Dodging the Falling Political Dominoes

Almost lost in the excitement over last weekend’s Super Bowl victory of the New Orleans Saints was the other big news story from New Orleans, the election of Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu as Mayor of New Orleans. That event opens up much political discussion, but that’s not what this blog is all about. I do want to discuss the possible impact that election may have locally on our underappreciated gem, the Germantown Colony Museum.

In May, when Landrieu assumes his new office, several things will take place (in fact one key development will already be underfoot by then). By law a few things must occur. Gov. Jindal will appoint a temporary successor to serve until a special election can be called to fill the vacancy. Since the next election of the normal cycle to choose a Lieutenant Governor doesn’t is not scheduled until the Fall of 2011, the Louisiana Constitution requires a special election because more than a year remains in Landrieu’s unexpired term. That means we will be voting on a “one-year” Lieutenant Governor this Fall. Governor Jindal has stated that he will only appoint someone to fill the interim position who will not run for the job in the Fall. In addition, Gov. Jindal has indicated he wants to seek passage of a Constitutional Amendment to abolish the job of Lieutenant Governor. He hopes to have that amendment passed by the Louisiana Legislature in the session beginning March 29 and see it placed on the same ballot as the race for the interim Lt. Gov in the Fall.

All of these factors have made this a very complex political situation. Sitting politicians hoping to climb the ladder must evaluate their options. What value is there to vacating your current office to run for Lt. Gov. and waking up on the morning after the election to find you have been made a lame-duck if the people agree to abolish the office you just won? Before that is the question of if such an amendment will gain passage in the Louisiana Legislature. All of those things bear watching, if you are a supporter of the Germantown Colony Museum as they develop over the next few months.

Currently in Louisiana we are operating two museum systems. The oldest, the Louisiana State Museum System is under the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism which at present operates under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Gov. Jindal has proposed that the responsibilities in the area of Culture Recreation and Tourism be divided between other existing agencies if his plan to abolish the job is approved. The second museum system operating in Louisiana has been created by Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, appropriately named the Secretary of State Museum Division. Secretary Dardenne has particularly focused on small museums in North Louisiana. The Eddie Robinson Museum opening today in Grambling is part of the system and, since 2008, the Germantown Colony Museum has been part of that system.

Since the office of the Secretary of State will rise to 2nd in command under Gov. Jindal’s plan to abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor, it would seem that the Secretary of State’s Museum system would be on solid ground. However, the wild card is the political future of Secretary Dardenne. The system of museums including Germantown is largely a creation of his vision and hard work. Dardenne is considered among the leading candidates to run for Lieutenant Governor IF that office is not abolished by Constitutional Amendment. That is where the questions for Germantown emerge.

If Dardenne runs and wins the Lieutenant Governor’s office, will he not seek to bring those museums who are largely his “baby” under control of his new office? If he runs for the office and loses, will the new Lieutenant Governor seek to remove the Secretary of State’s Museum system from that office and bring it under his control? That could possibly lead to a nightmare scenario for Germantown, as it is possible that in this time of budget cutting a new Lt. Gov. and a new Secretary of State might find Dardenne’s museums as simply a holdover problem created by a now unemployed office holder, Dardenne. It seems possible that new office holders might renege on the funding promises that have been given to Germantown and perhaps, return the museum to local control, where the lack of funding has limited the museum for so long.

Probably the safest bet for our museum would be the abolition of the office of Lieutenant Governor and for Secretary Dardenne to remain in his present position as Secretary of State. I can actually see the Louisiana State Museum falling under Dardenne’s office, ending the present situation where the two systems compete in many ways and securing a place for Dardenne’s “own” system, including Germantown.

In short, as a political junkie I would be watching these developments closely. But, as a local historian and a long-time member of the Germantown Colony Museum Commission, I know I have a vested interest in how this little political drama unfolds, and if you are a supporter of local history, you too have a “horse in this race.”