Who Wants To Be Secretary Of State?

Next to governor, the office of secretary of state these days attracts more headlines and headaches than any job in state government. With the position wide open for the taking in a special election this fall and with term-limited legislators looking for future work, one would expect the line to be forming to be the next keeper of the seal. It is not.

The closer we draw to the election, the field grows emptier, raising the question: Why aren't more people running? Here's a better one: Why should anyone?

In tapping his friend Al Ater as first assistant, the dying Fox McKeithen appeared to be setting up a permanent line of succession. Ater took charge, overseeing a contentious $47 million voting machine contract selection and the reconstruction of hurricane-wrecked election systems in multiple parishes. That was enough, as he announced late last year he would not run for the job he was holding.

His decision cleared the way for the office to return to the McKeithen family, with Fox's daughter Marjorie letting it be known that she intended to run. But the combination of her family ordeal, health concerns and other personal losses made her rethink her ambition.

“I want to run,” she told this columnist, “but I have to decide if I have the get-up-and-go to do it.” When one has to ask that question, the answer is usually apparent, which she gave last week in a statement: “This is not the time for me to seek public office.”

Earlier, state Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-Algiers, said to be eyeing the secretary of state's office in advance of his own term limits, decided this would not be his year. So too for outgoing Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower, who appears to prefer to go back to his old job of selling cars than to run for the open office.

On the Republican side, state Sen. Mike Michot of Lafayette was talking up his prospects for the race last year but then pulled down last week.

Rising against the tide of disinterest is the former chairman of the state Republican party, Crowley businessman Mike Francis, who says he plans to announce for the office next month. His drilling fluids business has been so good that he has told supporters he would ante up substantially for his campaign war chest.

He might have no other choice because secretary of state is about the hardest statewide office to raise money for, given the lack of special interests interested in it. There are voting machine vendors, but that contract has been chosen. What's left? Paper suppliers?

At least one Democrat is somewhat interested in the job; State Sen. Sharon Broome of Baton Rouge, who, as an African-American, believes she will need less money to rally votes. Yet she is still uncommitted.

The tepid response of the political marketplace should be telling us something. If not, Ater is. He will ask the Legislature this spring to turn the job into an appointed one.

He recognizes the chances of getting two-thirds of legislators, half of whom are term-limited, to eliminate an elected office are close to nil. But he's still right. “I could make a better argument to elect the secretary of Health and Hospitals than this,” he stated. “Everything we do is prescribed by law.”

The notion that allowing the governor to appoint the secretary of state makes it just as partisan and political is incorrect. There is a huge difference between being appointed to a fixed term of a constitutional office than to being appointed to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

Ater has been subjected to charges of partisanship and political dealing himself in trying to reschedule elections in New Orleans. His critics seem to miss the point that he must satisfy a higher power than local voters or state legislators, that is, the U.S. Justice Department, which can be very picky about consolidating polling places and keeping displaced voters enfranchised.

Whoever succeeds Ater will inherit a demanding and largely thankless job that costs over $1 million to win, pays only $85,000 and, historically, takes its holder nowhere. It's a wonder there's a line for it at all.

I Love Movies. All Kinds Of Movies

When I was a kid, I’d go to the movie almost every night. It was the same movie; there was no Multiplex in Bolivar, Tennessee in the 1950’s. So I would frequently see the same thing over and over again; didn’t matter. The point was to be there, even if I was the only one, and I often was. It cost 50 cents for a movie, popcorn, and drink, and as the only child left at home with my aging parents was the cheapest babysitter around.

It was (and still is) called the Luez Theatre, run in those days by a spinster lady named Louise Mask whom we called “Miss Louise.” There were a million stories about her. She had a slight accent we country kids identified as British, but which was probably just finishing-school refined; anybody who pronounced “fire” with an “I” instead of an “AH” had to be from England. So we spun some tales; Miss Louise had escaped from an English slave ship, which explained the “x” mark on her cheek (probably wrinkles; she was well into her eighties when I graduated from high school). And Lord above, did she hate talking in the movie! Whenever it moved beyond a low rumble, she’d stop the picture, turn on the house lights, and trudge down to the front.

“When the talking starts,” she said, “the show’s going to stop.” Certain she had shushed the farmer’s children who spent their quarters in her care, she then turned upwards to the projectionist, our town electrician, and with an equally upturned word (“Bob?”) started the show again.

