Ernest Wooton
Encyclopedia
Ernest Durham Wooton is a former sheriff
of Plaquemines Parish
, Louisiana
, who is a departing Independent member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the numerically last of the state House districts, No. 105. He resides in Belle Chasse
east of New Orleans
. He was an unsuccessful Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate election held on November 2, 2010.
for an oil
company. He graduated from Port Sulphur High School in Port Sulphur
in Plaquemines Parish. He attended Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge and Northwestern State University
in Natchitoches
, but his House website does not specify whether he received a degree. Wooton and his wife, the former Linda Green (born ca. 1945) have two sons, Jeffrey J. Wooton (born 1966) of Metairie
and John Dade Wooton (born 1971) of Belle Chasse.
Wooton served as a Democratic
sheriff from 1984 to 1992. He was unseated as sheriff on November 16, 1991, by the Republican
I.F. "Jiff" Hingle, Jr., 5,369 votes (54 percent) to 4,654 (46 percent). Hingle defeated Wooton again in a rematch held on October 21, 1995, having led a three-candidate field with 51 percent of the vote.
, resigned to become Plaquemines Parish president. The district includes Plaquemines Parish and parts of Jefferson and St. Charles
parishes. Wooton won again as a Democrat in the October 4, 2003, nonpartisan blanket primary for the House, 9,422 (64 percent) over three opponents, a Republican and two "No Party" contenders.
Wooton switched to Republican status in 2005. As a legislator, Wooton has been known for his strong conservative views and outspoken rhetoric. Because of his background in law enforcement, he is chairman of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. He also serves on the Homeland Security Committee. Unlike in Washington, D.C.
, members of the minority party or independents may chair legislative committees in both houses of the Louisiana legislature.
In the primary held on October 20, 2007, Wooton, running as a Republican for the only time in his career, overwhelmed his lone Democratic opponent, Russell Hayden, 9,934 (77 percent) to 3,042 (23 percent).
In 2010, Wooton introduced legislation to force Governor Bobby Jindal
to open more records of the state executive branch to the public. Jindal supporters carried the day with their contention that a governor needs a certain amount of executive privilege
and must keep some of the materials in question confidential.
of Napoleonville
in Assumption Parish and the winner of the Republican nomination, incumbent U.S. Senator David Vitter
of Metairie
in Jefferson Parish
.
Former Texas
Comptroller
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
tried a similar approach in 2006 in a bid for governor
but ran third in the general election to incumbent Rick Perry
. In his announcement for U.S. senator, Wooton said that he would drive about the state in a motor home and run a low-budget race, meeting voters directly.Wooton finished with only 8,167 votes, or 1 percent of the total cast.
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Plaquemines Parish
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...
, 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 is a departing Independent 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 the numerically last of the state House districts, No. 105. He resides in Belle Chasse
Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Belle Chasse is a census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Belle Chasse is part of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. The population was 9,848 at the 2000 census....
east 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...
. He was an unsuccessful Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate election held on November 2, 2010.
Background
Wooton handles public relationsPublic relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
for an oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
company. He graduated from Port Sulphur High School in Port Sulphur
Port Sulphur, Louisiana
Port Sulphur is a census-designated place on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,115 at the 2000 census....
in Plaquemines 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 and Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
in Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, but his House website does not specify whether he received a degree. Wooton and his wife, the former Linda Green (born ca. 1945) have two sons, Jeffrey J. Wooton (born 1966) of Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
and John Dade Wooton (born 1971) of Belle Chasse.
Wooton served as 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...
sheriff from 1984 to 1992. He was unseated as sheriff on November 16, 1991, by the 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...
I.F. "Jiff" Hingle, Jr., 5,369 votes (54 percent) to 4,654 (46 percent). Hingle defeated Wooton again in a rematch held on October 21, 1995, having led a three-candidate field with 51 percent of the vote.
Legislative service
Wooton was elected as a Democrat to the Louisiana House special election held on March 27, 1999; he defeated fellow Democrat Jerry K. Hodnett, also of Belle Chasse, 52-48 percent; the incumbent, Benny RousselleBenny Rousselle
Benedict G. Rousselle, known as Benny Rousselle , is a Realtor and a Democratic politician from Plaquemines Parish in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana....
, resigned to become Plaquemines Parish president. The district includes Plaquemines Parish and parts of Jefferson and St. Charles
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
St. Charles Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Hahnville. In 2010, its population was 52,780. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, this was part of the German Coast, an area along the Mississippi River settled by numerous German pioneers in the...
parishes. Wooton won again as a Democrat in the October 4, 2003, nonpartisan blanket primary for the House, 9,422 (64 percent) over three opponents, a Republican and two "No Party" contenders.
Wooton switched to Republican status in 2005. As a legislator, Wooton has been known for his strong conservative views and outspoken rhetoric. Because of his background in law enforcement, he is chairman of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. He also serves on the Homeland Security Committee. Unlike in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, members of the minority party or independents may chair legislative committees in both houses of the Louisiana legislature.
In the primary held on October 20, 2007, Wooton, running as a Republican for the only time in his career, overwhelmed his lone Democratic opponent, Russell Hayden, 9,934 (77 percent) to 3,042 (23 percent).
In 2010, Wooton introduced legislation to force 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....
to open more records of the state executive branch to the public. Jindal supporters carried the day with their contention that a governor needs a certain amount of executive privilege
Executive privilege
In the United States government, executive privilege is the power claimed by the President of the United States and other members of the executive branch to resist certain subpoenas and other interventions by the legislative and judicial branches of government...
and must keep some of the materials in question confidential.
U.S. Senate candidacy
After five years as a Republican, Wooton turned Independent on July 9, 2010, to qualify for the U.S. Senate contest. In making the switch, he bypassed the major party primaries. He faced the Democrat U.S. Representative Charlie MelanconCharlie Melancon
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Melancon was the U.S. Representative for , serving from 2005 to 2011, and the unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican David Vitter.-Early life, education and career:...
of Napoleonville
Napoleonville, Louisiana
Napoleonville is a village in and the parish seat of Assumption Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 686 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Assumption Parish and the winner of the Republican nomination, incumbent U.S. Senator David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
of Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
in Jefferson Parish
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....
.
Former Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Carole Keeton Strayhorn is the former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts....
tried a similar approach in 2006 in a bid for governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
but ran third in the general election to incumbent Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
. In his announcement for U.S. senator, Wooton said that he would drive about the state in a motor home and run a low-budget race, meeting voters directly.Wooton finished with only 8,167 votes, or 1 percent of the total cast.