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'''Jack Arthur Blossman, Jr.''', known as '''Jay Blossman''' (born October 3, 1964), is an [[attorney]] and [[business]]man from Mandeville,  [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former member of the his state's Public Service Commission. Blossman was the PSC chairman for his last two years on the board, 2007 to 2008.

'''Jack Arthur Blossman Jr.''', known as '''Jay Blossman''' (born October 3, 1964), is an [[attorney]] and [[business]]man from Mandeville,  [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former member of the his state's Public Service Commission. Blossman was the PSC chairman for his last two years on the board, 2007 to 2008.

The 1st district PSC seat encompasses all or parts of Ascension, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes in south Louisiana. Blossman was first elected to the PSC in 1996, when at thirty-two, he was the youngest person to have been elected to the commission. He was reelected in 2002. His term expired on December 31, 2008, and he did not seek a third term.<ref name=celebs/>

The 1st district PSC seat encompasses all or parts of Ascension, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes in south Louisiana. Blossman was first elected to the PSC in 1996, when at thirty-two, he was the youngest person to have been elected to the commission. He was reelected in 2002. His term expired on December 31, 2008, and he did not seek a third term.<ref name=celebs/>

==Background==

==Background==

Blossman was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Blossman, Sr., in Covington,  the seat of St. Tammany Parish located in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. He graduated from the St. Paul's School in Covington. In 1987, he received a bachelor's degree  from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. Thereafter, in 1991, Blossman obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the historically black Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge. He resides in Mandeville with his wife, Lynette Blossman, and their children.

Blossman was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Blossman Sr., in Covington,  the seat of St. Tammany Parish located in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. He graduated from the St. Paul's School in Covington. In 1987, he received a bachelor's degree  from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. Thereafter, in 1991, Blossman obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the historically black Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge. He resides in Mandeville with his wife, Lynette Blossman, and their children.

Blossman is a member of Victims and Citizens Against Crime, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. He is a past chairman of the [[Boy Scouts]]. Blossman is a member of the board of directors of the Covington-based Parish National Bank. He is also a member of the American Heart Association and the Louisiana Bone Marrow Registry.

Blossman is a member of Victims and Citizens Against Crime, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. He is a past chairman of the [[Boy Scouts]]. Blossman is a member of the board of directors of the Covington-based Parish National Bank. He is also a member of the American Heart Association and the Louisiana Bone Marrow Registry.

==The ill-fated gubernatorial attempt, 2003==

==The ill-fated gubernatorial attempt, 2003==

In 2003, Blossman announced that he would seek to become the Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] consensus candidate to succeed term-limited [[Republican Party|GOP]] Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] Blossman called himself a "Reagan conservative." He opposed the since repealed [[Stelly Plan]], which increased property taxes on most middle-class families and was named for its author, former state Representative [[Vic Stelly]] of [[Lake Charles]].<ref name=celebs/>

In 2003, Blossman announced that he would seek to become the Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] consensus candidate to succeed term-limited [[Republican Party|GOP]] Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James "Mike" Foster Jr.]] Blossman called himself a "Reagan conservative." He opposed the since repealed [[Stelly Plan]], which increased property taxes on most middle-class families and was named for its author, former state Representative [[Vic Stelly]] of [[Lake Charles]].<ref name=celebs/>

However, other Republicans wanted to run as well, including former Governor [[David C. Treen]], who in retirement had settled in Blossman's own St. Tammany Parish. Treen, after testing the waters, never filed his papers to make the race. Two other Republicans continued in the race: (1) state Representative [[Hunt Downer|Huntington B. "Hunt" Downer, Jr.]], of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, and (2) [[Bobby Jindal]], an I[[India|Indian]]-American health-care specialist then of Baton Rouge and the favorite of Governor Foster, [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]], and much of the Republican leadership. The Republican hopefuls risked dividing their party's base to such an extent that two Democrats, and no Republican candidate, might have been thrust into the [[general election]] under Louisiana's unique nonpartisan blanket [[primary]].

However, other Republicans wanted to run as well, including former Governor [[David C. Treen]], who in retirement had settled in Blossman's own St. Tammany Parish. Treen, after testing the waters, never filed his papers to make the race. Two other Republicans continued in the race: (1) state Representative [[Hunt Downer|Huntington B. "Hunt" Downer Jr.]], of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, and (2) [[Bobby Jindal]], an I[[India]]n-American health-care specialist then of Baton Rouge and the favorite of Governor Foster, [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]], and much of the Republican leadership. The Republican hopefuls risked dividing their party's base to such an extent that two Democrats, and no Republican candidate, might have been thrust into the [[general election]] under Louisiana's unique nonpartisan blanket [[primary]].

