Shaw Group CEO seeks Demo post - (state Dem Chair Louisiana)

[funkybutt]

*i don't know about y'all, but this seems like a bit of a conflict of interest. This guy's company gets HUGE government contracts and he wants to be the Democratic Party Chair*

But state senator also wants to lead party

http://nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1105081220104110.xml

By Laura Maggi
Capital bureau

BATON ROUGE -- Backed by the governor and the state's senior U.S. senator, Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhard is a heavy favorite to be elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party on Saturday.

In an indication of Bernhard's high-level support, he will be co-hosting a reception for the Democratic State Central Committee members tonight with Gov. Kathleen Blanco at the Governor's Mansion. ...

In challenging Bernhard for the post, Cravins is reacting to what occurred during his own bid for the 7th Congressional District seat. During the primary, which pitted him against Boustany and state Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, the state party helped pay the cost for a ballot endorsing Mount that was sent out to black voters. Cravins, who is black, has said that ballot might have cost him a place in the runoff, which he missed by about 1,700 votes. Mount, who is white, ended up losing the runoff to Boustany, who also is white.