Content area
Full Text
<p>Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco made a wise choice in appointing Brig. Gen. Hunt Downer, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House, as her acting legislative director.Downer will direct Blanco's legislative efforts during the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature, which begins next Monday. Downer succeeds Rochelle Michaud Dugas, who was appointed executive director of the Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority.Downer is known as a person of enormous integrity who is passionate about creating a stronger Louisiana. Blanco will benefit from these attributes.Downer has a great deal of experience in getting things done with the Louisiana Army National Guard. He is principal assistant to the adjutant general for all Army National Guard issues and is secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.He will not suffer politics as usual, which so far has suffused and suffocated the two special sessions, rendering them less than extraordinary. Downer knows his way around Baton Rouge, having served 28 years in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 2004. He has been on the ground since Katrina landed. He worked around the clock with the Louisiana National Guard saving lives and helping speed the state's recovery. To borrow the National Guard's lingo, Downer is always leaning forward. He's a good man for the governor, and indeed all of this state, to lean on in these precarious times of recovery.</p>