re: Industry cries foul as river pilots use their clout

Must be lotsa lobbying fattening up those "independent" board members.

On a related note, I see Heitmeier has come full circle. As a legislator he received beaucoup bucks from boat pilots.

Then his son is miraculously selected to be a captain (along with Alario's kid).

Now the son's boat group pays Heitmeier to lobby on behalf of the pilots.

LA - the gift keeps on giving!

quote:

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Kevin Alario and Cory Heitmeier were relatively young and inexperienced, but those disadvantages were outweighed by their potential to add to the group's political clout in Baton Rouge, according to some of the pilots, who elect their own apprentices.

Alario is the son of state Rep. John Alario, D-Westwego, former speaker of the House, and Heitmeier is the son of state Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-Algiers, a floor leader for Gov. Foster and chairman of a committee that handles pilot bills.

NOBRA President Joe Clayton said both Alario and Heitmeier "were our friends for many years, and for the most part they agreed with us." He said the legislators' influence in Baton Rouge definitely played a role in the election of their sons to the association, but he said their fathers didn't do any unusual lobbying.

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November 2001 article