Louisiana public officials at the federal, state, and local level apparently had a grand old time at this year’s Washington Mardi Gras. I have always found it difficult to get too excited about Mardi Gras, which many revelers probably consider to be a treasonous attitude.

U.S. Rep. Julie Letlow, R-Start, chaired this year’s event. Start, by the way, is located in Richland Parish, which is just east of Monroe.

“While we all enjoy the celebrations, this week is an opportunity for our delegation to meet with stakeholders from across the state and have important conversations about Louisiana’s future,” Letlow told The Advocate | The Times-Picayune.

The newspaper said the event’s main purpose seems to be a retreat where the state’s political and corporate elite, “drinks in hand, visit and build relationships.”

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards was there, along with the six Republican officials who would succeed the governor if he were unable to serve. In that order, they were Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Attorney General Jeff Landry, state Treasurer John Schroder, state Senate President Page Cortez of Lafayette, and state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder of Gonzales.

As you would expect, there was a lot of talk during the week about this fall’s statewide elections highlighted by the gubernatorial race. Edwards has served two terms and can’t seek re-election this year.

Lake Charles attorney Hunter Lundy, an independent, is a candidate, and there are four announced Republican hopefuls — Landry, Schroder, state Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell and state Rep. Richard Nelson of Mandeville.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, continues to be mentioned as a possible candidate, but he has a tough decision to make. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has named Graves chairman of the Elected Leadership Committee and to a seat on the House Republican Steering Committee.

Retired U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-Chackbay, said of Graves,  “He can’t turn that down. I really think this cinches it for Garret. I don’t know how he refuses this job.”

Graves had said in the past that his telephone has been ringing off the hook with people wanting him to become a candidate. Much earlier, he said he didn’t think voters were impressed with the announced Republican candidates.

Many voters who want a more moderate candidate agree with his last comment, but Graves continues to be tight-lipped about his plans. The prospect of Landry winning the election has those same voters disturbed.

Prospective Democratic Party candidates have also delayed announcing their plans. They include Shawn Wilson, secretary of the state Department of Transportation and Development; Katie Bernhardt, chair of the state Democratic Party; and state Sen. Gary Smith of Norco.

Lobbyists were at the Washington Mardi Gras, and they probably paid for many of the expensive tickets to major events. Liz Mangham, a Baton Rouge lobbyist, said the event “allows you to build some relationships.”

One of those tickets sold at $300-plus each for Saturday night’s black-tie ball. It was a private event and media coverage was discouraged. No surprise there.

The state’s congressional delegation chooses a king and queen and princesses who are joined by queens from more than two dozen Louisiana festivals. Mangham, a princess in the 1980s, said, “It exposes young women to something they’ve never experienced before and maybe it sparks an interest in public service. That’s what did it for me.”

It wasn’t just one big party, according to The Advocate. Those attending talked about flood insurance, federal dollars available for local governments, more state oil money from offshore federal waters, and money-raising events for prospective candidates.

Washington Mardi Gras started in the 1940s, the newspaper said, as a casual party for a handful of homesick congressional staffers. It has become a major event — at least for those who attend.

Now, it’s back to business. Legislators are meeting this week to deal with the state’s insurance crisis. They convened  a special session at noon Monday and have to adjourn by 6 p.m. Sunday.

Lawmakers are meeting to approve using $45 million for an incentive fund designed to attract other insurance companies to Louisiana. Insurance  Commissioner Jim Donelon said it worked after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and he is convinced it will work again.

Some legislators don’t agree, but it’s apparently the only choice they have this week. The governor’s call for the session is tightly drawn to just appropriate that $45 million.

Public officials who went to Washington last week should have plenty of  time this week to recover from their big bash.