With St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith facing criminal charges in connection with an alleged attack on a blogger at a Madisonville restaurant, is his political career over?
One analyst says: not quite.
"That depends on how he can portray his actions," political analyst Bernie Pinsonat said. "It depends on how much sympathy he can garner."
According to Pinsonat, Smith's handlers are now responsible for saving Smith's political career. Pinsonat says part of that responsibility is making the public believe that Smith was justified in the assault that investigators say put Robert Couvillon in the hospital.
"Can he convince enough people that he's justified?" Pinsonat asked rhetorically. "But I don't care what the blogger does. If the blogger has done certain things that public thinks crossed the line, then the sheriff will get some sympathy, no question about it."
Pinsonat says until Smith criminal case is resolved, his political future is in limbo.
"I think his political future is on hold until the trial," Pinsonat said.
The St. Tammany Parish sheriff's seat will be on the Fall 2027 ballot.
