The Final Verdict On Odom Will Rest With The State's Voters
by JIM BEAM - The American Press (excerpt)

Voters may be surprised to learn that the statewide primary scheduled for Oct. 20 actually gets under way Saturday. That’s when early voting begins and continues until Saturday, Oct. 13.

The process is open to anyone interested in voting early at their local registrar of voters offices in parishes throughout the state. So now is a good time to recap some of the election highlights.

Four major candidates are vying to become Louisiana’s next governor, and there are five other statewide contests on the ballot.

The four major gubernatorial candidates are U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner; state Sen. Walter Boasso, D-Arabi; Foster Campbell, a Democrat and member of the state Public Service Commission; and John Georges, an independent and New Orleans area businessman.

Odom Targeted

Next to that race, one of the more interesting campaigns is the fourcandidate contest for state commissioner of agriculture and forestry. It’s a job that should have been made an appointive position a long time ago, but politics have kept it from happening.

Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom is bragging about winning an unprecedented eighth term in the primary, but two of his three Republican challengers say their polls don’t bear that out.

Odom has definitely overstayed his welcome at the department, but rooting him out won’t be easy. State Rep. Mike Strain of Covington, a veterinarian and member of a longtime farm family, and Wayne Carter of Zachary, a member of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council, believe this will be the year it happens. Don Johnson of Transylvania is the fourth candidate.

Corruption charges against Odom dating to 2002 that were eventually dismissed by a judge friendly to Odom are currently being considered by an appeals court, but a quick decision isn’t expected.

The final verdict on Odom will rest with the state’s voters.

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