Erich Ponti
Encyclopedia
Erich Edward Ponti a general contractor, is a Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 69 in East Baton Rouge Parish
, Louisiana
.
On October 25, 2011, Governor Bobby Jindal
endorsed Chuck Kleckley
of Lake Charles
as his choice to succeed the term-limited Jim Tucker
as the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Ponti and fellow Baton Rouge Representative Hunter Greene
and Republican Representative Joel Robideaux
of Lafayette
and the Democrat Jeff Arnold of New Orleans
were also seeking support for the presiding officer's position.The House of Representatives usually confirms the governor's choice as the Speaker.
(both born 1935). He is married to the former Amy Leleux (born 1966), and they have a son, Andrew Ponti (born ca. 1990).
Ponti graduated in 1983 from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. He received a Bachelor of Science
degree in construction management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
.
representative, Republican Gary Beard
of Baton Rouge ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor
.
Representative Ponti also holds the District 69 seat on the Republican State Central Committee, having defeated party activist Sally A. Nungesser, 898-407 (69-31 percent), for the position in Louisiana presidential primary held on February 9, 2008.
In his first legislative session, Ponti voted in committee to send a proposed legislative pay raise to the House floor. He then voted in the full chamber against the measure, known as SB 672, which nevertheless passed the House 56-45 on June 13, 2008. Amid a large public protest, Governor Bobby Jindal
veto
ed the legislation, which would have tripled state legislators' salaries.
In 2008, Ponti joined a large House majority in voting for legislation authorizing the castration
of sex offender
s.
Ponti serves on the House Commerce and Government Affairs committees and is vice-chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. He is rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Committee, 81 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
, and 75 percent by the Louisiana Family Forum
.
In 2010, Ponti failed in an attempt to gain passage of a law requiring new licenses for residential plumber
s.
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 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...
from District 69 in East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state...
, 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...
.
On October 25, 2011, 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....
endorsed Chuck Kleckley
Chuck Kleckley
Charles Edward Kleckley, known as Chuck Kleckey , is a businessman in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 36 in southwestern Calcasieu Parish....
of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
as his choice to succeed the term-limited Jim Tucker
Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician)
James Wayne Tucker, known as Jim Tucker , is the departing Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and an ally of Governor Bobby Jindal. An investment banker from the Terrytown section of the New Orleans metropolitan area, Tucker's District 86 includes precincts from both Jefferson and...
as the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Ponti and fellow Baton Rouge Representative Hunter Greene
Hunter Greene
Hunter Vann Greene is an attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 66 in East Baton Rouge Parish....
and Republican Representative Joel Robideaux
Joel Robideaux
Joel Craig Robideaux is a Certified Public Accountant from Lafayette, Louisiana, who is an Independent-turned-Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 45 in Lafayette Parish...
of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
and the Democrat Jeff Arnold 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...
were also seeking support for the presiding officer's position.The House of Representatives usually confirms the governor's choice as the Speaker.
Biography
Ponti is the son of Eugene Oliver Ponti and the former Janice Desroche of Baton RougeBaton 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...
(both born 1935). He is married to the former Amy Leleux (born 1966), and they have a son, Andrew Ponti (born ca. 1990).
Ponti graduated in 1983 from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. He received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in construction management from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
.
Political career
Ponti was elected to the House on November 17, 2007, when he defeated fellow Republican William L. "Bill" Benedetto (born 1941), a retired businessman from Baton Rouge, 6,772 votes (63 percent) to 4,059 (37 percent). The position opened when the incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
representative, Republican Gary Beard
Gary Beard
Gary James Beard is a former conservative Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from East Baton Rouge Parish who was handily defeated in his bid for lieutenant governor in the jungle primary held on October 20, 2007. Beard ran third in the race with 130,935...
of Baton Rouge ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
.
Representative Ponti also holds the District 69 seat on the Republican State Central Committee, having defeated party activist Sally A. Nungesser, 898-407 (69-31 percent), for the position in Louisiana presidential primary held on February 9, 2008.
In his first legislative session, Ponti voted in committee to send a proposed legislative pay raise to the House floor. He then voted in the full chamber against the measure, known as SB 672, which nevertheless passed the House 56-45 on June 13, 2008. Amid a large public protest, 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....
veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed the legislation, which would have tripled state legislators' salaries.
In 2008, Ponti joined a large House majority in voting for legislation authorizing the castration
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
of sex offender
Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections such as traffic, assault, sexual, etc. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a...
s.
Ponti serves on the House Commerce and Government Affairs committees and is vice-chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. He is rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
Committee, 81 percent by 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...
, and 75 percent by 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...
.
In 2010, Ponti failed in an attempt to gain passage of a law requiring new licenses for residential plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
s.