Transparency: that's what Governor-elect Jeff Landry says is his primary goal during his transition into the state's highest office.
Landry announced his goals for his transition and the members of his transition team during a Wednesday news briefing in Lafayette. During that briefing, Landry said he's grateful for Governor John Bel Edwards's cooperation with the transition and for having an extra month to prepare.
"The governor has been extremely gracious in insuring us that the transition is going to be smooth, and I gotta tell you, I want to thank him for that," Landry said. "I promise that we are going to make this transition a success, and we want to make sure that it is thorough, it's efficient, and that it's as transparent as possible.
"We want to make sure what we do is a very thorough and important process, so we're going to take our time," Landry continued. "We have a little extra time, and we're going to use that to our advantage to make sure that we get it right for the people of this state."
Landry's transition team includes 2019 gubernatorial candidates Ralph Lee Abraham and Eddie Rispone, Republican powerplayer Lane Grigsby, and businessman and Landry associate Shane Guidry. While the names on the Landry transition team list may raise some eyebrows, one analyst says this is how Louisiana politics works.
"The people who win get to bring their supporters along," LA Politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford said, adding that Landry's transition team is similar to those of previous governors.
"The people who gave the most money get the most plum positions," Alford said.
Abraham is one of those donors. According to Alford, Abraham, a former congressman from the northeast Louisiana town of Alto, "most certainly struck a check" to the campaign and/or the Louisiana GOP. Alford said that Abraham could find himself working with--or for--Landry after Landry takes office.
"I think this might be an early nod that maybe Congressman Ralph Abraham is going to play some role in major healthcare policy or even at the Department of Health," Alford said.
Alford notes one surprise on the transition team--incoming First Lady Sharon Landry.
"There's going to be a mansion to oversee," Alford said. "She's going to have her own policy issues, but it was clear that Jeff Landry wanted a woman on this list, and it appears that woman is his wife."
Alford says he's not surprised with Governor Edwards's cooperation with Governor-elect Landry in the transition. That's because, Alford says, they're working with some of the same transition consultants and using some of the same procedures.
So what will transparency in the Landry transition look like?
"That probably looks like issuing reports and making transition members available for interviews and other things like that," Alford said.
Landry will take the oath of office on January 8.
