Scalise's congressional bid creates state Senate vacancy
by Jeff Crouere - New Orleans CityBusiness (excerpt)

In the special election for the 1st Congressional District seat formerly held by Gov. Bobby Jindal, state Sen. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, is locked in a spirited GOP run-off against state Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville.

If Scalise prevails, he will vacate the Senate seat he just won last year. Held for many years by Ken Hollis, it is a safely Republican seat in a conservative Jefferson Parish district.

Already lining up to run for the position is former New Orleans Dock Board Chairman Conrad Appel, a Republican who will be able to count on significant support from the Jefferson Parish business community.

Opposing Appel could be former GOP Jefferson Parish School Board member Polly Thomas, who lost the Senate race to Scalise last year. Before Thomas announces another campaign, she is holding a fundraiser to help retire a $100,000 campaign loan received last year.

Thomas has run for this seat several times, losing to Hollis previously. Her previous campaigns give Thomas more name recognition than Appel, a political newcomer. For the first time, Thomas might be the favorite in the race for the state Senate.