EWE coy about reports he's looking at Congress race

Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards isn’t saying “yes” or “no” about a report that he’s thinking about running for Congress.
Edwards, a colorful Democrat who served about a decade in federal prison for racketeering, said he didn’t “have any comment at this time” about a report in The Hayride, a conservative website, that he’s mulling a bid for the Louisiana 6th Congressional District seat.
But Edwards, who previously served in Congress from 1965 to 1972, said he’s heard “a lot of encouragement” from people who want him to seek political office again. The congressional seat is currently held by GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Raymond Laborde, Edward’s former Commissioner of Administration, felt Edwards would have a chance to win the race, which is in the Houma area of state.
“I think he could win it, but I haven’t talked to him since I saw it in the paper,” Laborde said on Monday. “I don’t know how serious he is, but the district sets up well for him.”
Convicted felons can serve in Congress. But under Louisiana’s constitution, Edwards can’t run for statewide office unless he’s been pardoned by the governor or 15 years have passed since since his prison term ended. (He was paroled in February 2013.)
“My opinion is that he will not run but instead enjoy his last years on earth without the worries of running for a federal office,” Avoyelles District Attorney Charles Riddle said on Monday. “The story or rumor of him considering a run didn’t surprise me.”
Riddle also said he agrees with current laws on felons running for public office.
“I agree with the way the law is written,” he said. “A person can run for federal office but cannot run for a state office until 15 years after his conviction.”
A reality TV show featuring Edwards, a Marksville native, and his third wife, Trina, recently ended its run on A&E after three weeks. The show featured Edwards and his wife, who is 50 years younger, and their baby son, Eli. Trina, an Alexandria native, was Edwards’ pen pal while he was in prison.