Bob Odom Kicks Off Campaign for Re-election
July 13, 2007
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom
kicked off his campaign for re-election last night
in Baton Rouge.
“I am here tonight to put all the rumors to rest. I
will not turn my back on the farmers, forest
landowners and good people of this state – I am
running for re-election as your Commissioner of
Agriculture & Forestry,” Odom told the crowd of
close to a thousand supporters gathered at the Old
State Capitol.
His announcement came during a fundraiser that
netted more than $300,000 for his campaign fund.
“Although some other candidates would have you
believe agriculture and forestry are on the way out
in Louisiana, I say with great confidence and pride
that agriculture and forestry are alive and well in
our state. Unlike the others, I am not running for
re-election to essentially shut down the Department
of Agriculture and Forestry or to eliminate crucial
programs Louisiana citizens rely on for safe and
abundant food and fiber.”
Odom said farmers, ranchers and forest landowners
face challenges as agriculture and forestry changes
across the United States but together the industry
and Odom’s department are focused in their efforts
to overcome these issues by maintaining and
initiating programs using the latest research and
technology available to the farm and forest
industries.
Top priorities for Odom’s next term in office will
be working at the national level to pass a Farm Bill
that keeps farmers in business and provides
consumers with the safest, least expensive food and
fiber in the world; helping the agricultural and
forest industries continue to diversify into energy
and fuel production; and protecting Louisiana
consumers from imported food products that don’t
meet required safety standards.
Odom said he is proud of the accomplishments of the
Department of Agriculture and Forestry under his
leadership and vows to keep the department working
for the people of Louisiana.
“I have the hardest-working employees in all of
state government and they truly care about Louisiana
agriculture and forestry,” Odom said. “During my
tenure we have essentially wiped out the boll weevil
in cotton fields; upgraded our forest fire detection
and suppression equipment; cross-trained
investigators to solve timber theft, wildfire arson,
cattle theft and agriculture equipment theft;
routinely checked fuel pumps at gas stations to
ensure accuracy for consumers; established a testing
requirement for certain seafood imports to make sure
they are safe to eat; and established one of the
first online pesticides registration sites in the
nation.”
Odom said these accomplishments are keys to the
ongoing vitality of agriculture and forestry in
Louisiana.
“Agriculture and forestry remains the backbone of
our economy and foundation of our culture, infusing
more than $23 billion into the state’s economy
annually,” Odom said. “These industries and the
consumers of Louisiana should be represented by an
Agriculture & Forestry Commissioner who comprehends
their importance, not by someone seeking office for
their own political gain.
“I am running for re-election because I know
Louisiana agriculture and forestry. I understand
where we came from and where we are going and I am
dedicated to finding solutions that will keep
Louisiana’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners
prosperous.”
This afternoon Odom will launch a redesigned version
of his campaign Web site,
www.BobOdom.com.
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