By LEONARD GRAY

Sometimes, I have the greatest fun as a reporter working around here.

Thursday evening, I attended a rally for St. Charles Parish Republicans because Congressman David Vitter was the featured speaker.

Should he be re-elected, his district would include the East Bank of St. Charles Parish.

The evening’s entertainment, though, came from a few prominent GOP leaders who are apparently playing a guessing game as to my original source on my story about Parish Councilwoman Dee Abadie’s intention to run for parish president.

After acknowledging the accuracy of my article, one attempted to prompt me, asking if it were one person or another. I denied it was any of the persons he named, and he appeared satisfied with his assumed conclusion.

Keep in mind, however, that I protect my sources, and I wouldn’t have lasted this long in the business if I gossiped.

Therefore, let me cut through the fog and say no one has yet guessed the person who first tipped me off and set me on the story. And, if anyone does happen to guess the name, I’d deny it anyway.

To do otherwise would be faithless of me, and no one would ever talk to me again. I treasure my sources of information, and I protect them. By this practice, I hear all sorts of things, bits of information. I’ve forgotten more political secrets than I’ve ever told and I certainly don’t blab to the wrong persons.

I haven’t yet been faced with the prospect of jail time or identifying a source, but I do hope I would remain true. I was once asked during a depostion, and I laughed.

However, I love to tease the local politicians when I have the opportunity. It certainly keeps my head straight and reinforces my own conviction that I shall never run for political office.

LEONARD GRAY is assistant managing editor of L’Observateur. He may be reached at (985) 652-9545.