Changes

==Relations with Governors Edwards and Treen==

==Relations with Governors Edwards and Treen==

In a 1986 address before the Louisiana Broadcasters Association, Gomez criticized Governor Edwards, Edward J. Steimel, the president of the Louisiana  

In a 1986 address before the Louisiana Broadcasters Association, Gomez criticized Governor Edwards, [[Ed Steimel|Edward J. Steimel]], the president of the Louisiana  

Association of Business and Industry, and House colleague Kevin Reilly of Baton Rouge. In his book Gomez explains:

Association of Business and Industry, and House colleague Kevin Reilly of Baton Rouge. In his book Gomez explains:

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

Edwards had long been critical of Gomez, having once called the lawmaker "a good-government son-of-a-bitch".[22] and claimed that Gomez had been "f______ the poor people."[23] Gomez said that he had initially been "persuaded by Edwards' 1983 campaign rhetoric. I thought he really was ready to change. I had been made a floor leader in my freshman term under Dave Treen partly through the efforts of his executive counsel, 'Sonny' Mouton, and partly because I was older and thus presumably more mature than . . . the other freshman legislators. That gave me a taste for being in the center of the action. I believe in my leadership abilities and believed that Edwards truly wanted to use his vast powers and personal talents to right the ship of state. [Because of] the state's economic woes and his own personal traits, Dave Treen [had not been] an effective governor."[24]

Edwards had long been critical of Gomez, having once called the lawmaker "a good-government son-of-a-bitch".[22] and claimed that Gomez had been "f______ the poor people."[23] Gomez said that he had initially been "persuaded by Edwards' 1983 campaign rhetoric. I thought he really was ready to change. I had been made a floor leader in my freshman term under Dave Treen partly through the efforts of his executive counsel, 'Sonny' Mouton, and partly because I was older and thus presumably more mature than . . . the other freshman legislators. That gave me a taste for being in the center of the action. I believe in my leadership abilities and believed that Edwards truly wanted to use his vast powers and personal talents to right the ship of state. [Because of] the state's economic woes and his own personal traits, Dave Treen [had not been] an effective governor."[24]

==Other political moves==

==Other political moves==

As Governor Roemer's human resources secretary from 1990 to 1992, Gomez concentrated much of his efforts on preservation of the shrinking Louisiana coast lands, managed through the Office of Coastal Restoration. He also chaired an Oil Spill Task Force which made recommendation enacted by the legislature in 1991 to reduce the impact of future oil-spillage accidents.[25]

As Governor Roemer's human resources secretary from 1990 to 1992, Gomez concentrated much of his efforts on preservation of the shrinking Louisiana coast lands, managed through the Office of Coastal Restoration. He also chaired an Oil Spill Task Force which made recommendation enacted by the legislature in 1991 to reduce the impact of future oil-spillage accidents.[25]