La. senator takes job in U.S. Senate

• By RICHARD BURGESS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jan 8, 2009 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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State Sen. Don Cravins Jr. is preparing to soon leave the Legislature to begin a new job in Washington, D.C., as chief of staff for a U.S. Senate committee.

The Opelousas Democrat confirmed Wednesday he has accepted an offer from U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu to take over as chief of staff for the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, a committee Landrieu has been picked to chair.

“I had a lot to give up here, and it wasn’t an easy decision,” Cravins said. “When I weighed the options, I thought I could do more for Louisiana and more for the nation in Washington.”

Cravins, a lawyer who has served in the Legislature since 2004, said he will oversee more than 30 staff members and will be actively involved in the shaping of policy affecting small businesses.

He also expects to work closely with the staff of President-elect Barack Obama in developing the new administration’s economic stimulus package.

“That’s just an exciting thing to be a part of,” Cravins said.

Cravins said he has been in discussions with Landrieu about the post since he lost a race in November to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette.

Cravins entered the Legislature when he won the state House District 40 seat.

He walked into the state Senate District 24 seat without opposition in 2006 to replace his father, Don Cravins Sr., who had stepped down to become mayor of Opelousas.

The younger Cravins won a contested election for the Senate seat in 2007, garnering 74 percent of the vote in a three-man race.

Cravins has yet to officially resign from his Senate seat, but was packing boxes Wednesday and making plans for a quick transition with his wife and children to the nation’s capital.

He expects his move will trigger a brisk race to fill the post before the April legislative session.

Names of possible candidates are already surfacing, including Cravins’ mom, Pat Cravins, who said she plans to formally announce her candidacy Friday at events in Lafayette and Opelousas.