Gordon Dove (Louisiana politician)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Earl Dove, Sr. is a business
man from Houma
, Louisiana
, who is a Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 52 in Terrebonne
and Lafourche
parishes.
in Houma and attended Nicholls State University
in Thibodaux
, Louisiana. He first married Christine Bergeron, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bergeron, who returned to her maiden name after their divorce. The couple had a son, the late Gordon Dove, Jr., and has four daughters, Rachael Ramirez and husband, Brent; Angelle Marciante and husband, Chad; Jackie Dove, and Noelle Dove. From his second marriage to the former Mona Himel, Dove acquired three stepchildren, Katie Himel, Drake Himel, and Jake Himel. Dove owns Copeland chain restaurants in Houma and Lafayette
. His Vacco Marine is an environmental vessel tank cleaning company. He is also engaged in the cleaning of oil spills. His Doveland Corporation is a real estate firm.
Dove's only son, Gordon "Bubba" Dove, Jr. (June 7, 1986—March 29, 2009) had helped his father in the operations of the family holdings. At the time of his death, he was the president of Blue Marlin Oilfield and Equipment Rentals, Inc. The younger Dove died at twenty-two in a sport utility vehicle accident on Interstate 310
near Destrehan
. He was returning to Houma from a charity concert for Hurricane Katrina
victims in New Orleans
. Young Dove's vehicle careened across the highway, crashed into the right barrier, and overturned several times. His seat belt was not fastened. Partially thrown out the back window and pinned beneath the SUV, he died at the scene.
, the former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, in a runoff election by only five votes over fellow Republican Tom Watkins, a Houma attorney. Dove was unopposed for his second and third legislative terms in 2007 and 2011. His principal legislative issue has been to secure funding for the maintenance of Louisiana's barrier islands to protect from coastal erosion and as a defense against hurricanes.
Originating in southern Houma, District 52 covers both Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Fewer than 10 percent of the district lies within the latter Parish. The district is a major base of the offshore oil and gas industry. Oilfield service firms are found on Louisiana State Highway 311 and the Intracoastal Waterway
. There are also numerous retailers and franchise restaurants. Through such operations as Southland Mall and the Terrebonne General Medical Center, the district is a regional center for shopping, entertainment, and health care. Houma frequently leads other Louisiana cities in job growth. The second largest Mardi Gras
celebration outside New Orleans is held in Houma. The district has a diverse media market with three daily newspapers, a local television channel and talk radio outlets.
The district includes affluent residential areas in the Houma area and up and coming middle-to-upper-class neighborhoods along Highway 311 and in Summerfield. The area has a strong Cajun
influence, as new residents arrive from the eroded coastline. There are small patches of poverty but a low crime rate. The district gave U.S. President George W. Bush
71 percent of the vote in 2004. However, it often supports Democrats of Catholic affiliation and with French surnames. The fishing industry is both commercial and recreational.
Dove is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and works to raise awareness of the importance of coastal passes and barrier islands. He supports the north-south corridor for hurricane evacuation and the funding of the hurricane protection system from Morganza
to the Gulf of Mexico
. Dove also supports the state charity hospital system by removing the Medicare
and Medicaid
caps placed on the hospitals.
Dove is unopposed for his third term in the House in the nonpartisan blanket primary scheduled for October 22, 2011.
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man from Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
, 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 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 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 52 in Terrebonne
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Houma. Its population was 111,860...
and Lafourche
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
Lafourche Parish is a parish located in the south of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was originally the northern part of Lafourche Interior Parish, which consisted of the present parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. The parish seat is Thibodaux...
parishes.
