Heads butt on helmets
Highway safety chief out of job

By WILL SENTELL
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Apr 8, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

The former executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission said Monday he was fired because he disagreed with Gov. Bobby Jindal’s push to repeal the states mandatory motorcycle helmet law.

Jim Champagne, who held his post for 12 years, said he was abruptly terminated March 25 and left six days later.

He played a key role in the 2004 push to enact the law, which requires all motorcycle operators and riders to wear approved helmets or face fines.

Champagne said his dismissal followed an earlier meeting with Timmy Teepell, the governor’s chief of staff.

”I was given absolutely no reason for my termination although I firmly believe the fact I refused to compromise my views on the helmet issue doomed me,” Champagne said.

Champagne said that, while Jindal has the right to name his own state highway safety leader, the action seems to run counter to the governor’s often stated vow to move away from old-style politics.

”It sends a terrible message to long-term state employees who perform their jobs with devotion and passion and can lose their jobs because they are not yes men,” he said.

Teepell did not respond to a telephone call and an e-mail requesting comment Monday.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission administers the state’s highway safety grant programs, including efforts to trim drunken driving.

The executive director often testifies on key highway safety bills in the Legislature.

Champagne, 63, said he was paid about $83,000 per year in his former post.

At least two bills are pending in the Legislature that would repeal the helmet requirements for adults.

Jindal favors repeal of  the mandatory helmet law as a freedom of choice issue.

The helmet requirement was enacted under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who pushed the measure in 2004.

That undid a 1999 law that required helmets only for those under 18.

Champagne said he got the news of his dismissal from State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson, a former protégé when Champagne served in the State Police for 23 years and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Edmonson is also deputy secretary of public safety, which oversees the highway safety commission.

”He was highly disappointed that I was not allowed to stay,” Champagne said of Edmonson.

Edmonson on Monday called Champagne an outstanding individual and praised his tenure as executive director.

”But a decision was made and I was in on that decision to move in another direction,” Edmonson said.

He said Champagne was not replaced because of his views on motorcycle safety helmets.

Edmonson said that, if the Legislature repeals the helmet law, State Police will still encourage motorcycle riders to wear safety helmets.

Melissa Sellers, Jindal’s press secretary, referred a call on Champagne’s comments to Edmonson.

Champagne said every state that repealed its mandatory helmet law showed an immediate increase in motorcycle deaths and injuries.

He announced in 2006 that motorcycle fatalities dropped 7.5 percent after Louisiana required safety helmets even though the number of riders rose by 7 percent.

Champagne noted he also served as executive director for former Gov. Mike Foster, who pushed for abolition of the state’s then-mandatory helmet law.

The new executive director is John LeBlanc, who worked for State Police for 26 years.

LeBlanc said Monday that will not take a position in the Legislature on the helmet issue but would wear one himself if he rode a motorcycle.