Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

Traylor is seeking the Republican nomination to stand as the party’s official candidate in the Nov. 2 general election. Traylor will face Sen. David Vitter, the embattled incumbent, in the Aug. 28 Republican primary election. A run-off election, if necessary, will be held Oct. 2.

Traylor is the only candidate in the Republican primary who served in the U.S. military. Traylor enlisted in the Army as a private was honorably discharged after obtaining the rank of Sergeant. He served from 1969-1971.

Traylor also is the only candidate in the Republican primary who has a life-long background in law enforcement. Traylor served as a trooper in the Louisiana State Police. He was an investigator for the Organized Crime and Racketeering Unit for the Louisiana Department of Justice, and he worked as legal advisor for the Narcotics, Detectives and Intelligence Units of the Louisiana State Police.

Traylor also is a former assistant district attorney for the 5th Judicial District. He was elected district court judge in the 5th Judicial District in 1985 and served in that capacity until he was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1996. He retired from the Supreme Court in 2009.

As an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Traylor wrote the court’s majority opinion in upholding the constitutionality of Louisiana’s sodomy law. In his opinion, Traylor said that the state constitution does not protect “immoral acts.”

A vocal critic of President Obama’s policies, Traylor says the Obama administration “has declared war on the people of Louisiana.”

“The moratorium on oil drilling in the wake of the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the federal government’s incompetence in helping Louisiana clean up the oil spill represent efforts by the Obama administration to destroy our economy, our environment and our way of life in Louisiana,” Traylor said.

Traylor noted his disagreement with Vitter over capping on monetary damages that BP will owe Louisiana and its citizens because of the oil spill in the Gulf.

“I want Louisiana and her people made whole,” Traylor said.

“Frankly, we cannot afford to be represented by a U.S. senator who will not stand up to a multi-billion dollar corporation and demand that Louisiana and her citizens are treated fairly,” Traylor continued. ““I’m a conservative and conservatives do not compromise with liberals like Obama and we do not compromise with corruption, including corrupt corporations and corrupt politicians.”

Traylor pointed out that he’s the only candidate for the U.S. Senate who is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. He says his commitment to the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms was beyond approach.

“I’ve been a hunter and a fisherman for my entire life,” Traylor said, “And I will not give an inch on the 2nd Amendment.”

On other issues, Traylor says he is:

-Against ObamaCare. “Liberals are trying to destroy our health care system so the federal government can take over our lives.”

-Against Bailouts. “When a company is mismanaged, taxpayers should not have to pay for its mistakes.”

-For Arizona’s Illegal Alien Law. “The borders of the United States are being invaded by those who have no right to be in our country. We need to build a wall to protect our southern border and enact the Arizona law as our nation’s law.”

-For Shaking Up Washington by Its Roots. “The mess we have in Washington is caused by the mess career politicians have created. Big money, big unions and big special interests have made Washington politicians beholden to everyone but the people they are supposed to serve.”

-For Paying Down National Debt. “No one wants to talk about it, but Americans are in danger of losing their way of life because of the $14 TRILLION national debt.”

-Against Tax Increases. “Obama and the liberals are trying to raise income taxes and renew the estate taxes, and that is wrong. I will oppose every tax or fee increase proposed by the Obama crowd.”

Traylor said he is available at all times to speak with all Louisianians on any issue of concern to them. Traylor can be reached by calling 318.282.1599.