Danny Martiny
Encyclopedia
Daniel R. "Danny" Martiny (born June 27, 1951) is a politician and attorney from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
. His clients include the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs office against his constituents. He has served since January 14, 2008, as a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from District 10, based in the New Orleans
suburb
s.
From 1994 to 2008, Martiny held the District 79 seat, also Jefferson Parish, in the Louisiana House of Representatives
. Term-limited in the House, Martiny ran for the Senate in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. Martiny polled 19,414 votes (68.9%) to 8,752 ballots (31.1%) for the
"No Party" candidate, Michael Zito. No Democrat filed in the heavily Republican district.
Martiny was born in New Orleans, the second of five children, to Wilfred E. Martiny and the former Doris Rault (October 5, 1925 – January 27, 2008), who died of Alzheimer's disease
. His maternal grandparents were Eugene J. Rault (1894–1977) and the former Eva Martin. His older brother, Martin Augustin Martiny, is a Roman Catholic priest
and missionary
to Kenya
. His younger siblings are Brian and Eddie Martiny, and Mrs. Michelle Lamb.
Martiny graduated in 1969 from Archbishop Rummel High School
in Metairie and then received his Bachelor of Arts
in history
in 1973 from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
. In 1976, he procured his Juris Doctor
from Loyola University
. He continues to operate his own law firm in Metairie; prior to his legislative service, he was also an assistant Jefferson Parish attorney from 1978 to 1994. Active in the Catholic Church, Martiny holds the Medallion of the Order of St. Louis from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He has also received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the conservative interest group, Morality in Media. He and his wife, Maureen McCarthy "Nina" Martiny, reside in Kenner
. They have three sons.
Martiny was initially elected to the House in a special election
held on May 21, 1994, when the Republican incumbent, Kernan "Skip" Hand
(born 1945) of Kenner, Louisiana
, resigned to become a judge of the 24th Judicial District. With 2,059 votes (60.8%) in a low turnout, Martiny defeated two Republican rivals, Dan Kelly and Vincent Bruno. In the primary for a full-term held on October 21, 1995, Martiny defeated fellow Republican Brent Abadie, 6,605 (67.5%) to 3,178 (32.5%). Thereafter, Martiny was unopposed for his second and third terms in the House in 1999 and 2003. He was succeeded in the House by fellow Republican Tony Ligi
, who polled 42% in the primary but still prevailed outright when his opponent declined to seek a general election
runoff.
In 2003, Martiny introduced a bill to ban sexual activity in public regardless of gender. The fine would range from ten days to a year in jail, with a maximum $1,000 fine. Martiny introduced the measure after having seen what he determined to have been a "very graphic, very offensive" video
of public sexual acts taken in 2002 by the Reverend Grant Storms, who was himself later arrested for masturbating while watching children in a public park, at the homosexual festival, Southern Decadence
in New Orleans. However, he opposed a bill to ban lap dancing at Louisiana strip clubs.
During the 2010 legislative session Martiny sponsored a bill to make attendance at a cockfight
a crime.
Martiny is a member of the Senate committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs. He is the chairman of Judiciary B. He voted with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
63% of the time in selected roll calls in 2008. He backed the Louisiana Family Forum
75% of time. However, he sided with LABI and opposed the LFF position when he voted to permit the sale of alcohol
and allow cover charge
s for live entertainment in restaurant
s. Martiny is a legislative foe of casino
gambling. He has questioned Indian
tribes pushing for tribal recognition as a ruse to bring casinos to the reservation
s. He once told the Atakapas-Ishak: "I do not doubt your Indian identity! It is casino gambling I oppose!"
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
. His clients include the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs office against his constituents. He has served since January 14, 2008, as a Republican
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...
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 10, based in the 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...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s.
From 1994 to 2008, Martiny held the District 79 seat, also Jefferson Parish, in 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...
. Term-limited in the House, Martiny ran for the Senate in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. Martiny polled 19,414 votes (68.9%) to 8,752 ballots (31.1%) for the
"No Party" candidate, Michael Zito. No Democrat filed in the heavily Republican district.
