John Bel Edwards
Encyclopedia
John Bel Edwards is a Democratic
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, representing the 72nd District since 2008.
Edwards grew up in Amite, Louisiana, the son of Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff
and Edwin Edwards
confidant Frank M. Edwards Jr. John Bel Edwards was graduated from Amite High School as Valedictorian
and received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy
in West Point, New York
, in 1988. After a tour in the U.S. Army Edwards returned to Louisiana to receive a law degree from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
in 1999. He is a practicing attorney with the Edwards & Associates Law Firm in Amite. He is the brother of Southeastern Louisiana University
mathematician Frank Millard Edwards, chief of police
in Independence, Louisiana
. as well as Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel H. Edwards, and he is brother-in-law to 21st Judicial District Court Juvenile Judge Blair Edwards (née Downing).
Edwards was the only freshman lawmaker to chair a committee in the legislature. Edwards chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee in the House. Edwards also chairs the Democratic house caucus and did so as a rarity during his freshman term.
In the 2008 election Edwards was forced into a general election run-off
with fellow trial lawyer George Tucker. Tucker campaigned primarily on the fact that he defended a Jena Six
member. Edwards was overwhelmingly elected, winning every parish in the district.
Cities/towns that Edwards represents include Amite
, Greensburg
, and Kentwood as well as parts of Saint Francisville
and Hammond, Louisiana
.
In 2010 Edwards became a critic of governor Bobby Jindal
for the governor's frequent trips away from Louisiana to raise political funds for Republicans
elsewhere while cutting funding for Louisiana's public institutions of higher education.
In 2011 Edwards was Re-elected to the State House of Representatives. Edwards claimed a strong win against opponent Johnny Duncan. Edwards won with 83% to Johnny Duncan's 17%.
Nonetheless, Edwards indicated disinterest in being a candidate to unseat Jindal in the Louisiana gubernatorial elections during 2011.
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...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
, representing the 72nd District since 2008.
Edwards grew up in Amite, Louisiana, the son of Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff
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....
and Edwin Edwards
Edwin Edwards
Edwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
confidant Frank M. Edwards Jr. John Bel Edwards was graduated from Amite High School as Valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, in 1988. After a tour in the U.S. Army Edwards returned to Louisiana to receive a law degree from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
The Paul M. Hebert Law Center is a law school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, part of the Louisiana State University System and located on the main campus of Louisiana State University....
in 1999. He is a practicing attorney with the Edwards & Associates Law Firm in Amite. He is the brother of Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
mathematician Frank Millard Edwards, chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
in Independence, Louisiana
Independence, Louisiana
Independence, originally known as Uncle Sam, is a town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,724 at the 2000 census...
. as well as Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel H. Edwards, and he is brother-in-law to 21st Judicial District Court Juvenile Judge Blair Edwards (née Downing).
Legislative career
John Bel Edwards faced tough criticism from the local NAACP President Pat Morris, when she thought that, as a district which had been gerrymandered to have an African-American majority, the 72nd district would best be represented by an African American. (As of 2008 the ethnic demographics of the district have existed since the 1970s, but the district has never been represented by an African American.)Edwards was the only freshman lawmaker to chair a committee in the legislature. Edwards chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee in the House. Edwards also chairs the Democratic house caucus and did so as a rarity during his freshman term.
In the 2008 election Edwards was forced into a general election run-off
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
with fellow trial lawyer George Tucker. Tucker campaigned primarily on the fact that he defended a Jena Six
Jena Six
The Jena Six were six black teenagers convicted in the beating of Justin Barker, a white student at Jena High School in Jena, Louisiana, on December 4, 2006. Barker was injured in the assault by the members of the Jena Six, and received treatment for his injuries at an emergency room...
member. Edwards was overwhelmingly elected, winning every parish in the district.
Cities/towns that Edwards represents include Amite
Amite City, Louisiana
Amite City is a town in and the parish seat of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,110 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Amite City is located at ....
, Greensburg
Greensburg, Louisiana
Greensburg is a town in and the parish seat of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 631 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greensburg is one of the oldest towns in Louisiana....
, and Kentwood as well as parts of Saint Francisville
St. Francisville, Louisiana
St. Francisville is a town in and the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,712 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
and Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
.
In 2010 Edwards became a critic of 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....
for the governor's frequent trips away from Louisiana to raise political funds for Republicans
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...
elsewhere while cutting funding for Louisiana's public institutions of higher education.
In 2011 Edwards was Re-elected to the State House of Representatives. Edwards claimed a strong win against opponent Johnny Duncan. Edwards won with 83% to Johnny Duncan's 17%.
Nonetheless, Edwards indicated disinterest in being a candidate to unseat Jindal in the Louisiana gubernatorial elections during 2011.