BR Libertarian Richard Fontanesi qualifies for U.S. Senate race

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 11, 2008 - Page: 11A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Libertarian Richard Fontanesi, of Baton Rouge, entered the race for the U.S. Senate on Thursday.

Fontanesi said he will keep with his party’s principle that “Government should be protecting our rights, not trying to solve all our problems.”

In 2004, Fontanesi ran for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La. He also ran in 2006 against former U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, and last year against state Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy are expected to qualify for the Senate seat today.

No new candidates emerged Thursday to run for the Baton Rouge-based 6th Congressional District seat.

Candidates must sign up for state and congressional fall elections in person; via proxy, which is a person authorized to act for a candidate; or by mail by 5 p.m. today.

The primary election, to select the candidates from each party, is Sept. 6. A runoff election is scheduled for Oct. 4 if no clear winner emerges in the party primary.

The general election, scheduled for Nov. 4, will pit candidates from each recognized political party and those without party affiliation. The candidates who get the most votes Nov. 4 win the seats for Congress and the Senate.

Though it differs for each election, candidates generally “qualify” for a race by paying a fee and meeting certain requirements such as age, citizenship and residency.

Two more candidates filed for the seat of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson Thursday, bringing the total in the race to nine.

Democrat Kenya Smith, a former staffer in the New Orleans Mayor’s Office, and No Party candidate Jerry Jacobs, owner of a life insurance company, qualified for the 2nd U.S. Congressional District election against Jefferson.

Smith said he will carry the relationships and work that he did as former director of intergovernmental relations in the Mayor’s Office with him to Washington.

Jacobs said he will transfer his successful sales skills to Congress, where he wants to meet with every member to push hurricane relief efforts.