Governor Kathleen Blanco was the leader of the state of Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She worked to hold the state together when things were so up in the air and so many people dying. I remember hearing the criticism of her during that time, but with 14 years of perspective, it’s very apparent that she was in a hard, almost no-win situation that took a great toll on her. While she was almost assured of re-election, she stepped aside when her term was up due to the pressure of the aftermath of the Hurricane.
If you have read Marcus’s Vampire, you remember the scene when Marcus Lancaster is trying to get down to New Orleans to find Lilly. The state and federal officials had declared a state of emergency and put the area under marshal law to try to get resources and rescuers into the area. Marcus has Castro, then later Jesse call the governor’s office to tell her of a generous offer. After some serious drama, he finally gets through to Governor Blanco and schmoozes her into letting Lancaster Industries provide “…free of charge, the kitchens, medical, and such for the city for a period of 4 weeks.” And, without permission, Marcus packs up and heads out, only to get that permission while on the way to the drown city.
Former Governor Blanco has been shattering “glass ceilings” throughout her political life. She became the first female state legislator from the city of Lafayette in 1983. In mid-2018, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette established a public policy center in her name that included her gubernatorial papers. Just over two short months ago, June 5, 2019, Gov. Blanco was chosen to receive the Joe Gamelli “Fleur de Lis” award for her vast contributions to the New Orleans Saints organization. She served five years in the Louisana House of Representatives. In 1988 she became the first woman in Lousiana elected to the Louisiana Public Service Commission. After serving seven years there, she was elected for two terms, 8 years, as Lieutenant Governor.
Kathleen Blanco was elected as Governor of Louisiana on November 15, 2003 by, a margin of 52 to 48 percent. On January 12, 2004, she took the oath of office in both English and French languages.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond “Coach” Blanco, mother Lucille Babineaux, who lives in New Iberia; five children: Karmen, Nicole, Monique, Pilar, and Ray; as well as 13 grandchildren.
There will be an inner-faith service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge Thursday morning. Afterward, her body will be taken to the Capitol where it will lie in state for public viewing. There will be a public visitation in Lafayette on Friday, and her funeral Mass will be on Saturday in Lafayette. The burial will be private.
While I didn’t know her, I admired her tenacity and the work she did to provide for the people of the State of Louisiana under really hard and tragic circumstances.
Rest in peace.
References:
https://tinyurl.com/y63ewmeu The Advocate—Baton Rouge Louisiana: Kathleen Blanco, A Trailblazing Louisiana Governor, Dies After Long Cancer Battle by Tyler Bridges/Staff Writer. Published August 18, 2019.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Blanco Wikipedia article: Kathleen Blanco; accessed 18 August 2019