Scruggs’ law firm represents hundreds of homeowners in lawsuits against insurers, many stemming from Hurricane Katrina. Scruggs was a major donor to a political action committee that ran negative political advertisements pointing an accusatory finger at Dale for failing to make insurers pay more hurricane-related claims and for allowing them to raise rates in the aftermath.
A veteran politician who has been in office for 32 years, Dale also faced some opposition from local Democrats, who challenged his right to run on the party ticket due ot close ties Dale has to Republicans. Dale, who obtained a court order allowing him to run as a Democrat, says Democrats’ opposition “had some effect. It made it difficult from day one,”he noted.
The Democratic party winner in the primary election, Gary Anderson, is a former state fiscal officer.