NAME: Jay Dardenne
YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE ADDRESS: http://www.jaydardenne2010.com
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: P.O. Box 2976, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Phone: 225-333-7903
FAX: 225-383-3733
Email: infor@jaydardenne2010.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican
PROFESSION: Secretary of State/Attorney
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business): State of Louisiana/Kennon, Odom & Dardenne
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date): B.A. LSU (1976); J.D. LSU Law Center (1979)
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
CIVIC EXPERIENCE (100 word limit):
Served as president or chairman of 10 nonprofit organizations in BR area, including Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Alumni, LSU Alumni Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cerebral Palsy Association, River City Festivals Association and Baton Rouge Kids Baseball Clinic; chairman of FestForAll; named Jaycee's Outstanding Man in Louisiana and LSBA Outstanding Young Lawyer in Louisiana; recipient of Community Leadership Award and Baton Rouge Volunteer Activist Award; current chairman of TEAM Baton Rouge which promotes sporting activities in the community; two-time chairman of local organizing committee for National Senior Olympics
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS (100 word limit): Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council (1988-1991); Louisiana State Senate (1992-2006); SOS (2006-present); named National Republican Legislator of the Year (2003); co-chairman Heritage Committee, National Association of Secretaries of State
1. What are your top three priorities for the office and why?
- Rebrand Louisiana to develop a comprehensive advertising and marketing strategy
- Reduce executive management positions in the Office and Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism
- Partner with the Louisiana Film Commission to enhance Louisiana's motion picture industry and focus use of dedicated tax revenue on advertising and marketing
- Maintain broad knowledge base of state government operations in fulfillment of constitutional obligation to be prepared to serve in the event of a vacancy in the governor's office.
2. What areas or initiatives constitute the greatest potential for economic growth in the State of Louisiana?
Small business development is the key to Louisiana's potential economic growth. I was twice recognized as a "business champion" by the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce during my years in the state senate. I also was recognized as the "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federation of Independent Business. I authored the Motion Picture Tax Credit legislation, which literally has generated millions of dollars and garnered thousands of new jobs in Louisiana relating to this rapidly growing sector of our economy. It continues to have tremendous potential, as does the development of a comprehensive plan for eco-tourism and adventures throughout Louisiana.
3. Considering budget restraints, and the limits of the office responsibilities, what would you cut to balance the state's budget?
I would advocate targeted programmatic reductions throughout state government, particularly in the area of health and social services. This will be difficult to accomplish politically, but is a better approach than simply imposing across-the-board cuts at every level of government. I would advocate continuing to shrink the state's workforce by attrition and would reduce and consolidate high paying, executive level positions.
I have done this already in the secretary of state's office and plan to do so in the lieutenant governor's office. This is a practice which should be adopted elsewhere in state government, particularly in larger budgetary units like higher education and health care.
4. What is the best way to deal with the huge budget deficits the state will face next fiscal year?
A. Increase revenue
B. Make drastic cuts to state services
C. Combination of A & B
B. Make drastic cuts to state services.
© Copyright
League of Women Voters of New Orleans, Louisiana. All rights reserved.
![[LWV]](images/lwv76.gif)
