Keith Hightower
Encyclopedia
Keith Paul Hightower is a businessman who is the former Democratic
mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
.
Hightower graduated from Captain Shreve High School in 1975; one of his classmates was later State Senator
Greg Barro
, a Shreveport lawyer
. Hightower then graduated in 1979 from Louisiana Tech University
in Ruston
, the seat of Lincoln Parish. He was one of the relatively few graduates in his college class from Shreveport who returned to live and work in their hometown. First, however, Hightower was employed by Acme Brick Co. in Baton Rouge
; the firm transferred him to Shreveport. In 1990, Hightower was elected to the first of two terms on the Shreveport City Council. He left the brick company and thereafter smade his living in automobile sales.
In 1998, Councilman Hightower unseated Republican
Mayor Robert W. "Bo" Williams
in the municipal jungle primary
. Hightower led with 20,250 votes (42 percent) to Williams' 13,637 (28 percent). Three other candidates, two Democrats and another Republican, divided the remaining 30 percent of the ballots. Williams, who trailed by nearly 7,000 votes, declined to proceed to a general election
, and Hightower hence won the position outright.
Hightower was reelected with 75 percent of the vote in 2002 over the conservative
Republican Vernon D. Adams (born August 6, 1929). Hightower polled 31,054 votes to Adams' 10,611.
In the jungle primary held on September 30, 2006, voters sent a Republican attorney, Jerry Jones, and a black candidate, state Representative Cedric Bradford Glover
, into the November 7 general election to choose Hightower's successor. Jones initially led the balloting with 39 percent, and Glover trailed with 32 percent, but Glover emerged the ultimate winner, 54-46 percent over Jones. Democrat Liz Swaine
, a former broadcast journalist and Hightower's executive assistant, and Republican Vernon Adams and departing State Senator
Max T. Malone
were among nine contenders who were eliminated in the primary.
Hightower had considered seeking the open secretary of state's position in the September 30 balloting but never filed his candidacy papers. On November 29, 2006, Hightower returned to his old job as vice president of the Holmes Auto Group. The Hightowers have two daughters, both of whom attend the University of Mississippi
at Oxford
.
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...
mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
.
Hightower graduated from Captain Shreve High School in 1975; one of his classmates was later State Senator
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...
Greg Barro
Greg Barro
Gregory John Barro, known as Greg Barro , is an attorney in Shreveport, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1992 to 1996. He represented District 37, which covers parts of Caddo and Bossier parishes the far northwestern portion of the state.In 1987, Barro...
, a Shreveport lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Hightower then graduated in 1979 from Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
, the seat of Lincoln Parish. He was one of the relatively few graduates in his college class from Shreveport who returned to live and work in their hometown. First, however, Hightower was employed by Acme Brick Co. 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...
; the firm transferred him to Shreveport. In 1990, Hightower was elected to the first of two terms on the Shreveport City Council. He left the brick company and thereafter smade his living in automobile sales.
In 1998, Councilman Hightower unseated 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...
Mayor Robert W. "Bo" Williams
Robert W. "Bo" Williams
Robert Warren "Bo" Williams is a former Republican mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, having served a single term from 1994-1998....
in the municipal jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
. Hightower led with 20,250 votes (42 percent) to Williams' 13,637 (28 percent). Three other candidates, two Democrats and another Republican, divided the remaining 30 percent of the ballots. Williams, who trailed by nearly 7,000 votes, declined to proceed to 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...
, and Hightower hence won the position outright.
Hightower was reelected with 75 percent of the vote in 2002 over the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Republican Vernon D. Adams (born August 6, 1929). Hightower polled 31,054 votes to Adams' 10,611.
In the jungle primary held on September 30, 2006, voters sent a Republican attorney, Jerry Jones, and a black candidate, state Representative Cedric Bradford Glover
Cedric Glover
Cedric Bradford Glover is the Democratic mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana -- the first African American to hold the position.Outgoing Mayor Keith Hightower was term-limited in 2006, after having won election in both 1998 and 2002...
, into the November 7 general election to choose Hightower's successor. Jones initially led the balloting with 39 percent, and Glover trailed with 32 percent, but Glover emerged the ultimate winner, 54-46 percent over Jones. Democrat Liz Swaine
Liz Swaine
Elizabeth Swaine, known as Liz Swaine , is an American journalist and former civil servant. Formerly a television anchorwoman with the ABC affiliate KTBS-TV, she ran unsuccessfully in 2006 for the office of mayor of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish and the third largest city in Louisiana.A...
, a former broadcast journalist and Hightower's executive assistant, and Republican Vernon Adams and departing State Senator
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...
Max T. Malone
Max T. Malone
Max Tatum Malone is the president of Malone Oil and Gas Exploration Company in Shreveport and a former Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, in which he served from 1996 until January 14, 2008...
were among nine contenders who were eliminated in the primary.
Hightower had considered seeking the open secretary of state's position in the September 30 balloting but never filed his candidacy papers. On November 29, 2006, Hightower returned to his old job as vice president of the Holmes Auto Group. The Hightowers have two daughters, both of whom attend the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
at Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
.
External links
- Keith Hightower Campaign (2002). "About Keith Hightower". Retrieved Jan. 26, 2006.
- http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=10039809
- http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=10050209
- http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=09300609
- http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/NEWS01/611250333