Changes

LSUA honored Scott in 2003 with its "Distinguished Service Award," the highest honor the university bestows on members of the Central Louisiana community. Scott was the eighth recipient of the honor, which recognizes his active participation in efforts to promote the advancement and support of the institution; recognition as a leader throughout the community, with an interest in the quality of education provided by LSUA; an exemplary record of service to higher education and to the community at large; and contributions of time, talents and/or financial resources to benefit the university.

LSUA honored Scott in 2003 with its "Distinguished Service Award," the highest honor the university bestows on members of the Central Louisiana community. Scott was the eighth recipient of the honor, which recognizes his active participation in efforts to promote the advancement and support of the institution; recognition as a leader throughout the community, with an interest in the quality of education provided by LSUA; an exemplary record of service to higher education and to the community at large; and contributions of time, talents and/or financial resources to benefit the university.

==Losing to Rodney Alexander, 2004==

==Losing to Rodney Alexander, 2004==

In 2004, seventeen years after his last campaign, Scott announced that he would launch a Republican challenge to incumbent Democratic Congressman Rodney Alexander. Alexander had been a narrow winner  - 974 votes out of 172,462 votes cast  - in 2002 over the young businessman Dewey Lee Fletcher of Monroe. National Republican leaders at first agreed to support Scott.

In 2004, seventeen years after his last campaign, Scott announced that he would launch a Republican challenge to incumbent Democratic Representative Rodney Alexander, who had been a narrow winner  - 974 votes out of 172,462 votes cast  - in 2002 over the young businessman [[Lee Fletcher]] of Monroe. National Republican leaders at first agreed to support Scott.

 

Then, minutes before the filing deadline, and after he had already filed for reelection as a Democrat, Alexander switched parties. His action left the Democrats without a credible candidate in the race and undercut Scott's chances as well.[16] Alexander in particular angered the state's two powerful Democratic U.S. senators, John Breaux (who had announced his retirement) and Mary Landrieu (reelected to a second and third terms in 2002 and 2008), because they had worked for Alexander in his race against Lee Fletcher. Many Louisiana Democrats called Alexander "cowardly" for his last-minute party switch.[17]

Then, minutes before the filing deadline, and after he had already filed for reelection as a Democrat, Alexander switched parties. His action left the Democrats without a credible candidate in the race and undercut Scott's chances as well.[16] Alexander in particular angered the state's two powerful Democratic U.S. senators, John Breaux (who had announced his retirement) and Mary Landrieu (reelected to a second and third terms in 2002 and 2008), because they had worked for Alexander in his race against Lee Fletcher. Many Louisiana Democrats called Alexander "cowardly" for his last-minute party switch.[17]

Scott remained in the race as an unendorsed Republican, but GOP leaders, including then Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, coalesced quickly behind Alexander. The National Republican Congressional Committee demanded that Scott leave the race. Party leaders even denied him the right to speak at campaign events. He could not raise enough funds to counter Alexander's advantage of incumbency.[18]

 

Scott remained in the race as an unendorsed Republican, but GOP leaders, including then Speaker Dennis Hastert of [[Illinois]], coalesced quickly behind Alexander. The National Republican Congressional Committee demanded that Scott leave the race. Party leaders even denied him the right to speak at campaign events. Nor could he raise enough funds to counter Alexander's advantage of incumbency.[18]

 

Scott said that the national leadership had "gone to elected officials who had endorsed me and gotten them to change their minds." Still, Scott said he was not unhappy with his party but could not appreciate the way they handled his race. "Sometimes even good organizations make faux pas. They're using their time, their talent, their money in a way that could be better used in a district where Republicans and Democrats are opposing each other... . I would assume that they have bigger fish to fry than little 'ol Jock Scott," he said.[19]

Scott said that the national leadership had "gone to elected officials who had endorsed me and gotten them to change their minds." Still, Scott said he was not unhappy with his party but could not appreciate the way they handled his race. "Sometimes even good organizations make faux pas. They're using their time, their talent, their money in a way that could be better used in a district where Republicans and Democrats are opposing each other... . I would assume that they have bigger fish to fry than little 'ol Jock Scott," he said.[19]

Scott proposed that the north-south Interstate 49, which links Shreveport with Lafayette through Alexandria be completed, as originally planned, so that there would be a northeastern link as well from Monroe to Alexandria - now U.S. Highway 165. He vowed if elected to work for such highway funding.

 

Scott's hometown newspaper, the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, which in the 1960s and 1970s, under then managing editor Adras LaBorde (1912–1993) had pointedly refused to endorse candidates, editorially supported Scott's congressional bid. According to ''The Town Talk,'' Scott "offers relevant experience, deep knowledge of the issues and high energy. The Fifth Congressional District needs all of that. The district needs a representative who can leverage the significant economic development happening in and around Alexandria and Pineville while providing new thinking to help jump-start its lagging areas.

Scott proposed that the north-south Interstate 49, which links Shreveport with [[Lafayette]] through Alexandria be completed, as originally planned, so that there would be a northeastern link as well from Monroe to Alexandria, U.S. Highway 165. He vowed if elected to work for such highway funding.

"Scott's ambitious proposal to build an interstate highway from Alexandria to Monroe is new thinking, for sure. Although the proposal is not practical at this time, it is aimed directly at one of the district's biggest problems: highways. It also shows an appetite for innovation, and that can help a district that is hungry to grow.

 

"Likewise, his desire to add his voice to national issues is refreshing. He strongly supports President George W. Bush's aggressive stance against terrorism, but laments that the war in Iraq has become so political. "Scott ... understands the complex challenges facing the district and the nation. That will serve him well as a member of Congress."

Scott's hometown newspaper, ''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' which in the 1960s and 1970s, under then managing editor [[Adras LaBorde]] had pointedly refused to endorse candidates, editorially supported Scott's congressional bid. According to ''The Town Talk:

 

Scott ffers relevant experience, deep knowledge of the issues and high energy. The 5th congressional district needs all of that. The district needs a representative who can leverage the significant economic development happening in and around Alexandria and Pineville while providing new thinking to help jump-start its lagging areas.

 

Scott's ambitious proposal to build an interstate highway from Alexandria to Monroe is new thinking, for sure. Although the proposal is not practical at this time, it is aimed directly at one of the district's biggest problems: highways. It also shows an appetite for innovation, and that can help a district that is hungry to grow.

 

Likewise, his desire to add his voice to national issues is refreshing. He strongly supports President George W. Bush's aggressive stance against terrorism, but laments that the war in Iraq has become so political. "Scott ... understands the complex challenges facing the district and the nation. That will serve him well as a member of Congress."

Not only did Scott obtain the newspaper's backing, but its former publisher, Joe Dorsey Smith, Jr., of Alexandria was a generous donor to Scott's campaign.[20] Another who contributed to Scott was former Democratic State Senator B. G. Dyess of Rapides Parish, a [[Southern Baptist]] clergyman.[21]

Not only did Scott obtain the newspaper's backing, but its former publisher, Joe Dorsey Smith, Jr., of Alexandria was a generous donor to Scott's campaign.[20] Another who contributed to Scott was former Democratic State Senator B. G. Dyess of Rapides Parish, a [[Southern Baptist]] clergyman.[21]