Legislators eye Congress

• By MARK BALLARD AND SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Three prominent black state legislators say they are seriously considering a run for three different U.S. Congress seats this fall as independents instead of as Democrats.

All three say the state and national Democratic parties have failed to recruit and support black candidates to run for federal and statewide offices.

All seven of Louisiana’s U.S. House seats are up for election in November. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, is the only black person serving Louisiana in the U.S. Congress.

None of the three have quit the Democratic Party, but all three voiced concern about the disparity between how the party treats black and white candidates.

It’s a view echoed by other black lawmakers in the Louisiana Legislature. State party officials say no preferential treatment was given.

“For many, many years, the African-American community has been very supportive of Democrats and many of us feel that has not been reciprocated,” said state Sen. Don Cravins Jr., D-Opelousas.

Chairman of the powerful Senate Insurance Committee, Cravins said he is considering a run as an independent for the 7th U.S. Congressional District that is held by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-Lafayette.

Cravins said the party supports him as a state senator in a majority black district. But, he said, the party’s past actions makes him fear that financial and organizational help would evaporate once he ventures into a congressional district that is majority white.

“When an African-American candidate runs in a majority white district, race is always an issue,” said Cravins, pointing to his father – Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins Sr. – who ran for Congress in 2004 and lost, as well as the recent 6th district race.

State Rep. Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge, said the party favored fellow Democrat Don Cazayoux in the recent race for the 6th U.S. Congressional District.

Jackson said he was able to raise money for his run in the Democratic Party primary but not enough to match the resources made available to Cazayoux, who is white.

State Sen. Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, said she is seriously considering a run, also as an independent, for the 4th District U.S. Congressional District seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. James McCrery, R-Shreveport. Though still a democrat, Lydia Jackson said she has some problems with the way the party has been recruiting and supporting candidates.

“Looking at the demographics for the 4th, it just makes sense to consider the independent route,” Lydia Jackson said.