BATON ROUGE.—As his house arrest ends Wednesday, Louisiana's charismatic former Gov. Edwin Edwards isn't planning for a quiet retirement. Instead, he's readying for his third wedding, a book tour and a grand 84th birthday and coming-out party later this month. He's even in talks for a possible reality TV show.
Despite serving eight years in prison for a scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses, the four-term former governor who dominated Louisiana's political scene for decades will emerge from home detention with no signs his popularity has ebbed.
Edwards' new Facebook page, launched only a few weeks ago, quickly maxed out at 5,000 "friends," including supporters who post old photos of Edwards' political career and voters who say they wish he could put his name on the state ballot.
"Welcome back Governor!! Really wish you could run again. I'd definitely vote for you again!!!" one supporter wrote. Another said, "I'd vote for you in a heartbeat." Another added, "Governor Edwards, please run for governor again. I am sure you will win. Louisiana needs you."
Someone posted a homemade campaign sign touting Edwin Edwards for governor in 2011.
To the suggestions, Edwards wrote, "Thank you very much and I'm glad they won't let me run ... Otherwise I might be tempted!"
Edwards went to prison in October 2002 in a bribery and extortion case in the awarding of riverboat casino licenses during his final term, which ended in 1996. Edwards has maintained his innocence.
He'll be on probation for three years. Edwards will end his home detention — which he served in his daughter's home in the Baton Rouge suburbs — in a low-key fashion, by filling out forms with the halfway house where he's been reporting since January.
During his time behind bars, Edwards divorced his second wife, Candy, and struck up a new relationship with Trina Grimes Scott, from Alexandria, who is now engaged to the former governor.
Scott, in her early 30s, was celebrating the near-end of Edwards' home incarceration Tuesday, posting on her Facebook site, "One more day between us and freedom!!!"
Wow! I guess it's never too late to get your life back.
***Info. provided by houmatoday***
D. Martez
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