State Sen. Rick Ward III will resign from the Louisiana Legislature after the legislative session ends Monday, one 12 months earlier than time period limits would power him from workplace, he stated in an interview Wednesday.
Ward, R-Port Allen, has been a state senator for 11 years.
He stated he had achieved his main objectives — particularly successful extra money for roads and bridges in Louisiana — and didn’t wish to cross up a superb alternative within the non-public sector.
Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, speaks on a invoice within the Senate chamber Monday, June 7, 2021.
Ward, 39, stated his choice to depart the Senate now means he received’t run for governor subsequent 12 months, a race he had been contemplating however during which he would have been an extended shot. He had been planning to tout his means to ship providers that make life higher for residents on a day-to-day foundation.
Ward didn’t wish to present many particulars on his subsequent transfer however stated he’ll do public relations and lobbying work, partially with Paul Rainwater, a lobbyist in Baton Rouge who beforehand held high positions within the administrations of Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, and Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican.
Rainwater’s background would match effectively with Ward as a result of Ward has taken a nonideological method within the state Senate, prepared to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to seek out compromise options.
“I’ve labored to seek out widespread floor with different legislators on the way to remedy the issue that’s in entrance of us,” Ward stated. “Generally that makes Democrats mad at you, and typically it’s Republicans.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday vetoed Ward’s Senate Invoice 381, which might have allowed payday lenders to expand loans at greater rates of interest. Edwards stated he didn’t consider the invoice “adequately protects the general public from predatory lending practices.”
Ward stated he was attempting to take a scenario “that’s not nice” and make it “higher.”
The information of Ward’s departure was first reported by Jeremy Alford, of Lapolitics.com
Ward discovered politics from his father, Ricky, who served 30 years because the district legal professional of Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes, selecting to not run for reelection in 2020. Tony Clayton succeeded him and likewise practices regulation with Rick Ward. Ward stated they’d proceed to take action.
Throughout his Senate tenure, Ward has been a behind-the-scenes energy due to his means to work effectively with others and transfer the items on the political chessboard. Whether or not he would have the abilities to current a compelling message to voters statewide was an open query.
Ward stated he hasn’t dominated out working for one more workplace someday.
Within the meantime, he stated he’s proudest of serving to win passage of laws in 2019 that’s taking $50 million per 12 months for 13 years — the cash is from a post-oil spill settlement with BP — and directing it to new roads and bridges.
A portion of that cash will create the La. 415 connector, a 3-mile flyover between Interstate 10 and La. 1 in West Baton Rouge Parish. Development on the $125 million venture, which has been on the drafting board for practically 50 years, will start subsequent 12 months.
Ward pushed the laws with state Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma.
“He’s genuinely an excellent good man,” Magee stated. That makes Ward stand out, Magee added, as a result of “you meet lots of pretend good individuals on this world.”
In 2021, Ward and Magee labored collectively once more to win legislative approval to redirect $300 million per 12 months from a car gross sales tax from the state normal fund to transportation tasks.
That can present a gradual supply of funding for the brand new Interstate 10 bridge over the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles, a brand new bridge over the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, the extension of Interstate 49 south of Lafayette and different tasks all through the state.
“About 4 years in the past, I set some objectives to try to see some issues change in infrastructure,” Ward stated.
Ward stated he expects Senate President Web page Cortez, R-Lafayette, will name for a particular election this fall to interchange him.