Blueprint Supporters to Populate Legislature

According to unofficial primary election results, 68 candidates supporting Blueprint Louisiana's five-part reform agenda will be in the new Louisiana Legislature when it is seated in January, including 23 candidates who were elected this past Saturday without opposition. An additional 71 legislative candidates that expressed support for Blueprint's five-part reform agenda advanced to the general election runoffs on November 17.

Blueprint gained 23 seats in the Louisiana State Senate - 17 who were elected Saturday and six who ran unopposed. Ten (10) more Senate seats will be decided in the general election, but in eight of those runoffs, both candidates have pledged to support the Blueprint Agenda, giving the group at least 31 seats in the Senate (79 percent). There are a total of 39 seats in the Louisiana State Senate.

Blueprint gained 45 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives - 28 who were elected Saturday and 17 who ran unopposed. Forty (40) more House seats will be decided in the general election, but in 19 of those runoffs, both candidates have pledged to support the Blueprint Agenda, giving the group at least 64 seats in the House (61 percent). There are a total of 105 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

"This is a terrific start," said Blueprint Louisiana Chairman Matt Stuller, CEO of Lafayette-based jewelry manufacturer and distributor Stuller Inc. "It's truly a historic result that so many elected leaders and citizens agree on key priorities for the state. We have a realistic opportunity next year to work with new lawmakers, the new administration and citizens to begin to create the state we deserve."

Steering Committee members and Regional Champions made numerous presentations over the past few months to spread the word about Blueprint Louisiana. Prior to Saturday's election, nearly two-thirds of all candidates running for legislative and statewide offices signed a contract with Blueprint, pledging to work during upcoming legislative sessions to pass the reform agenda, if elected.

The organization also invested in a multi-media advertising campaign touting Blueprint and the candidates who agreed to support the agenda.

The goal was to create a critical mass of support to fundamentally improve Louisiana. Blueprint's vision for a better Louisiana focuses on major governmental reforms in the areas of ethics, education, workforce development, health care and transportation.

"We congratulate those elected, and we look forward to working with them to bring about positive change," said Blueprint Louisiana Steering Committee member Sean Reilly, COO and President of the Outdoor Division of Lamar Advertising Company. "We believe we're well on our way to developing the consensus necessary to implement our specific legislative solutions in 2008 and beyond."

Last week, Blueprint also initiated discussions with legislators elected without opposition regarding the five agenda items to begin work on drafting bills for the upcoming legislative sessions. Blueprint has also vowed to monitor implementation of Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast and to work with elected officials and community leaders from the Bayou region to evaluate any additional action that may be needed at the state level.

"We acknowledge the hard work ahead," said Reilly, a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. "We view the new Legislature and new administration as partners in this effort and plan to spend the rest of the year talking with legislators and other interested groups and hopefully developing consensus legislation that will attract broad support."

Blueprint Louisiana is a citizen-driven effort to identify and implement essential changes to fundamentally improve Louisiana. More than 3,000 citizens and 30 organizations from across the state have indicated their support for the Blueprint Agenda.

ADDITIONAL ELECTION DETAIL

Louisiana State Senate
Blueprint Supporters Unopposed: 6
(SD 18 Amedee, SD 19 Chaisson, SD 20 Dupre, SD 23 Michot, SD 27 Mount, SD Kostelka)

Blueprint Supporters Victorious: 17
(SD 1 Crowe, SD 4 Murray, SD 6 Quinn, SD 8 Alario, SD 9 Scalise, SD 10 Martiny, SD 11 Donahue, SD 15 Broome, SD 16 Cassidy, SD 21 B. Gautreaux, SD 24 Cravins, SD 26 N. Gautreaux, SD 31 Long, SD 33 Walsworth, SD 34 Thompson, SD 36 Adley, SD 38 Cheek)

Blueprint Runoffs: 8 (both candidates Blueprint Supporters)
(SD 2, SD 7, SD 22, SD 25, SD 28, SD 30, SD 32, SD 37)

BLUEPRINT ASSURED OF AT LEAST 31 SEATS IN THE STATE SENATE.

Louisiana House of Representatives
Blueprint Supporters Unopposed: 17
(HD 5 Waddell, HD 12 Downs, HD 18 Cazayoux, HD 33 Danahay, HD 41 M. Guillory, HD 49 Champagne, HD 52 Dove, HD 60 St. Germain, HD 63 Honey, HD 75 Ritchie, HD 81 LaBruzzo, HD 84 Connick, HD 86 Tucker, HD 88 Smiley, HD 89 Burns, HD 90 Cromer, HD 97 Morrell)

Blueprint Supporters Victorious: 28
(HD 4 Williams, HD 8 Jane Smith, HD 9 Burns, HD 10 Doerge, HD 11 Gallot, HD 13 Fannin, HD 16 Katz, HD 21 Anders, HD 22 Chandler, HD 27 Hazel, HD 31 Trahan, HD 40 E. Guillory, HD 42 Montoucet, HD 43 Cortez, HD 47 Perry, HD 53 Baldone, HD 56 G. Smith, HD 61 Jackson, HD 62 McVea, HD 64 White, HD 65 Richardson, HD 80 Lopinto, HD 82 Henry, HD 85 Templet, HD 100 Badon, HD 102 Arnold, HD 104 Hutter, HD 105 Wooten)

Blueprint Runoffs: 19 (both candidates Blueprint Supporters)
(HD 15, HD 23, HD 25, HD 30, HD 32, HD 37, HD 48, HD 51, HD 55, HD 57, HD 58, HD 68, HD 69, HD 74, HD 76, HD 77, HD 79, HD 91, HD 95)

BLUEPRINT ASSURED OF AT LEAST 64 SEATS IN THE HOUSE.