I had my first date in the Luez Theatre (Linda Roberts, aged 12; she wore stockings; I know that, because I put my hand on her knee in the dark). Before that, it was the place my parents allowed me to grow up a little, letting me walk the four blocks on Saturday afternoon from their office to the “show” to see cowboy serials and hokey science fiction flicks. Both my brothers worked there. It was even a community center of sorts; I well remember going to the Luez to suck down a sugar cube with the Sabin vaccine against polio, distributed there by the local health unit. It even served as our Methodist church for a year while we were rebuilding.

I have to wonder if the Luez Theatre is going to show “Brokeback Mountain,” the western-themed movie whose central male characters have a romantic relationship – with each other (it starts here Friday at the Mall). Miss Louise is long gone, of course, but if she were here I know that movie wouldn’t get within 30 miles of Bolivar.

I haven’t read the Annie Proulx story on which the film is loosely based, in a script good enough to beat out our local star Tony Kushner for the Golden Globe screenplay award. In fact, everything I know about it is summed up in brief reviews from bigger towns and listening to the haunting soundtrack. If you haven’t heard Emmylou sing the Globe-winning song “A Love That Will Never Grow Old,” get it. Now.

Even without direct knowledge, though, I know this movie is going to shiver some timbers. Casual conversation with several men (straight ones; I have friends who aren’t, too, but haven’t talked to them yet about this) reveals a sad willingness to pull away from anything which demonstrates “gay love,” whether from real or feigned revulsion or some deeper emotion. For me, I feel no threat at age 55 to ditch my wife and run off with Garth from Queer Eye (but I do love his hair as only a bald man can), nor is this particular installment Hollywood’s way of “attacking the culture.” Hey, lighten up, Lawrence. It’s just a movie. A love story, by all accounts.

We are in a culture that uses glib phrases, often tossed around by pseudo-rabid right-wing Irishmen, to deal with important issues. Using the current example, it’s far easier to dismiss Brokeback Mountain as a “gay” movie than to answer the larger questions about finding a reasonable place for everyone in the mainstream of social life, or to point out the hurt and anger that results from deception; easier still to argue the movie is part of a larger liberal attempt to open the culture for radical social change (so-called “gay marriage”) than to deal in a personal way with individual anger at people for being different.

I plan to see this movie and to buy the soundtrack. That’s not a political statement; just an entertainment choice. I sure wish Miss Louise were around to shush all the chronic talkers and cell phone users while I’m there.

Before I leave you, I’ve got to pass on a great compliment received from old friend Allen Singletary the other day. “Jim, when I read your column, it’s just like getting a big ol’ bear hug,” he told me. Allen, thanks; that encouraging word helped me get off my butt and write this.

And as a Blue State voter in a Red State world, here’s a little thought pearl for you to consider, one you won’t hear on Fox News. Since September 11, 2001, 108 detainees have died in American custody. During the 14 years American P.O.W.’s were in the hands of the North Vietnamese, a total of 114 deaths happened in enemy prisons. Something to think about.

See all you guys on the flip.

Dr. McCrory Creates Beautiful Smiles
By Kelly Roberts Duff

My daughter, Toni, has always had a quirky sense of humor. When she was only six years old, she played a terrible trick on her brother. After leaving a tooth under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy to make a deposit, she woke up early the next morning before everyone else. Knowing Matt had just received a fifty-dollar bill for his birthday, she crept into his room, took President Grant from his bright red crayon bank, and stuffed it under her pillow along with the Tooth Fairy’s paltry change. As is customary in our house, we went into her room the next morning to wake her and celebrate her spoils. Totally straight-faced, she reached under her pillow and pulled out the fifty and two singles. Mike thought I had lost my mind, I thought Matt had lost his, and Matt thought the Tooth Fairy was a dirty rotten thief. Toni let us ponder the situation for a minute before she began laughing her head off. Of course, Mike and I thought it was hysterical. Matt, however, did not.

