Jeremy Alford, Sarah Gamard and Mitch Rabalais / LaPolitics.com
It’s no secret that newspapers have been increasingly laying off reporters for years, especially those covering statehouses. But a new conservative-leaning outfit is working to reverse that trend around the country, and in Louisiana.
Watchdog.org, by covering state politics “from the taxpayers’ perspective,” has earned both fans and foes — and much like everything else on the web they’re here to stay, whether through digitally-archived means or via original content.
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is funding Watchdog’s endeavors and the goal is to have a reporter in every statehouse. While this has not yet happened in Baton Rouge, Watchdog’s news team has reached out to Louisiana journalists to fill the role.
In the meantime, Watchdog has still been publishing bylined stories about the Bayou State, mostly out of the Capitol using writers from elsewhere.
The outfit brands itself as non-partisan, but its umbrella organization has conservative roots and it co-hosted the 2012 Breitbart Awards. Its former president, Nicole Neily, is now a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Women’s Forum and she runs a separate organization that promotes free speech on college campuses.
“If Watchdog.org is considered right-leaning journalism, or what the market would consider right-leaning journalism, what does that say about the marketplace?” asked current Franklin Center President and Watchdog publisher Chris Krug, who stressed the desire of readers to know about their tax dollars. “We’re not into labels.”
State Rep. Lance Harris of Alexandria, the chairman of the House Republican Delegation, has been interviewed by Watchdog reporters and welcomes the additional coverage.
“Anything that adds transparency to the process, and maybe a different view, I think that’s a good thing,” Harris said.
On the other hand, there’s Democratic Sen. J.P. Morrell of New Orleans.
“I don’t necessarily agree with some of the positions that Watchdog.org has on stuff, or their interpretations,” he said, “but at least it’s grounded somewhat in logic.”
Key hires made in lone statewide race
With the Nov. 6 special election primary for secretary of state less than three months away, the established candidates are officially staffed up for their bids.
The hires reveal not only levels of professionalism, but also in some instance political leanings and possible alliances. Mostly, though, the names are a peek behind the curtains of modern campaigning.
— The perceived frontrunner in the race, state Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, has signed The Political Firm’s consultants Jason Hebert and Scott Hobbs. They’ve run GOP campaigns for Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge and U.S. Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Metairie. The Political Firm will be her general consultants, in addition to handling the campaign’s media. Nicole Desormeaux and Ann Rasmussen will handle fundraising for Stokes, who already has the largest campaign war chest, according to finance reports. Day-to-day operations will be overseen by Anna Kornick, who also worked on Stokes’ brief bid for state treasurer last year. Kornick previously was a staffer to former Congressman Joe Cao of New Orleans, as well as Acadiana’s Scott Angelle during his tenure as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.
— Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has brought on Baton Rouge consultant Lionel Rainey III, who will serve as the general, media and fundraising consultant. “In a race like this, every penny counts, and a low overhead is essential,” said Rainey, who has worked on the Republican campaigns of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and Treasurer John Schroder.
— Former Sen. A.G. Crowe’s campaign is being supervised by Jack McAdams, who previously worked as a grassroots coordinator for state Sens. Neil Riser of Columbia and Bodi White of Central. Crowe has also brought on conservative operatives Scott Wilfong and former Sen. Dan Richey as his general consultants. Both men are from Baton Rouge. Greg Buisson of Jefferson Parish is taking on the media consultant role, having produced ads previously for a bipartisan slate of candidates, including Republican Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and New Orleans City Councilwoman Helena Moreno, a Democrat. Former state GOP Chairman Roger Villere will oversee the campaign’s social media operations.
— Reneé Fontenot Free, the only prominent Democrat in the race, has brought on former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s longtime state director, T. Bradley Keith, as her campaign manager. Consultant Randy Hayden and his firm, Creative Communications, have been enlisted to handle media and fundraising. Hayden has worked for former state Senate President Randy Ewing and former Public Service Commissioner Jimmy Field, among others.
— Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud has retained one of Congressman Clay Higgins’ strategists, Christian Gil, to serve as her general consultant. Sally Nungesser, a longtime GOP fundraiser who has worked for figures such as former Gov. Mike Foster and Whip Scalise, has signed on to build Cloud’s war chest.
— State Rep. Rick Edmonds’ campaign will be led by consultant J Hudson of 3 Strategies. Hudson previously managed former Congressman John Fleming’s U.S. Senate campaign and Paul Dietzel’s bid for Congress. Allee Bautsch Grunewald, one of the most prominent fundraisers in the state, will be tasked with keeping Edmonds’ campaign account full. On reporter duty will be Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene’s former communications consultant Delia Taylor, who will be handing Edmonds’ communications. Media guru Roy Fletcher, a veteran of numerous statewide campaigns, has joined team Edmonds as well.
They Said It
“If something has been done wrong, we’ll do the audit when I’m re-elected.”
—Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler, on opening an investigation into her administration, in The Shreveport Times
“I am the eternal optimist, so the outlook is good. But I’m not going to bet on that.”
—Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones, on revenue forecasts, at the Baton Rouge Press Club
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