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March 22, 2011

Former governor Blanco speaks at 四色AV March 28

The University of Louisiana at Monroe Diversity Committee will host former Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana鈥檚 first female governor, as the featured speaker for Women鈥檚 History Month at 四色AV.

Blanco will give her talk at 7 p.m., Monday, March 28, at the 四色AV Conference Center, located on the seventh floor of the 四色AV Library.

The talk is free and open to the public.

鈥淕overnor Blanco is a perfect choice to help us celebrate Women's History Month at our university,鈥� said Vice President for Student Affairs Wayne Brumfield.

鈥淪he was elected to four different offices during her 24 trailblazing years in public service. Her name was on the ballot nine times in tough races and runoffs, and she has never been defeated. We are very pleased to host her this month.鈥�

In 2003, Louisianans elected Blanco governor over 19 men, many of them prominent political figures.

Blanco served as governor in the weeks and months following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and she convinced the federal government to secure over $29 billion for the state to make levee improvements, provide housing grants and rebuild public infrastructure.

Blanco鈥檚 other 鈥渇irsts鈥� include being the first woman from Lafayette elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1983 and again in 1987.

She was also the first woman in Louisiana elected to the Public Service Commission, where she was named chairman, and was re-elected for a second term with no opposition.

Twice elected as lieutenant governor, she built the state鈥檚 tourism business into a nine billion dollar industry. Through the Main Street Program she worked to revitalize small towns across the state.

Blanco prioritized education during her tenure as governor, which included funding teacher pay and higher education at the Southern Regional average for the first time in 25 years.

She was nationally recognized for her economic development accomplishments, and left a balanced budget and a $2 billion surplus by the end of her term as governor.

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