Ben Nevers
Encyclopedia
Ben Wayne Nevers is an electrical contractor from Bogalusa
, Louisiana
, who has been since 2004 a Democratic
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from District 12, which includes parts of Washington
, St. Tammany
, and Tangipahoa
parishes. Previously, Nevers was a one-term member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
in District 75 from 2000 to 2004, and earlier he served on the Bogalusa City School Board.
. In 1969, he completed his studies at the Sullivan Campus of Louisiana Technical College
. Between 1965 and 1971, he served in the United States Army
. Nevers is chairman of the Senate Education Committee and a member of various statewide educational committees, including the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority, the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission, and the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence. He is a member of the Hurricane Katrina
Memorial Commission and also claims a special legislative interest in agriculture, economic development, and health care.
Nevers and his wife, the former Barbara Ann Williams, an educator, have three children and, as of 2011, six grandchildren. He is a deacon in his church.
Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish. However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views. Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
A conservative Democrat, Nevers in 2007 filed an anti-abortion
bill, backed by outgoing Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco
, that prohibits abortions only in situations in which a woman's life is at risk from a pregnancy. He sponsored the Louisiana Science Education Act
, which permits teachers to use supplementary materials in class in regard to the theory of evolution and creationism
. Nevers said that the law, signed by Republican Governor Bobby Jindal
, is "strictly about teaching science in the classroom. It has nothing to do with religion. . . . It shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against any particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion." In 2011, opponents of the Louisiana Science Education Act, led by state Senator Karen Carter Peterson
of New Orleans
, failed in an attempt to repeal the law. Some forty Nobel Prize
-winning scientists endorsed the repeal of the measure on the premise that the law allows teachers to offer creationism views in classrooms.
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, Jerry Thomas
, a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who has been since 2004 a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 12, which includes parts of Washington
Washington Parish, Louisiana
Washington Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Franklinton. In 2000, its population was 43,926....
, St. Tammany
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington....
, and Tangipahoa
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. The parish seat is Amite City, but the major city is Hammond. As of 2006, the population was 113,137...
parishes. Previously, Nevers was a one-term member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
in District 75 from 2000 to 2004, and earlier he served on the Bogalusa City School Board.
Background
Nevers graduated in 1964 from Bogalusa High SchoolBogalusa High School
Bogalusa High School is the high school of the Bogalusa City Schools district. It is located in Bogalusa, Louisiana, United States.-Schedule Information:...
. In 1969, he completed his studies at the Sullivan Campus of Louisiana Technical College
Louisiana Technical College
Louisiana Technical College is an institute for professional technical education in the state of Louisiana, with campuses across the state. Louisiana Technical College has no affiliation to Louisiana Tech University.-History:...
. Between 1965 and 1971, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Nevers is chairman of the Senate Education Committee and a member of various statewide educational committees, including the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority, the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission, and the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence. He is a member of the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
Memorial Commission and also claims a special legislative interest in agriculture, economic development, and health care.
Nevers and his wife, the former Barbara Ann Williams, an educator, have three children and, as of 2011, six grandchildren. He is a deacon in his church.
Senate service
In the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary for senator, which attracted seven candidates, Nevers was forced into a second round of balloting with the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish. However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views. Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
A conservative Democrat, Nevers in 2007 filed an anti-abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
bill, backed by outgoing Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was the 54th Governor of Louisiana, having served from January 2004 until January 2008. She was the first woman to be elected to the office of governor of Louisiana....
, that prohibits abortions only in situations in which a woman's life is at risk from a pregnancy. He sponsored the Louisiana Science Education Act
Academic Freedom bills
Academic Freedom bills are a series of antievolution bills introduced in state legislatures in the United States between 2004 and 2009. They assert that teachers, students, and college professors face intimidation and retaliation when discussing scientific criticisms of evolution, and therefore...
, which permits teachers to use supplementary materials in class in regard to the theory of evolution and creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
. Nevers said that the law, signed by Republican Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, is "strictly about teaching science in the classroom. It has nothing to do with religion. . . . It shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against any particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion." In 2011, opponents of the Louisiana Science Education Act, led by state Senator Karen Carter Peterson
Karen Carter Peterson
Karen Carter Peterson is a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate, representing the 5th District since 2010. She previously served as the representative from District 93 , in the Louisiana House of Representatives and as Speaker Pro Tempore...
of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, failed in an attempt to repeal the law. Some forty Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
-winning scientists endorsed the repeal of the measure on the premise that the law allows teachers to offer creationism views in classrooms.
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, Jerry Thomas
Jerry Thomas (Louisiana politician)
Jerry Aroe Thomas is a family practice physician in Franklinton, Louisiana, who served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature from 1988 to 2004. In 1979, at the age of twenty-six, Thomas was elected coroner of Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes in the...
, a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).