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Blanco launches transition team John Hill
Posted on November 17, 2003
AP
Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco talks to reporters Sunday in Lafayette after her first news conference as governor-elect. Blanco defeated Republican candidate Bobby Jindal in a runoff to become Louisiana's first woman governor.
BATON ROUGE - Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco moved quickly through a series of political and staff meetings as she launched her transition team Sunday.
"We're going to have a very aggressive and very well-organized approach to the transition," Blanco said.
At an afternoon press conference, Blanco named the co-chairs of her transition team that left shortly thereafter to inspect the office space at LSU's Hatcher Hall they will be using between now and the Jan. 12 inauguration.
They are:
New Orleans Civil District Court Clerk Dale Atkins, who is a graduate of Xavier Prep in New Orleans, Notre Dame University in South Bend and Southern Methodist University Law School. She is a member of the Louisiana Trial Lawyer's Association, who is credited with helping to turn out the vote in New Orleans that helped put Blanco over the top Saturday night.
Jim Bernhard Jr. of Baton Rouge, founder and chief executive officer of The Shaw Group, a $3 billion a year Fortune 500 corporation with 15,000 employees on five continents. He's an LSU construction management graduate whose company, founded in 1987, is now traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Blanco flew around the state on Shaw Group's private jets. Atkins' key help helped turn out the New Orleans vote for Blanco.
After taking a two to three day vacation starting today with her husband, University of Louisiana-Lafayette Vice President Raymond Blanco, the governor-elect said she will settle in to begin the process of assembling an administration prior to taking office.
But Shaw and Atkins left Lafayette on Sunday to tour the LSU office space and begin transition work immediately. Bernhard said state police began working on security clearances for the space after the election returns were in Saturday night.
Blanco spent Sunday in various meetings, most of them with state Rep. Jerry "Luke" LeBlanc, D-Lafayette, a long-time close family and political friend who will likely be either her commissioner of administration or her choice to be the new speaker of the Louisiana House.
Blanco and LeBlanc walked into and out of the press conference at her Lafayette Hilton Hotel election-night headquarters together, and conferred long after others had left.
"The voters heard our message of change," she said. "I am ready to lead the initiatives."
After all the greetings of family and supporters following her victory over Republican Bobby Jindal, Blanco said she stayed up until 3 a.m. Sunday, holding meetings with legislators, her staff and her transition team leaders. She slept for five hours before starting again Sunday, carving out time for family and close friends.
Besides LeBlanc, another key person spending most of the day Sunday with Blanco was Commissioner of Higher Education Joe Savoie of Lafayette, the likely leader of Blanco's higher education transition team.
Her chief of staff in the lieutenant governor's office, Leonard Kleinpeter of Baton Rouge, will definitely be on her new staff, but in a yet undesignated role.
Appearing relaxed, Blanco said she has no timetables, but would be setting those when she returns next week.
While admitting she's not sure her victory has sunk in yet, Blanco said she's very excited about the challenges ahead.
Asked how the tough runoff campaign might have changed her, she quipped, "I don't talk as long."
Blanco said she has always been outspent but has never lost a race in her 20-year political career. "I've always been underestimated," she said. "I always proved them wrong."
LeBlanc said those who have said the Legislature will be able to walk all over Blanco "have underestimated her at their own peril."
He said people are mistaken if they see her characteristics of being polite, quiet and reserved "as someone they can take advantage of" because she can be very firm when she has to be.
Key issues
Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco ticked off her top three issues Sunday, saying they will be the priorities of her transition team and early in her administration:
PROVIDING a stronger public education system, which she called "the key to economic development." She promised to challenge students by raising the bar of expectations.
HOLDING a health summit "to cure the ills of the health-care system," including finding a way to provide care to the 20 percent of Louisianans with no health-care coverage either through the government or private insurance. Organizing the summit, to be chaired by U.S. Sen. John Breaux, is one of her first transition tasks, she said.
CREATING "a new economy with good jobs." Blanco said as soon as possible she will begin private individual meetings with the CEOs of Louisiana's top businesses to discuss their company's needs, how to keep them here and what she can do to help them expand in Louisiana.
Key people
Below are some of major players being seen with the governor elect who will likely play a role in the transition, the next administration, or legislative leadership, in which the governor has a strong say in Louisiana:
State Rep. Jerry LeBlanc, D-Lafayette, her closest personal and political friend.
State Commissioner of Higher Education Joe Savoie, also a close friend.
Baton Rouge corporate CEO Jim Bernhard Jr., co-chair of her transition team.
New Orleans Civil District Court Clerk Dale Atkins, transition team co-chair.
Blanco's chief of staff, Leonard Kleinpeter, who helped absentee turnout.
Rochelle Michaud Dugas of Abbeville, Blanco's confidential assistant and constant campaign traveling companion.
State Sen. Don Hines, D-Bunkie, a likely senate president hopeful
State Sen. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro, Rep. Charles McDonald, D-Bastrop, and state Rep. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, who ran a TV spot for her in Northeast Louisiana.
State Sen.-elect Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, who helped turn out Caddo voters for Blanco.
Jeff Jenkins of Austin, Texas, a former aide who returned to Louisiana to help manage her runoff campaign.
Ty Bromell of Ruston, on leave from his job as coordinator of the Scenic By-Ways Program of the Office of Tourism.
Bob Mann, state director for U.S. Sen. John Breaux, who helped coordinate Blanco's runoff campaign.
State Rep. John Smith, D-Leesville, a close friend and father-in-law of U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley.
State Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, a long-time personal friend.
