Changes

On June 4, 2007, Beard announced his candidacy for the state's second-highest constitutional office. <ref>Beard to run for lieutenant governor," ''Baton Rouge Advocate,'' June 4, 2007.</ref>The lieutenant governor in Louisiana is the overseer of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and no longer presides over the state Senate, as is the custom in many states. Beard said that had he been elected he would have become involved in issues beyond tourism. Beard estimated that his campaign cost about $1.8 million. Beard finished in third place in the nonpartisan blanket primary. He polled 130,035 votes (11 percent). The [[incumbent]], [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[liberal]] [[Mitch Landrieu]]] of [[New Orleans]], later a two-term [[mayor]] of the Crescent City, was reelected with 57 percent of the vote. Another Republican in the race was [[Country music]] singer Sammy Kershaw of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana, who drew 30 percent of the ballots. <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

On June 4, 2007, Beard announced his candidacy for the state's second-highest constitutional office. <ref>Beard to run for lieutenant governor," ''Baton Rouge Advocate,'' June 4, 2007.</ref>The lieutenant governor in Louisiana is the overseer of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and no longer presides over the state Senate, as is the custom in many states. Beard said that had he been elected he would have become involved in issues beyond tourism. Beard estimated that his campaign cost about $1.8 million. Beard finished in third place in the nonpartisan blanket primary. He polled 130,035 votes (11 percent). The [[incumbent]], [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[liberal]] [[Mitch Landrieu]]] of [[New Orleans]], later a two-term [[mayor]] of the Crescent City, was reelected with 57 percent of the vote. Another Republican in the race was [[Country music]] singer Sammy Kershaw of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana, who drew 30 percent of the ballots. <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

Beard described himself as a "family-values" candidate. He supports [[right-to-life]], having introduced bills to ban human [[cloning]] and to outlaw [[partial-birth abortion]]. He also was initially elected to the legislature on a strongly anti-tax platform.​

Beard described himself as a "family-values" candidate. He supports [[Right to Life]], having introduced bills to ban human [[cloning]] and to outlaw [[partial-birth abortion]]. He also was initially elected to the legislature on a strongly anti-tax platform.​

Two Republicans met in the low-turnout general election on Nvember 17, 2007.to fill Beard's state House seat. Building contractor [[Erich Ponti]], with 6,772 votes (63 percent), defeated retired Entergy Corporation executive William L. "Bill" Benedetto (born 1941), who polled 4,059 ballots (37 percent). <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>Two eliminated primary candidates, Brian P. McNabb and Joseph Robert "Bob" Thibodeaux, both Republicans, had polled a combined 40 percent of the original vote.​

Two Republicans met in the low-turnout general election on Nvember 17, 2007.to fill Beard's state House seat. Building contractor [[Erich Ponti]], with 6,772 votes (63 percent), defeated retired Entergy Corporation executive William L. "Bill" Benedetto (born 1941), who polled 4,059 ballots (37 percent). <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>Two eliminated primary candidates, Brian P. McNabb and Joseph Robert "Bob" Thibodeaux, both Republicans, had polled a combined 40 percent of the original vote.​