Bob Hensgens
Encyclopedia
Craig Robert Hensgens, known as Bob Hensgens (born January 26, 1955), is the Republican
state representative
from House District 47 in Vermilion
and Cameron
parishes in far southwestern Louisiana
.
, Hensgens graduated from Vermilion Catholic High School
in Abbeville
, the parish seat of Vermilion Parish. He attended Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
but dropped out after his father was killed in a farm accident. He thereafter received a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
. He is a former director of the Vermilion Parish hospital service district and since 2006 a managing partner in the health care company MH3F. Hensgens is also a former president of the Gueydan Chamber of Commerce
.
Hensgens is Roman Catholic. He is married to the former Nancy LeJeune and has four children, Allison Chapman Istre, Beau Istre, Bobbie Jo LeJeune, and Damian LeJeune.
filed for the seat though the district had cast two thirds of the vote in 2003 for the successful Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.
In his statement of candidacy, Hensgens said that Louisiana is "struggling to pay the bills for promises that should have never been made. ... somewhere along the line our promise of a safety net has been transformed into a hammock and that is not sustainable. Government, like you and me, needs to live within its means."
As a legislator, he succeeds State Representative Jonathan Perry
, who narrowly won a special election for the Louisiana State Senate
held on February 19, 2011. Hensgens defeated fellow Republican Linda A. Hardee (born January 20, 1948), an educator and a former mayor of Kaplan
in Vermilion Parish, who carried the endorsement of the Louisiana Association of Educators. Oddly, Hensgens lent Hardee $200 so that she could pay cash for a portion of her filing fee. They both came to the Vermilion Parish clerk of court's office to register for the race at the same time, and she was short of the required $450 in cash.
Hensgens narrowly prevailed, 3,477 (52.35 percent) to 3,165 (47.65 percent). He narrowly lost his home parish; his victory came from a 2-1 margin in the thirteen precincts in Cameron Parish. Hardee won the bulk of the African American
electorate. Hensgens, however, carried the backing of the Tea Party
of Louisiana. Hensgens balanced the town budget in Gueydan by cutting spending, rather than raising taxes, and he reduced his own salary to give the police officers a raise.
Both candidates describe themselves as "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment
, family-oriented, and fiscally-responsible."
Hensgens was sworn in as representative by his friend and predecessor in the office, Senator Jonathan Perry. This was the first time in Louisiana history in which a state senator swore in a representative.
Prior to his election to the House, Hensgens, as a Democrat, served nearly four years as the mayor of Gueydan
, a town near Abbeville. Acting Mayor David Dupuis succeeded Hengens; he will serve until the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 22, 2011. Hensgens also will contest the House seat again at that time.
Republican 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...
state representative
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 House District 47 in Vermilion
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Abbeville. As of the 2010 census, the population was 57,999....
and Cameron
Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Cameron Parish is the parish with the most land area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Cameron and as of 2010, the population was 6,839...
parishes in far southwestern 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...
.
Background
Originally from Cameron ParishCameron Parish, Louisiana
Cameron Parish is the parish with the most land area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Cameron and as of 2010, the population was 6,839...
, Hensgens graduated from Vermilion Catholic High School
Vermilion Catholic High School
Vermilion Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Abbeville, Louisiana. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.-Notable alumni:...
in Abbeville
Abbeville, Louisiana
Abbeville is a town in and the parish seat of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States, 150 miles west of New Orleans. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 census...
, the parish seat of Vermilion Parish. He attended Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
but dropped out after his father was killed in a farm accident. He thereafter received a Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
. He is a former director of the Vermilion Parish hospital service district and since 2006 a managing partner in the health care company MH3F. Hensgens is also a former president of the Gueydan Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
Hensgens is Roman Catholic. He is married to the former Nancy LeJeune and has four children, Allison Chapman Istre, Beau Istre, Bobbie Jo LeJeune, and Damian LeJeune.
Legislative election
Through his victory in a special election held on April 30, 2011, Hensgens became the 55th member of his party to serve in the 105-member Louisiana House. No DemocratDemocratic 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...
filed for the seat though the district had cast two thirds of the vote in 2003 for the successful Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.
In his statement of candidacy, Hensgens said that Louisiana is "struggling to pay the bills for promises that should have never been made. ... somewhere along the line our promise of a safety net has been transformed into a hammock and that is not sustainable. Government, like you and me, needs to live within its means."
As a legislator, he succeeds State Representative Jonathan Perry
Jonathan Perry (Louisiana politician)
Jonathan Wayne Perry is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 26 . An outgoing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 47 , Perry won a special election for the state Senate held on February 19, 2011...
, who narrowly won a special election for the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
held on February 19, 2011. Hensgens defeated fellow Republican Linda A. Hardee (born January 20, 1948), an educator and a former mayor of Kaplan
Kaplan, Louisiana
Kaplan is a small city in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abbeville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Vermilion Parish, who carried the endorsement of the Louisiana Association of Educators. Oddly, Hensgens lent Hardee $200 so that she could pay cash for a portion of her filing fee. They both came to the Vermilion Parish clerk of court's office to register for the race at the same time, and she was short of the required $450 in cash.
Hensgens narrowly prevailed, 3,477 (52.35 percent) to 3,165 (47.65 percent). He narrowly lost his home parish; his victory came from a 2-1 margin in the thirteen precincts in Cameron Parish. Hardee won the bulk of the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
electorate. Hensgens, however, carried the backing of the Tea Party
Tea party
A tea party is a formal, ritualized gathering for afternoon tea.Formal tea parties are often characterized by the use of prestige utensils, such as bone china or silver. The table is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates. In addition to tea, larger parties may...
of Louisiana. Hensgens balanced the town budget in Gueydan by cutting spending, rather than raising taxes, and he reduced his own salary to give the police officers a raise.
Both candidates describe themselves as "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
, family-oriented, and fiscally-responsible."
Hensgens was sworn in as representative by his friend and predecessor in the office, Senator Jonathan Perry. This was the first time in Louisiana history in which a state senator swore in a representative.
Prior to his election to the House, Hensgens, as a Democrat, served nearly four years as the mayor of Gueydan
Gueydan, Louisiana
Gueydan is a town in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,598 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abbeville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, a town near Abbeville. Acting Mayor David Dupuis succeeded Hengens; he will serve until the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 22, 2011. Hensgens also will contest the House seat again at that time.