Our teeth play a major role in our lives. When we are young, we cannot wait to loose them, and when we are old we pray that we can keep them. Yet when thinking about healthcare, many people tend to overlook the importance of routine dental checkups. Some people, especially those without insurance, may consider the recommended twice-a-year visit to the dentist a luxury rather than a necessity. However, recent studies have shown that good oral hygiene combined with regular visits to a dentist can not only improve your looks, but can also save your life. Sure it can be painful, but who ever heard of someone dying from a toothache? Believe it or not, dental infections left untreated can have disastrous results. Severe infections can close off air passages, travel to the heart or brain, or even kill people.

How can something so seemingly minor be so dangerous? Bacteria, which can be found in every mouth, is a major cause of tooth decay and gum disease, and when not properly cleaned it can accumulate to dangerous levels. While the immune system does fight to keep the oral bacteria from spreading throughout the body, it is not always successful in doing so. Recent studies have shown that when these bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia, and premature birth. Studies also show that people with severe gum disease are twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to die from a stroke. So if bacteria are in every mouth, how can this detrimental damage to our bodies be avoided? Simply by brushing, flossing, and visiting a dentist.

I recently spoke with E. Suzanne McCrory, DDS to find out what was new in the world of dentistry and how the war on cavities was coming along. Dr. McCrory is a local gal born and raised in Sulphur, Louisiana where she played high school basketball and was class valedictorian for Sulphur High. Graduating from McNeese State University with a 4.0 GPA, she had plans to attend Emory University on the prestigious Woodruff Scholarship. When Emory’s School of Dentistry closed unexpectedly, Suzanne never panicked but relied on her faith to lead the way into her future. The scholarship committee at Emory was so impressed with Suzanne that they decided to honor her Woodruff Scholarship and send her to the university of her choice. She did not have to think twice before choosing Baylor University. It had always been her dream to go to Baylor, and she has no doubts that divine intervention is responsible for making her dreams a reality.

After graduating from dental school, Dr. McCrory knew right away that she wanted to set up practice in her hometown of Sulphur and that she wanted her mom, Eva McCrory, to manage her office. After leasing a space for many years, she was able to build a beautiful new office building at 3107 Maplewood Drive. It is cheerfully decorated with an ocean theme throughout, except for her own personal office, which is swimming in M&M memorabilia. She also has a staff of hard working ladies who not only care about her clients, but they absolutely think the world of the doc. Jocelyn Raimer takes care of the appointments and stays busy shuffling schedules around cancellations and emergencies, while Lois Nicklas handles the insurance claims for their clients. Additionally, Dr. McCrory has two hygienists in the office, Lynne Reid and Joelle Darby, and two dental/hygienist assistants, Mandy Klingonsmith and Fonda Shoemaker. I have to admit, I do not have any particular phobias when it comes to the dentist, but I know that there are people who have had some really bad dental experiences that keep them from making that all important appointment. I can assure you from personal experience that the crew at Dr. McCrory’s office has a way of making you feel at ease and very relaxed. I actually look forward to my visits with Lynne, who never gets impatient with me when I try to carry on a conversation while she is working hard to remove six months of bad habits.

While the majority of her practice is focused on functional dental care, she has seen an increased demand for cosmetic dental care as well. There are so many things available now to create that perfect smile including more durable white fillings that have replaced the standard gray issue and whitening processes to remove stubborn stains from the surface of the teeth. As for the bleaching kits that you can purchase at any local drugstore, Dr. McCrory said they do work up to a point. One drawback to using the kit as opposed to having your dentist perform the treatment is that the chemicals in the kit are not as concentrated as the chemicals used by your dentist, therefore the results from the store will not be as dramatic as the results in the office. With so many fluoride products on the market to fight tooth decay, I wondered if we were close to eliminating cavities altogether. Although fluoride is probably the number one tool in fighting cavities, she assured me that with so much refined sugar in our diets we may never completely eradicate the need for the ole drill and fill procedure.

When I left, Dr. McCrory gave me samples of gum made by Carefree that contained the ingredient Xylitol. It has been discovered that this ingredient actually kills the bacteria that causes tooth decay. With ease she explained scientifically how the molecular construction of Xylitol inhibits the life cycle of the bacteria. Or at least I think that was how it went. Science was never my strong suit. I may not have been able to make heads or tails of all that scientific jargon, but I do know this. Judging from our conversation, Dr. Suzanne McCrory is an incredibly competent, conscientious dentist who cares very deeply about her clients and their well-being.