Politics for Sept. 21, 2008

• Advocate news services
• Published: Sep 21, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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A week after resigning from the state Department of Social Services amid complaints about shelters and food stamp distribution, the agency’s former deputy secretary has a new job.

Terri Ricks is the new general counsel at the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency. It is the same job she held before joining DSS five years ago.

The Jindal administration gave Ricks the choice of resigning or being asked to leave after the agency’s secretary, Ann Silverberg Williamson, quit.

“Ms. Ricks was hired because she has experience in the housing sector having previously served as general counsel for this agency,” said Jeff DeGraff, the finance agency’s public relations director.

Dupre to testify about hurricanes
State Sen. Reggie Dupre, D-Houma, will be in Washington, D.C., this week to testify about the impact of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Dupre said he is being given five minutes Tuesday to address the U.S. Senate Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery.

He said he plans to tell the rest of the nation about problems and solutions related to the storms.

Dupre’s home parish of Terrebonne was hit hard by Ike. Thousands of homes flooded.

Ex-governor’s son to join state panel
Gov. Bobby Jindal has named the son of a former governor to the state board that regulates the gambling industry.

Robert Jones, of Lake Charles, is the son of former Louisiana Gov. Sam Jones, who was in office in the early 1940s. Jones is a financial adviser and former state senator.

The Governor’s Office announced Jones’ appointment to the Gaming Control Board on Wednesday.

Early voters have through Saturday
Early voting for the Oct. 4 primary has begun and continues through Saturday, Sept. 27, excluding today.

The ballot includes races for Congress, state Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and a number of parish and municipal races.