Background
Dove was born in Houma to Billy L. Dove, Sr. (1929–1995), and Earline J. Dove (1930–2002). Dove graduated from Terrebonne High SchoolTerrebonne High School
Terrebonne High School is a secondary school in Houma, Louisiana, United States.It is a part of the Terrebonne Parish School District.It has been in existence since 1908, and houses grades 10-12; freshmen attend Houma Junior High School. It is the second oldest accredited high school in the state...
in Houma and attended Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
in Thibodaux
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
, Louisiana. He first married Christine Bergeron, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bergeron, who returned to her maiden name after their divorce. The couple had a son, the late Gordon Dove, Jr., and has four daughters, Rachael Ramirez and husband, Brent; Angelle Marciante and husband, Chad; Jackie Dove, and Noelle Dove. From his second marriage to the former Mona Himel, Dove acquired three stepchildren, Katie Himel, Drake Himel, and Jake Himel. Dove owns Copeland chain restaurants in Houma and 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...
. His Vacco Marine is an environmental vessel tank cleaning company. He is also engaged in the cleaning of oil spills. His Doveland Corporation is a real estate firm.
Dove's only son, Gordon "Bubba" Dove, Jr. (June 7, 1986—March 29, 2009) had helped his father in the operations of the family holdings. At the time of his death, he was the president of Blue Marlin Oilfield and Equipment Rentals, Inc. The younger Dove died at twenty-two in a sport utility vehicle accident on Interstate 310
Interstate 310
Interstate 310 is a short spur route of Interstate 10 near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It runs south from Interstate 10 near the New Orleans International Airport, intersects with U.S. Highway 61 and ends at the junction with U.S...
near Destrehan
Destrehan, Louisiana
Destrehan is a census-designated place in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N...
. He was returning to Houma from a charity concert for 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...
victims in 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...
. Young Dove's vehicle careened across the highway, crashed into the right barrier, and overturned several times. His seat belt was not fastened. Partially thrown out the back window and pinned beneath the SUV, he died at the scene.
State legislature
In 2003, Dove won the seat vacated by unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Hunt DownerHunt Downer
Major General Huntington Blair Downer, Jr., known as Hunt Downer , is a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Louisiana who is the assistant adjutant general of the state National Guard and the first ever director of the new Louisiana Veterans Affairs Department.A former Speaker of the...
, the former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, in a runoff election by only five votes over fellow Republican Tom Watkins, a Houma attorney. Dove was unopposed for his second and third legislative terms in 2007 and 2011. His principal legislative issue has been to secure funding for the maintenance of Louisiana's barrier islands to protect from coastal erosion and as a defense against hurricanes.
Originating in southern Houma, District 52 covers both Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Fewer than 10 percent of the district lies within the latter Parish. The district is a major base of the offshore oil and gas industry. Oilfield service firms are found on Louisiana State Highway 311 and the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
. There are also numerous retailers and franchise restaurants. Through such operations as Southland Mall and the Terrebonne General Medical Center, the district is a regional center for shopping, entertainment, and health care. Houma frequently leads other Louisiana cities in job growth. The second largest Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
celebration outside New Orleans is held in Houma. The district has a diverse media market with three daily newspapers, a local television channel and talk radio outlets.
The district includes affluent residential areas in the Houma area and up and coming middle-to-upper-class neighborhoods along Highway 311 and in Summerfield. The area has a strong Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
influence, as new residents arrive from the eroded coastline. There are small patches of poverty but a low crime rate. The district gave U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
71 percent of the vote in 2004. However, it often supports Democrats of Catholic affiliation and with French surnames. The fishing industry is both commercial and recreational.
Dove is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and works to raise awareness of the importance of coastal passes and barrier islands. He supports the north-south corridor for hurricane evacuation and the funding of the hurricane protection system from Morganza
Morganza, Louisiana
Morganza is an incorporated village near the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 659 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village's zip code is 70759...
to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Dove also supports the state charity hospital system by removing the Medicare
Medicare
Medicare may refer to any of several publicly funded health insurance programs:*Medicare *Medicare *Medicare - See also :*Medicaid*Medicare Australia*Medicare Resources - China*Medicare Rights Center - United States...
and Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
caps placed on the hospitals.
Dove is unopposed for his third term in the House in the nonpartisan blanket primary scheduled for October 22, 2011.