Ringside Politics With A Punch

On Friday, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association voted to endorse U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu in her bid for re-election. According to Jiff Hingle, Sheriff of Plaquemines Parish and Mike Cazes, Sheriff of West Baton Rouge Parish, Landrieu “always stands by law enforcement. And now we are going to stand by her.” The organization is a powerful law enforcement group that wields significant political influence in Louisiana. Each Sheriff controls a considerable budget and has department employees at his disposal to assist the endorsed candidate. This endorsement will translate into actual votes for Landrieu. It will also allow her to state in the campaign that she is a “friend of law enforcement.” The Sheriffs credit Landrieu with securing over $120 million in grants for their departments during her last term in office. When the Sheriff’s organization endorsed Landrieu in 2002, it was the first time the group had endorsed an elected official. According to Hingle and Cazes, “She didn’t let us down. That’s why we are proud to stand with her again.”