Ashley Casey seeks to bring independent voice to Congress

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By Jonathan Specht

Ashley Casey of Baton Rouge is running as an Independent to represent Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District, which includes Baton Rouge and the surrounding area, in Congress. On May 3, a special election will be held for the seat, in which Casey will face Republican Woody Jenkins, Democrat Don Cazayoux and two other independent candidates, Randall T. Hayes and Peter Aranyosi.

Casey says that while she knows that independent candidates have an uphill battle in winning elections, “We’re actually running more even than it seems.”

“It helps that I’m running my own campaign,” said Casey. “My message literally comes straight from my own heart.”

Although not originally a Baton Rouge native, Casey moved to the city in 1995 after graduating from Columbia University to work as Press Secretary for Governor Roemer; she fell in love with Baton Rouge and LSU football.

“I was supposed to go work on a campaign in New Hampshire, but I didn’t want to leave Baton Rouge,” said Casey. “I decided to settle down here, and I’ve loved the city and LSU ever since.”

“I met my husband at an LSU baseball game, and LSU football is one of the most magical parts of my life,” said Casey. “I always sit in the stands and cheer. Even if I’m elected to Congress, you won’t see me in the suites. I’ll still be cheering on the Tigers from the stands.”

Casey said that her highest priority as a member of Congress would be reforming the influence of money in politics.

“I believe our political system is broken. Money drives the system, and the parties have corrupted the process,” said Casey. “I worked with John Georges’ run for governor as an independent, and I was very captivated by the independent movement.”

Casey also said that she was inspired to a life of public service by the example of her father and brother, who were physicians, and by the memory of her great-great-great grandfather Elihu Washburne, who was known as “the watchdog of the Treasury” in Congress in the 1800s.

Casey said that her top local issue would be working to get an interstate loop built around the city.

“We’re one of the few cities of our size with an interstate running right through it,” said Casey. “Our main street is a national main street, which isn’t good for the safety of our citizens.”

Casey said that another important priority for her was reducing the cost of higher education.

“While LSU undergraduates have TOPS, graduate school can get very expensive,” said Casey. “We need to get the cost of college under control.”

Casey is also no stranger to Tiger Weekly; another part of her Baton Rouge biography was serving as this paper’s editor in 2002.

Send your comments to editor@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 605 - April 23, 2008

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