Martiny was born in New Orleans, the second of five children, to Wilfred E. Martiny and the former Doris Rault (October 5, 1925 – January 27, 2008), who died of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. His maternal grandparents were Eugene J. Rault (1894–1977) and the former Eva Martin. His older brother, Martin Augustin Martiny, is a Roman Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. His younger siblings are Brian and Eddie Martiny, and Mrs. Michelle Lamb.
Martiny graduated in 1969 from Archbishop Rummel High School
Archbishop Rummel High School
Archbishop Rummel High School is a Catholic secondary school located in Metairie, a community in unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The school is named after Archbishop Joseph Rummel, a former Archbishop in the Archdiocese of New Orleans....
in Metairie and then received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
in 1973 from 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...
. In 1976, he procured his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
. He continues to operate his own law firm in Metairie; prior to his legislative service, he was also an assistant Jefferson Parish attorney from 1978 to 1994. Active in the Catholic Church, Martiny holds the Medallion of the Order of St. Louis from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He has also received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the conservative interest group, Morality in Media. He and his wife, Maureen McCarthy "Nina" Martiny, reside in Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
. They have three sons.
Martiny was initially elected to the House in a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on May 21, 1994, when the Republican incumbent, Kernan "Skip" Hand
Kernan "Skip" Hand
Kernan August Hand, Sr., known as Kernan "Skip" Hand , is a retired state court judge of the 24th Judicial District from Kenner in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. A Republican, Hand served in the "Division H" judgeship from the spring of 1994 until his retirement on December 31, 2008...
(born 1945) of Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
, resigned to become a judge of the 24th Judicial District. With 2,059 votes (60.8%) in a low turnout, Martiny defeated two Republican rivals, Dan Kelly and Vincent Bruno. In the primary for a full-term held on October 21, 1995, Martiny defeated fellow Republican Brent Abadie, 6,605 (67.5%) to 3,178 (32.5%). Thereafter, Martiny was unopposed for his second and third terms in the House in 1999 and 2003. He was succeeded in the House by fellow Republican Tony Ligi
Tony Ligi
Anthony V. "Tony" Ligi, Jr. is an attorney and real estate title insurance agent from Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, who is a first-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 79, located on the populous south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.Websites do not...
, who polled 42% in the primary but still prevailed outright when his opponent declined to seek a general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
runoff.
In 2003, Martiny introduced a bill to ban sexual activity in public regardless of gender. The fine would range from ten days to a year in jail, with a maximum $1,000 fine. Martiny introduced the measure after having seen what he determined to have been a "very graphic, very offensive" video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
of public sexual acts taken in 2002 by the Reverend Grant Storms, who was himself later arrested for masturbating while watching children in a public park, at the homosexual festival, Southern Decadence
Southern Decadence
Southern Decadence is a week-long, predominantly gay-male event held in New Orleans, Louisiana and its environs by the gay and lesbian community during Labor Day Weekend, climaxing with a parade through the French Quarter on the Sunday before Labor Day...
in New Orleans. However, he opposed a bill to ban lap dancing at Louisiana strip clubs.
During the 2010 legislative session Martiny sponsored a bill to make attendance at a cockfight
Cockfight
A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters , held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and in most of Europe. It is still legal in several U.S. territories....
a crime.
Martiny is a member of the Senate committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs. He is the chairman of Judiciary B. He voted with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, known by the acronym LABI, is the largest and most successful business lobbying group in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was founded in Baton Rouge in 1976, when Louisiana adopted a new right-to-work law during the administration of Democratic...
63% of the time in selected roll calls in 2008. He backed the Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum is a social conservative non-profit advocacy group based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The organization supports Louisiana's covenant marriage law and opposes abortion and same-sex marriage...
75% of time. However, he sided with LABI and opposed the LFF position when he voted to permit the sale of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and allow cover charge
Cover charge
At bars and nightclubs, or restaurants with live entertainment a flat fee for entry, sometimes known as a cover charge, is made, in addition to payment for food and drink...
s for live entertainment in restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s. Martiny is a legislative foe of casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
gambling. He has questioned Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes pushing for tribal recognition as a ruse to bring casinos to the reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
s. He once told the Atakapas-Ishak: "I do not doubt your Indian identity! It is casino gambling I oppose!"