Photograph: St. Landry Now Editor Bobby Ardoin interviewing Steven Waguespack a candidate for Governor of Louisiana. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Contributing Writer
Between his hurried nibbles on a Soileau’s hamburger and quick bites of French fries, Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Steven Waguespack didn’t loose any time Thursday spreading his campaign message across the restaurant.
Waguespack, one of five Republicans seeking to replace incumbent John Bel Edwards, didn’t hesitate to make himself visible to the other diners, as he often removed himself from his table and walked over for an introductory handshake to those consulting menus.
With less than a week remaining before the start of qualifying, Waguespack said during an interview over lunch that his goal right now is to meet as many potential voters as possible as he continues what he considers an ambitious, low-key, grassroots effort.
It certainly appeared that way on Thursday, as Waguespack and campaign executive director Rob Culpepper were in a vehicle that stopped in Opelousas for a brief one-on-one interview. Then the pair planned to arrive in Alexandria for a Louisiana Municipal Association forum.
There was at least one other stop scheduled in Alexandria before the day of campaigning scheduled to conclude later in St. Martinville.
“We’ve been covering a lot of backroads as well as the interstates. No one in the race right now lives north of St. Tammany, so as far as I’m concerned, anything north of I-10 is fair game,” Waguespack noted.
One of his goals, Waguespack said, is to make the position of state government weaker.
“I’m interested in de-centralizing state government as much as possible and giving more power , resources and tools to those at the local levels,” said Waguespack.
Waguespack feels he represents a different brand of gubernatorial candidate and he’s quick to tell you why.
“I think what separates me is I’m not running to acquire power or bring in an entourage of people along with me. I would like to serve as governor and afterward go back to work. I’m not looking for a career job (in government). So often you see people (in Louisiana) who get elected and then become focused on the next step,” Waguespack pointed out.
So why is Waguespack, once a deputy chief of staff for former governor Bobby Jindal, running for governor in a race already stacked with candidates?
Mainly Waguespack says it’s because he’s worried about Louisiana.
“I’m concerned about the number of people who have been leaving Louisiana and working in jobs elsewhere. I am looking at bringing back jobs and bringing back people who may have lost faith in our politics,”said Waguespack, who is married and the father of three boys.
Waguespack, 49, has headed the Louisiana Association of Business And Industry for nearly 10 years. A native of Gonzales, Waguespack said he’s given up that job to run for governor.
What else is there to address?
There are also issues with the education system that Waguespack says he plans to confront.
Waguespack said he intends to provide better educational readiness for kindergarten and first graders, providing those children with better soft skills, reading and writing and mentorship as they enter the elementary grades.
In seventh and eighth grades, Waguespack said, it is probably time to discern whether students are more suited for four-year college courses or technical training. Emphasis on technical skills, Wagespack said, is a crucial element in developing work-force ready individuals who might prefer staying in Louisiana rather than leaving the state.
“It’s important that we meet the students where they are, before they go off and find a job in another state. If workers are already in another state, we want them to come back (to Louisiana) and give them something to come back for,” Waguespack added.
Waguespack also wants to increase the number of nurses in Louisiana and influence more interest in becoming educators.
“Teachers right now are really concerned, having to deal with (students) mental health issues and the lack of parental help. What I would like to do is bring in outside partners and take away some of those responsibilities from teachers who already have enough to deal with in the classroom,” said Waguespack,
So far Waguespack said he has received support from individuals who operate businesses as well as working families.
“The reception I’ve received is actually from a broad cross section. I feel we are having success also reaching out to working class individuals,” Waguespack added.
