Edwards reveals personal income for campaign

As a requirement for running for Congress in the 6th District, former Gov. Edwin Edwards has filed his financial disclosure statement with the U.S. House showing his income in 2013 totaling $242,787.
Within two years of being released from federal prison, the statement shows Edwards was earning money from his biography, a television show, speaking engagements, energy royalties and retirement benefits.
He did not list any stocks, interest earned from savings accounts or liabilities owed to creditors.
Edwards’ most substantial source of income was the government, with $95,939 earned last year from congressional and state retirement systems and Social Security.
He was also paid $79,500 by Left Field Productions for his canceled A&E reality series, “The Governor’s Wife,” and earned another $46,600 through speaking engagements.
His biography, “Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana,” brought in $17,792 in 2013.
The smallest revenue stream for Edwards came from royalties: $2,787 from Nelson Energy and $169 from Henry Products.
He likewise reported his income for 2014, up until April 20, which amounted to $51,074.
All candidate reports can be searched for and viewed here.
(clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-search.aspx)
District judges faced with age limit question
Attorneys, judges and others interviewed by LaPolitics expect 15 to 20 district judge races this year. Many of the seats, which carry with them six-year terms, are opening up because judges either want to retire for the obvious reasons — to practice law, be with their families, play golf or fish — or because they have reached the required retirement age of 70.
“We’re seeing more open seats than we’re used to, but it’s due mainly to retirement. But what we’re all waiting to see is how many judges that are age-limited qualify to run anyway,” said a source. “A few of them have been talking about it.”
If a judge turns 70 while in office, they are allowed to continue serving but not seek re-election. The restriction applies to those wishing to run as well. Lawmakers, however, passed HB 96 by Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, during this year’s session to let voters decide whether the ban should be overturned.
“If voters approve the constitutional amendment on the November ballot, and it takes effect as planned before the swearing-in in January, then the judges at or above the retirement age who want to run again may be able to do so,” said an attorney. “What they’re trying to figure out is who has the standing to bring the challenge. Maybe no one will need to. It’s unclear right now.”
Several district attorney races expected
“I feel like I’m under siege,” an attorney said recently over drinks at Galatoire’s Bistro in Baton Rouge. “We all do. Every time I turn around somebody wants a check. District attorney races. The judges. They’re killing us.”
In addition to as many as 20 elections this fall for district judge, there are six open district attorney seats. Add to that another five DAs who are expected to be challenged and four more races that are developing slowly with roughly a month to go until qualifying. All in, that’s the possibility of as many as 35 races for district judge and district attorney.
“Now you have to wonder if that many will come forward and qualify,” said a source tracking the races. “The most DA races I’ve ever seen in one cycle is around 16 a few decades ago. So this appears to be a slight pickup in action. If about 10 of the races produce challengers to incumbents, and three or four beat an incumbent, I would consider that a pretty big deal. But it’s still early.”
So far six district attorneys have announced they are not running again or are retiring, including Bob Levy in the 3rd District in Lincoln-Union; Jam Downs in the 9th in Rapides; Phil Haney in the 16th in Iberia-St. Martin-St. Mary; Cecil Sanner in the 38th in Cameron; Walter Reed in the 22nd in St. Tammany-Washington; and David Burton in the 36th in Beauregard.
Consultants already working the races only expect half or less to be actually competitive.
Meanwhile, there are already serious challenges, or competition expected soon, in Lafayette (former ADA Keith Stutes is taking on DA Mike Harson), West Feliciana, St. Landry, Jefferson Davis (DA Mike Cassidy is facing former DA and district judge Wendell Miller) and Terrebonne.
There are also slight possibilities of races in Bienville, St. Bernard, St. John and Caldwell, where DA Mark McKee pushed charges against Sheriff Steve May in court over fixing tickets.
The highest-profile race as of now comes courtesy of St. Tammany DA Water Reed, who has decided not to seek a sixth term while under fire for questionable campaign finance expenditures, management decisions and other activities. Slidell attorney Alan Black, Covington attorney Roy Burns Jr. and chief deputy sheriff Brian Trainor have all expressed interest in running. Burns already has launched the first media buy of the race with a 30-second spot on WNOE.
They Said It
“With me, the people know the butter might be rancid, but it’s going to be spread on their side of the bread.”
-Edwin Edwards explaining to New York Magazine why he should be elected to Congress.
“I thought people would spit on me, throw rocks. But they still loved me.”
-Edwards, in the New York Magazine profile, on his time after prison.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.