Blossman found himself in conflict with outgoing Governor Foster, who lashed out against the public service commissioner on radio. Blossman had run a television commercial which blamed state leaders for not funding a [[DNA]] program that could have led to the earlier arrest of a suspected South Louisiana serial killer. Foster said that he considered that his criticism could aid Blossman's campaign by giving it more exposure, but the governor spoke out and accused Blossman of running an offensive advertisement in bad taste.

Blossman found himself in conflict with outgoing Governor Foster, who lashed out against the public service commissioner on radio. Blossman had run a television commercial which blamed state leaders for not funding a [[DNA]] program that could have led to the earlier arrest of a suspected South Louisiana serial killer. Foster said that he considered that his criticism could aid Blossman's campaign by giving it more exposure, but the governor spoke out and accused Blossman of running an offensive advertisement in bad taste.

Blossman had planned to seek a third term on the PSC but withdrew from consideration in July 2008, after an ethics complaint had been filed against him. Blossman also said that he wished to spend more time with his family and his family-owned bank. The Louisiana Ethics Board charged Blossman with improperly sending letters on PSC letterhead stationery to trucking company executives, whose businesses are regulated by the PSC, asking that they meet with a salesman friend of his who was offering a new product of potential interest to them.<ref>"State IG: Blossman may have violated ethics code," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' accessed April 8, 2021.</ref> Blossman denied having broken any laws in sending out the letters.<ref>"Stunner: Jay Blossman Quits PSC race," lapolitics, July 18, 2008; no longer on-line.</ref>

Blossman had planned to seek a third term on the PSC but withdrew from consideration in July 2008, after an ethics complaint had been filed against him. Blossman also said that he wished to spend more time with his family and his family-owned bank. The Louisiana Ethics Board charged Blossman with improperly sending letters on PSC letterhead stationery to trucking company executives, whose businesses are regulated by the PSC, asking that they meet with a salesman friend of his who was offering a new product of potential interest to them.<ref>"State IG: Blossman may have violated ethics code," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' accessed April 8, 2021.</ref> Blossman denied having broken any laws in sending out the letters.<ref>"Stunner: Jay Blossman Quits PSC race," lapolitics, July 18, 2008; no longer on-line.</ref>

Former Commissioner John F. Schwegmann, using the "No Party" or [[Independent voter|Independent]] label, led a field of four candidates in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 4, 2008. Schwegmann led in the primary with 61,711 votes (41.8 percent) to the 34,206 ballots (23.1 percent) for Republican Eric F. Skrmetta of Metairie. The other candidates were [[Populism|populist]] Democrat-turned-Republican former State Representative [[Kenneth Odinet|Kenneth L. Odinet, Sr.]], of Arabi, with 33,470 votes (22.6 percent), and "No Party" Bruce C. Kincade, with 18,440 (12.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2008.</ref> In the November 4 general election, Skrmetta easily defeated Schwegmann, 222,268 (60 percent) to 149,220 (40 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 4, 2008. </ref> Skrmetta was relected in a runoff contest on December 5, 2020.<ref> LPSC District 1 :: (louisiana.gov), accessed April 8, 2021.</ref>

Former Commissioner John F. Schwegmann, using the "No Party" or [[Independent voter|Independent]] label, led a field of four candidates in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 4, 2008. Schwegmann led in the primary with 61,711 votes (41.8 percent) to the 34,206 ballots (23.1 percent) for Republican Eric F. Skrmetta of Metairie. The other candidates were [[Populism|populist]] Democrat-turned-Republican former State Representative [[Kenneth Odinet|Kenneth L. Odinet Sr.]], of Arabi, with 33,470 votes (22.6 percent), and "No Party" Bruce C. Kincade, with 18,440 (12.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2008.</ref> In the November 4 general election, Skrmetta easily defeated Schwegmann, 222,268 (60 percent) to 149,220 (40 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 4, 2008.</ref> Skrmetta was reelected in a runoff contest on December 5, 2020.<ref>LPSC District 1 :: (louisiana.gov), accessed April 8, 2021.</ref>

Oddly in April 2009, some three months after Blossman left the PSC, Clyde Holloway won a special election to fill a vacancy on the PSC in a neighboring district.

Oddly in April 2009, some three months after Blossman left the PSC, Clyde Holloway won a special election to fill a vacancy on the PSC in a neighboring district.