Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat from Lafayette, took office in 2004 after defeating Republican Bobby Jindal, 52 percent to 48 percent in the fall 2003 runoff election. A look at some key points of Blanco's term:

--Jan. 12, 2004: Blanco is sworn into office, taking the oath in English and in French.

--Feb. 10, 2004: Blanco is one of six governors who travel to Iraq with the U.S. Defense Department.

--March 7, 2004: Blanco opens her first special legislative session. She will win support of a business utility tax extension and the start of a phase-out of two other oft-criticized business taxes: the sales tax on machinery and equipment and the corporate franchise tax on debt.

--June 17, 2004: Blanco announces the state won its bid to lure Union Tank Car Co., a leading manufacturer of railroad tank cars, to Louisiana. The plant chooses to locate in Alexandria, with 850 new jobs and a $65 million state incentive package. The governor lists the moment as one of her top economic development achievements.

--March 8, 2005: Blanco travels to Cuba on a trade mission criticized by opponents of Cuban President Fidel Castro. While there, she meets with Castro.

--June 14, 2005: Blanco admits defeat on her proposed cigarette tax to raise teacher pay. The plan stalled in the House amid sharp opposition from Republicans, who flexed new political muscle at the Capitol. It won't be the last time the GOP thwarts Blanco's legislative plans.

--Aug. 27, 2005: As Hurricane Katrina bears down on Louisiana, Blanco urges residents to pack up and leave for safety. An estimated 1.3 million people will take her advice, but many of the poor, elderly and sick who have little access to transportation will remain stranded.

--Aug. 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina hits southeast Louisiana, flooding much of New Orleans for a month and leveling nearby St. Bernard Parish. More than 1,400 Louisiana residents die in the storm and flooding.

--Sept. 22, 2005: Blanco warns Louisiana residents to flee Hurricane Rita, telling those who refuse to leave, "Perhaps they should write their Social Security numbers on their arms with indelible ink."

--Sept. 24, 2005: Hurricane Rita devastates southwest Louisiana, destroying Cameron Parish.

--Oct. 17, 2005: Blanco creates the Louisiana Recovery Authority to guide rebuilding and recovery.

--Nov. 6, 2005: Blanco opens her first hurricane recovery special legislative session. It will end two weeks later with the deficit-riddled budget rebalanced and a new statewide building code enacted to prevent future hurricane devastation. New Orleans lawmakers said they were disappointed the governor didn't include more direct aid for evacuees and the homeless.

--Feb. 6, 2006: Blanco opens her second hurricane recovery special legislative session. Eleven days later, the session ends with the main achievement involving the consolidation of the fractured system of levee boards around Louisiana.

--August 2006: First grants awarded in Blanco's signature hurricane recovery program for homeowners, the Road Home. The program soon will face a large shortfall to help all eligible homeowners.

--Oct. 30, 2006: Blanco starts an economic development trip to Asia. She will visit with foreign trade dignitaries and business executives in Japan, Taiwan, China and Kuwait.

--Dec. 8, 2006: Blanco opens a pre-holiday special legislative session, seeking to spend $2 billion in newly available state revenue. The session will end disastrously, with Republicans blocking her spending plans and just two proposals making it through the House and Senate.

--March 20, 2007: Blanco announces she won't seek re-election to a second term.

--May 11, 2007: Alabama beats out Louisiana for a new $4.2 billion steel plant to be built by ThyssenKrupp AG, dealing a disappointing blow to Blanco, who had fought hard for the project and its 2,700 jobs.

--June 28, 2007: Lawmakers wrap up their last regular legislative session under Blanco, handing her a string of victories and approving more than $32 billion in spending she sought.

--Dec. 7, 2007: Blanco announces a new infusion of cash from Congress means the Road Home grant program is fully funded and all eligible homeowners will be able to receive aid, capping a long fight for the dollars.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)