Petrelis Files

Shaw Group CEO Resigns as La. Dem Party Chairman

Liberal New York Times columnist Frank Rich in his column this Sunday calls on the Democratic Party to follow this bit of advice:

"It's up to Democrats, though they show scant signs of realizing it, to step into the vacuum and propose an alternative to a fiscally disastrous conservatism that prizes pork over compassion."

Let's not expect the Louisiana Democratic Party to fill that vacuum any time soon. Rich's colleague Joyce Purnick, in Saturday's edition of the Times, seems to have been one of a handful of reporters to note this curious development last week:

"Two contracts, for example, were awarded to the Shaw Group Inc. here in Baton Rouge, which is headed by J. M. Bernhard Jr., a close adviser to Ms. Blanco and chairman of Louisiana's Democratic Party - until Friday, that is. He abruptly stepped down, saying he had to focus on his company, which is very busy these post-hurricane days. Shaw Group is also a client of Joe M. Allbaugh, a close friend of President Bush and his first FEMA director, now running his own consulting firm."

News to me that the Shaw Group head was such a high-ranking Democrat for the Louisiana party. Until a couple of days ago, he had no ethical qualms about keeping his party post, and raking in millions of recovery dollars from the federal government for post-Katrina mopping up bucks and acres of muck.

The Baton Rogue Advocate on Saturday ran a detailed article on Bernhard's resignation with much more background:

"In a resignation letter, Bernhard said The Shaw Group Inc. has been working 'around the clock' to assist with the clean-up and rescue efforts in New Orleans and surrounding Gulf Coast area [...]

"'I do not believe I can fairly divide my energies between the party and my relief and recovery efforts and totally fulfill the obligations of both important jobs to my satisfaction, or yours,' wrote Bernhard, Shaw's CEO.

"Bernhard did not return phone calls seeking comment on his resignation letter that was released by the Democratic Party."

And Bernhard's resignation letter is not posted on the state party's site.

One thing not addressed by the Advocate is why it took three weeks after Katrina struck for Bernhard to leave his Democratic leadership position.

There's a fascinating contrast in what the Louisiana Democratic Party's and Shaw's sites say about Bernhard. The party touts his business acumen and job at Shaw, while two messages from Bernhard on the Shaw site don't once reference his Democratic affiliation.

Want to read what was written about Bernhard earlier this year when he took the reins of the Louisiana Democratic Party and his political plans?

This is a good place to start: Best of New Orleans.