United States Representative Charles Melancon (D-Napoleonville) began his United States Senate campaign today in Lafayette. Melancon was greeted by a crowd of supporters and media at 11:55 this morning at Country Cuisine Restaurant on University Avenue, just a couple of hours after qualifying for the race
After meeting and speaking with those in the restaurant for almost thirty minutes, Melancon was formally introduced to the patrons by Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux. Flanked by his wife, Peachy, Melancon told the crowd that he "felt at home in Lafayette" before joking about his years as an undergraduate at what was then the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Melancon also mentioned his pride for the region and its culture, as his father was a native of St. Martinville. Melancon then told his audience that his decision to run was a difficult one, but that he is running to give the state a senator that puts the state's matters before party politics. "This race is not about ambition," Melancon told his supporters. "This is about Louisiana."
Melancon also critiqued his opponent, Senator David Vitter, saying that the incumbent "put politics first" during his term. "David Vitter does not know how to work with people," Melancon stated. Melancon pledged to work "twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week" to meet with people, to work with his fellow senators, and to work across party lines in order to "put Louisiana first" during his term. He said that he would work towards building relationships with fellow lawmakers, citing Russell Long, J. Bennett Johnston, John Breaux, and Mary Landrieu as examples of effective alliance builders that worked in favor of the state.
When asked if he would spend money to attack Vitter's message or remind voters of Vitter's prostitution scandal, Melancon said that he has "no need to spend money" to combat the "lies" Vitter has put forth--such as that Melancon supported health care reform or the moratorium on deep-water offshore drilling--because he "is on the offensive" in this campaign. Melancon urges voters to look at his record, as they will learn what his platform truly is.
Susannah Malbreaux, chairman of the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee, was in charge of bringing Melancon to Acadiana. "It gives people the opportunity to talk one-on-one with [Melancon] and to ask him questions," Malbreaux said. Malbreaux also expects Melancon to make further visits to Lafayette during the campaign season.
Several local politicians and community activists were in attendance at today's meet-and-greet. Former city-parish councilman Chris Williams, congressional candidate Mike Stagg, and former Lafayette NAACP president Joe Dennis, among others, attended today's event. Former United States Attorney Mike Skinner was also there to support Melancon. "Charlie is a good friend of mine, and he would make a great senator," said Skinner, who is also a former chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
Melancon's campaign tour continues through the remainder of the week, as he travels to Shreveport and Monroe on Thursday and to Lake Charles and New Orleans on Friday.
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OTHER ELECTION NEWS
David Vitter also visited the Hub City today after qualifying. He met with his supporters at Lafayette Regional Airport shortly before noon today. However, this reporter could not get comment from him as the gathering had ended by the time he arrived at the airport. A security guard informed me that I had missed the event by a few minutes. This was confirmed by several of Vitter's staffers walking out of the building with signs and flyers that had not been distributed.
Lafayette's INDEPENDENT WEEKLY is reporting that Cajundome director Greg Davis has qualified to run for the District 2 seat on the Lafayette Parish School Board that is being vacated by longtime board member Carl LaCombe.
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