Cousin of 'Duck Dynasty' Clan May Run for Vance McAllister's Congressional Seat
The Robertson family of "Duck Dynasty" fame is reportedly trying to convince a close relative to run for the state's 5th Congressional District race, now that current Congressman Vance McAllister has announced he won't be seeking re-election after news of his infidelity hit the media last month.
Willie Robertson, star of the A&E reality show, told The News Star in a recent interview that his first cousin Zach Dasher, a pharmaceutical representative from Calhoun, is one of the smartest young men he knows, and the relative would have the full support of the famous family if he chose to run for McAllister's seat.
Dasher, a Republican, added to the local media outlet that he and his wife are undecided about a potential run. He did say that if he were to seek the congressional seat, he would "[represent] a Christian world view." He added that his goal as congressman would be to defend the rights bestowed on to man by his creator.
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News of Dasher's possible congressional run comes as Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) announced that he will not be seeking re-election when his term expires next January, although he will stay in office until that time.
In April, a video surfaced of McAllister, who is married, kissing a married female staffer. The surveillance video was from December and recorded in the congressman's Monroe district office. After the video went public, the female staffer from the video resigned and McAllister received multiple calls from politicians to step down from his office, including Gov. Bobby Jindal and Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party.
Many have credited McAllister's win in November 2013 election to the endorsement of the Robertson family, as the congressman was virtually unknown politically.
McAllister told The News Star that shortly after his extramarital scandal went public, Robertson reminded him that he was his friend, and he believed the congressman needed to "work things out privately" and away from the media spotlight. McAllister is still married to his wife, Kelly, and the two have five children together.
