She hasn’t formally announced her run for the Shreveport mayor’s seat yet, but city spokeswoman Liz Swaine’s campaign will benefit from a $1,000-per-couple fundraiser organized by local supporters later this month.

About 400 letters will start going out Thursday inviting potential contributors to the June 27 event at Eastridge Country Club.

The event is spearheaded by local businessman Barry Busada, a high-profile political backer whose past campaign support has landed him face time with former president Bill Clinton and former vice president Al Gore. He is currently a Gov. Kathleen Blanco appointee to the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission.

“She’s very well known in the community,” Busada said of Swaine. “Besides being well known, she’s got integrity. She just brings that community-minded, civic-minded mentality to this office. I think that’s great. She just truly wants to help the city and do what’s good for the city.”

Read more about the effect of Swaine's entry on the race in tomorrow's edition of The Times.

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By Michelle Mahfoufi
mmahfoufi@gannett.com

Copyright 2006© The Times.