The INDsider -> The Independent Staff TUE, MAR 31 5:01AM by IND Monthly Staff

Peep Goat: Lafayette native's race may be referendum on Jindal's popularity

On paper, it would appear that Lafayette native and Baton Rouge businessman Lee Domingue would be invincible in his race to fill the state Senate seat of recently elected U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy.

Domingue, a wealthy software tycoon and son of longtime Lafayette political operative Floyd Domingue (who worked in the Bowen administration, ran unsuccessfully for Lafayette’s clerk of court in 1999 and was the third place finisher in the race for city-parish president in 2003), apparently traded in his wild ways some time ago. Lee, who admitted to flunking out of both UL and LSU, is now a clean-cut, good-looking born-again Christian. He’s also self funded and well spoken. Seriously, how could he lose?

For starters, in what might be compared to the political equivalent of the O.J. Simpson trial, Gov. Bobby Jindal and Baton Rouge Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister seem to have overplayed their political hand. Jindal endorsed Lee Domingue in the District 16 Senate primary against two other Republicans, including his longtime supporter Laurinda Calongne (who is originally from Abbeville). When Calongne failed to make the runoff, she threw her support to political journeyman Dan Claitor over Jindal’s hand-picked candidate Domingue.

For his part, McCollister, also a Domingue supporter, has since engaged and attacked political blogger Pat Bergeron, who is responding in kind with daily carpet bombings of Domingue. Bergeron notes in part that Domingue failed to vote in nine of the last 10 elections — including one for the seat he is now seeking. Bergeron’s site also reports that by the end of this week Domingue will have spent more than $600,000 to secure a job that pays less than $40,000 a year.

Fueling that fire is the front page story by The Advocate (which has no love for media rival McCollister or Jindal) detailing how local philanthropist Paula Pennington (of the Pennington oil family) was allegedly left holding the bag by Domingue on some investments.

Many business people in Baton Rouge see this as a referendum on Jindal’s popularity. The election is this Saturday.

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written by Hit The Bid , March 31, 2009 - 04:22 pm

And the reason for writing this story is? Hot Gossip is good and all, but how about even attempting to look at whether anything mentioned is true...on both, or even all 5 sides alluded to in this piece.

Yawn.

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written by BayouBoy , March 31, 2009 - 05:23 pm

Domingue's problem in this election is Baton Rouge's problem, he's not a native. A friend, Republican operative and Jindal lover told me she and the core Republicans from Baton Rouge cannot turn over this center Baton Rouge district to an "outsider." Even though Domingue has been here for years, he's not been here long enough to represent a district that covers such coveted areas as Southdowns, Jefferson and Jefferson Terrace. Heavens forbid. And, they wonder why Baton Rouge can never become an Austin, Birmingham or Nashville. If you can't accept new people, or, at least people who have been here 20 or 30 years as one of your own, then you'll always be second class. Lafayette might want to look at itself on that issue as well. I love Lafayette and think it quite progressive, but wonder if parochialism might be an Achilles heel for it down the road of progression.

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written by Acadiana Watch , March 31, 2009 - 05:50 pm

Governor Jindal, being a Republican Gov., should have stayed out of this race, which the primary was between 3 Republicans.

Lee Domingue has a questionable past and questionable ethics written all over him. His opponent may not be better, however, more reason why Jindal should have stayed away. Now the Gov., who has turned around and started raising money for Democrats, has put himself in an position to be handed an unnecessary political whipping.

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written by LSU Forever , March 31, 2009 - 11:44 pm

Bayouboy has it correct...This is the old Baton Rouge mafia. We the voters in LA should be embracing successful, innovative business people (even if outsiders or newcomers) to get involved in reforming our state. The Advocate has negatively slanted Domingue / Jindal, etc...15 of 18 articles....sounds like its a referendum on Jindal. I heard today that Domingue's opponent withdrew from all 4 scheduled debates. It's time for the old guard in LA to retire! Same ole people producing same ole results, handicapping the next generation.....According to his website, Domingue was named 2008 BTR Business Person of the Year, coaches middle school football, serves on a bank board and supports admirable causes with his money. He is CEO of a publicly traded company......the site I found is: www.lee4senate.com

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written by politicaljunkie , April 03, 2009 - 03:21 pm

LSU Forever, are you serious? Do you really think anyone is going to believe that you are just some voter on the sidelines without a bias towards Lee?

Here is the bottom line.

Both men are extremely successful. No one can deny that of either one of them. Now if they got that way ethically or not, look into the facts and judge for yourself.

Experience goes to Claitor. Law school is hard enough to get into, so much as finish.

Charisma and public speaking goes to Domingue. Although he does get a little too intense at times. But this is one of Claitor's week points. Sometimes he seems a little nervous or uncomfortable.

And as far as this being a dirty race, neither canidate's hands are clean; both of them have slung some mud. Domingue is very critical and directly attacks Claitor. Some of his stuff is so off the wall, it's funny. Like the mail letter that has some guy in jail. Just because someone is a Lawyer, defense, trial, injury, whatever, it does not mean they are a bad person. On the other hand, Claitor seems arogant and attacks Domingue in a more passive way; but don't be fooled, he also throws the mud. And from what I have read online, Domingue is a very successful businessman. He was the Business Person of the Year; I don't put a whole lot into those awards though, because just like Jindal's endoresment can be bought, so can awards. Anyway, looking at the net worth of Domingue's business is very impressive.

Unfortunatly, I don't think either one of these guys are the answer for Baton Rouge. Domingue will have many favors to pay back to his business buddies, and Claitor has a lot of family and friends. Paying back favors is what politics is all about though.

If this post was biased towards Claitor, I'm sorry. But at the end of the day, I try to be realistic about both canidates, and to be honest, I just don't trust Domingue. It seems like he as been gearing up to be a politician for the last couple of years. Writing a book, endorsing Jindal, Being born again at what I guess is the biggest church in the district, (Not saying he isn't born again). I just had a friend in college who told me that his mom goes to a certain church only because it is so big and she can network there. And with Domingues track record, he seems like the last person who should attack a lawyer; I know he has used many of them in his young life.

It is all interesting stuff, and hopefully there will be no hard feelings after Saturday. Baton Rouge needs to keep our good lawyers and good businessman. Best of luck to both of them.

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