VIDALIA &045; Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Randy Ewing visited Concordia Parish Thursday in one of many trips he is making to every parish in Louisiana.

A farmer and a businessman in banking and timber, Ewing was on his &uot;Grow Louisiana Tour,&uot; making his rounds in the parish Thursday, filling his day meeting residents of the area.

He started with a Rotary Club meeting in Ferriday, made stops to the hospital, banks, the courthouse, to meet the sheriff and then to a final reception at the Ferriday Community Center.

Ewing also met with other businessmen and personal friends like Cliff Merritt, president and CEO of Delta Bank.

&uot;Our number one goal if you make me governor is to grow this economy,&uot; Ewing, a Jackson Parish native, told a group gathered at the community center. &uot;If you’ve got a good economy, you have so much else.&uot;

Business, employees with money and money for the government to do what the community needs are what Ewing said comes from a good economy.

Ewing talked about making the most out of the business the state has and in Concordia Parish, agriculture and the Mississippi River.

He said building new roads, which he promised he would do as governor, and developing the ports will equal commerce for the state. Ewing said the state needs to work regionally &045; not just parish to parish but state to state to enhance not just Louisiana but the whole area.

He has a plan to merge the natural resources in the state with the developing technology to make &uot;a whole new dynamic.&uot;

&uot;Learn to add value to what we’re good at,&uot; Ewing said.

He also spoke about the importance of preparing people for jobs through education.

Ewing is using his tour to promote these issues but also so he can so do what he called &uot;old time politics,&uot; putting himself close to the people.

&uot;I like to look them in the eye and shake their hand,&uot; Ewing said.

&uot;Let people know they count not only in this campaign but play an important role in the state,&uot; he said.

Gwen Robin, vice-president and loan review officer of Concordia Bank, escorted Ewing around Thursday and spent a lot of time with him.

She said with his agricultural background, he relates to the community well.

&uot;He can relate to the situations we have here,&uot; Robin said.