About 24 hours after officially kicking off his re-election campaign Governor John Bel Edward hit the road.

Governor Edwards says is visit to Lafayette is to acknowledge job growth and its tie to education.

Edwards says CGI Technologies and Solutions has twice the number of employees than when it first opened in Lafayette on Cajundome Boulevard several years ago.

“What a critical partnership we have between the university and private sector that allows for this job creation,” the governor said.

The governor says in moving forward he intends to focus on additional investments in education and meeting the obligations of the state’s higher education scholarship program called TOPS.

“We’re 22 hundred dollars below the southern regional average on teacher pay. I want to $1000 per teacher and $500 per support worker.”

Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse in downtown Lafayette was the governor’s second stop. “For the first time in decades your governor can look at you and say Louisiana does not have the highest incarceration rate in the nation,” Governor Edwards added.

“I have had a many here.  Probably all the governors, some politicians and some movie stars over the years,” stated restaurant owner Ashby Landry, Jr..

The governor was welcomed by an audience of community leaders, advocates and lawmakers.

“Not only in the re-election initiative but he’s been in the city many times; and that speaks about who he is,” Rep. Terry Landry stated.

“It speaks volumes to come to Lafayette and to talk to the people about what he wants to continue to do,” Rep. Vincent Pierre added.