New Louisiana Governor Faces Drive for Recall

Democrat Edwin W. Edwards, who defeated former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in a Louisiana governor’s race that gained nationwide attention last November, was sworn into office Monday even as efforts continued to launch a recall campaign against him.

“If this recall effort were moving any quicker, I’d have to give up my practice in town,” said the campaign’s chief organizer, Baton Rouge lawyer Ted Schirmer.

Schirmer said the recall effort has set up 40 chapters throughout Louisiana and that the bid to seek Edwards’ ouster will be officially registered with state officials within the next few months. At that time, the recall campaign will need to gather the signatures of one-third of Louisiana’s registered voters--about 750,000--within 180 days to qualify for the ballot.

The recall movement grew out of the complaints many Louisianians expressed during the gubernatorial campaign over their choice of Edwards--a former three-time governor who was twice indicted and acquitted on racketeering charges--and Duke, who ran as a Republican.

Although Edwards beat Duke by a decisive 61%-39% margin, Schirmer said the outcome did not represent a mandate for the victor. “A lot of people voted for Edwards because he wasn’t Duke. But they hated the idea of voting for ‘Fast Eddie,’ and if they had a chance they’d love to get rid of him, too.”

But some state political observers are skeptical about the recall’s chances. “There certainly was a lot of talk about recalling whoever won just two months ago,” said Ed Renwick, the director of the Institute of Politics at New Orleans Loyola University. “But now I’m not so sure. I think people are glad to have this election behind them, and that they genuinely want to give Edwards a chance, despite their misgivings about him.”

Edwards, in his inaugural speech to about 5,000 persons at the Baton Rouge civic center, pledged to lay to rest lingering questions about his integrity. “I have . . . the commitment and absolute belief that I can and will provide you an administration of honor and trust, courage and fidelity . . . of which you will always be proud.”