Jeff Landry named president of national AGs

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has been elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General at the group's summer meeting in Portland, Ore.

Landry, a Republican, said his "President's Initiative" will focus on emergency and crisis management.

"This initiative was chosen to exemplify servant leadership," he said. "It calls on us to lead at the most critical and trying times, when our citizens are at their most vulnerable moment, at times when demographics, economic positions and political parties do not matter."

Landry said the the program is clearly relevant for Louisiana, which has suffered from severe flooding and hurricanes since 2016, but it crosses all borders.

"As we know all too well, every state and territory has dealt in one way or another with natural disasters, mass violence or terror," he said. "And in those situations our states have had issues involving welfare, health care, energy, communications and more.

"From the hurricane in Puerto Rico to the shooting in Las Vegas, we learned the rapidness and effectiveness of response can literally mean the difference between life and death."

Landry said he plans to release details on the educational initiative and how it can produce tangible results soon.

"The breadth and depth of education initiatives can also help prevent our citizens from falling victim to identity theft, price gouging, fake charities or other scams," he said.

Landry is in his first term as attorney general.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1