Changes

Odom fought criminal corruption charges brought forward in August 2002, when he was indicted on twenty-one counts, including bribery, extortion]], theft, and money laundering. A state judge dismissed all remaining charges in 2007, and prosecutors sought to reinstate the case. The case never went to trial and was dismissed in 2009. The presiding judge called the case "diseased from the very start."[7]

Odom fought criminal corruption charges brought forward in August 2002, when he was indicted on twenty-one counts, including bribery, extortion]], theft, and money laundering. A state judge dismissed all remaining charges in 2007, and prosecutors sought to reinstate the case. The case never went to trial and was dismissed in 2009. The presiding judge called the case "diseased from the very start."[7]

Odom even quarreled with Governor Kathleen Blanco, who stepped down in 2008, and state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, a Democrat-turned-Republican who was unopposed in the 2007 primary.[9]

Odom even quarreled with Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], who stepped down in 2008, and state Treasurer and later U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], a Democrat-turned-Republican who was unopposed in the 2007 primary for state treasurer.[9]

Like Odom, Dozier had also been engulfed in scandal.[10] So was Dozier's predecessor, fellow Democrat Dave Pearce, who served from 1952 to 1956, and again from 1960 to 1976. Ironically, Odom had been a key aide to Pearce, and both were born in Claiborne Parish. Pearce, who was never indicted, ran unsuccessfully in the 1979 primary against both Dozier and Odom.[11]

Like Odom, Dozier had also been engulfed in scandal.[10] So was Dozier's predecessor, fellow Democrat Dave Pearce, who served from 1952 to 1956, and again from 1960 to 1976. Ironically, Odom had been a key aide to Pearce, and both were born in Claiborne Parish. Pearce, who was never indicted, ran unsuccessfully in the 1979 primary against both Dozier and Odom.[11]

Odom's use of state aircraft was repeatedly called into question. He flew to McNeese State University football games in which his son was a player. One such excursion was to Nacogdoches, Texas, when McNeese played Stephen F. Austin State University. Odom claimed that he was meeting a man in Nacogdoches in regard to farm machinery but then said that he lost the individual's telephone number and could not remember his name once he got to Nacogdoches. He also flew on a state plane on numerous occasions to the Claiborne Parish Airport near his family farm. He used a state plane to attend the funeral of a relative. Odom said that his office required that he be on duty twenty-four hours per day, and he was therefore entitled to use the aircraft. Attorney General William J. Guste said that the aircraft could not be used for "purely private purposes", but Odom claimed business reasons for each of the questionable flights.[12]

Odom's use of state aircraft was repeatedly called into question. He flew to McNeese State University football games in which his son was a player. One such excursion was to Nacogdoches, [[Texas]], when McNeese played [[Stephen F. Austin State University]]. Odom claimed that he was meeting a man in Nacogdoches in regard to farm machinery but then said that he lost the individual's telephone number and could not remember his name once he got to Nacogdoches. He also flew on a state plane on numerous occasions to the Claiborne Parish Airport near his family farm. He used a state plane to attend the funeral of a relative. Odom said that his office required that he be on duty twenty-four hours per day, and he was therefore entitled to use the aircraft. Attorney General [[William J. Guste]] said that the aircraft could not be used for "purely private purposes," but Odom claimed business reasons for each of the questionable flights.[12]

Even after leaving office, Odom's legacy remained in controversy. One of his pet projects as head of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry was the creation of a green energy industry in Louisiana. Odom used taxpayer funhds to encourage the production of ethanol from sugar cane syrup, rather than corn. During his final term Odom convinced the state legislature to provide the approval and funds to build the Lacassine sugar mill in Jefferson Davis Parish near Lake Charles, at a cost of $76.9 million. The mill was built by state workers. The facility was leased and supposed to be operated by Lake Charles, LLC with loans of $70.6 million from the state and another $6.3 million from private sources. A majority of the stock of Lake Charles, LLC is owned by Louisiana Green Fuels, a company that is in turn held by two brothers from Colombia. The plant has never produced a single drop of ethanol, and the machinery to process the sugar cane is still unassembled at the location.

Even after leaving office, Odom's legacy remained in controversy. One of his pet projects as head of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry was the creation of a green energy industry in Louisiana. Odom used taxpayer funhds to encourage the production of ethanol from sugar cane syrup, rather than corn. During his final term Odom convinced the state legislature to provide the approval and funds to build the Lacassine sugar mill in Jefferson Davis Parish near [[Lake Charles]], at a cost of $76.9 million. The mill was built by state workers. The facility was leased and supposed to be operated by Lake Charles, LLC with loans of $70.6 million from the state and another $6.3 million from private sources. A majority of the stock of Lake Charles, LLC is owned by Louisiana Green Fuels, a company that is in turn held by two brothers from Colombia. The plant has never produced a single drop of ethanol, and the machinery to process the sugar cane is still unassembled at the location.

On March 16, 2012, the current commissioner, Republican Michael G. Strain, announced that Lake Charles, LLC had defaulted on both loans and that he would be urging the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority to foreclose on the operation. A similar project to be located near Bunkie was rejected by the legislature. Criticism of these projects was one of the main campaign points in Strain's successful election bid against Odom in 2007.[13]

On March 16, 2012, the current commissioner, Republican Michael G. Strain, announced that Lake Charles, LLC had defaulted on both loans and that he would be urging the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority to foreclose on the operation. A similar project to be located near Bunkie was rejected by the legislature. Criticism of these projects was one of the main campaign points in Strain's successful election bid against Odom in 2007.[13]

===2007 election===

===2007 election===

Odom ran for an eighth consecutive four-year term in 2007 but lost to Michael Strain, a veterinarian, a dairy farmer, and an outgoing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from St. Tammany Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.

Odom ran for an eighth consecutive four-year term in 2007 but lost to [[Michael Strain]], a veterinarian, a dairy farmer, and an outgoing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from St. Tammany Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, Odom led Strain, 505,466 (41 percent) to 494,726 (40 percent). Two other candidates, Republicans Wayne Carter, a conservative member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council from Odom's own Zachary, and Don Johnson, a farmer from Transylvania in East Carroll Parish in far northeastern Louisiana, trailed with 152,872 (13 percent) and 69,469 (6 percent), respectively. The Republican vote hence totaled 59 percent. A perennial candidate Johnson had also run against Odom in 1987, 1991, 1995, and 2003.[8][14]

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, Odom led Strain, 505,466 (41 percent) to 494,726 (40 percent). Two other candidates, Republicans Wayne Carter, a conservative member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council from Odom's own Zachary, and Don Johnson, a farmer from Transylvania in East Carroll Parish in far northeastern Louisiana, trailed with 152,872 (13 percent) and 69,469 (6 percent), respectively. The Republican vote hence totaled 59 percent. A perennial candidate Johnson had also run against Odom in 1987, 1991, 1995, and 2003.[8][14]