional District seat.

Jenkins ran in the spring with three other Republicans, five Democrats and three no party candidates for the seat after it was vacated by former U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge.

Jenkins won in a closed primary election against Baton Rouge businesswoman Laurinda Calongne. He was defeated in the May general election by former state Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads.

Cazayoux won the remaining months in the congressional term abandoned when Baker quit in February to take another job.

Cazayoux has said he intends to run for the full two-year term this fall.

State Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, has announced that he intends to run.

Candidates must qualify for the fall elections between today and Friday.

The primary election is Sept. 6. The general election is Nov. 4.

Calongne had also toyed with the idea of running again before announcing that she would not late last month.

Calongne will instead launch a political organization, the Conservative Leadership Council, which will encourage all citizens to become more actively involved in shaping the state’s future.

Jenkins said he felt as though he had the support to win the fall primary election. But the campaign would be a costly strain on either Republican candidate and would negatively effect their run in the general election.