Tom McVea
Encyclopedia
Thomas Houston McVea, known as Tom McVea (born March 2, 1945), is a cattleman from St. Francisville
in West Feliciana Parish
, Louisiana
, who is a retiring Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 62, which encompasses parts of the Florida Parishes
of East Baton Rouge
, East Feliciana
, Livingston
, St. Helena
, Tangipahoa
, and West Feliciana. His office is located in Jackson
in East Feliciana Parish.In 2012, the district will be reconfigured to include only parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and the two Felicianas.
, Missouri
. He graduated from St. Francisville High School, now West Feliciana High School, in St. Francisville, the parish seat
of West Feliciana Parish. In 1972, McVea graduated from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
. He also formerly resided in East Feliciana Parish, where he served on the police jury, the governing council of the parish. McVea is married to the former Antoinette "Toni" Stephens. He is Presbyterian.
, McVea was a Democratic
member of the state House. More than sixteen years later, he returned to represent the reconfigured District 62. McVea won a special election in 2000 called because of the resignation of Democratic Representative John D. Travis. By this time that McVea began his second three-term stint in the legislature, he had already switched to the GOP
. Under legislative rules, McVea is term-limited in the October 22, 2011, nonpartisan blanket primary.
On November 7, 2000, McVea won the special election runoff to fill the District 62 seat by defeating a Democrat, Myron Hall, 9,161 votes (52 percent) to 8,385 (48 percent).
McVea was unopposed in 2003. In 2007, he polled nearly 57 percent of the vote against a Democrat, David Ridder (34.8 percent), and another Republican, Anthony J. Denenea, Jr. (9.6 percent). McVea was able to win as a Republican because only half of the district includes the Democratic strongholds of St. Helena and East and West Feliciana, the latter his home base.
in East Feliciana Parish and Zachary
in East Baton Rouge Parish.
As a representative, McVea has pushed for vocational education
in high schools and advocates for improved teacher salaries. He has also pushed for a plan to obtain permanent financing for the state's highways. He has encouraged the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to study ways of raising additional revenue through the marketing of the state's historic sites. In his final term, McVea was the vice chairman of the House Insurance Committee. He also served on Appropriations, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and the Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
Republican Kenny Havard and Democrat Ken Dawson will compete in the general election scheduled for November 19, 2011, to select the successor to Representative McVea.
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...
in West Feliciana Parish
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,111 people, 3,645 households, and 2,704 families residing in the parish. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 4,485 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
, 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 retiring 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 62, which encompasses parts of the Florida Parishes
Florida Parishes
The Florida Parishes , also known as the North Shore region, are eight parishes in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana, which were part of West Florida in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Unlike much of Louisiana, this region was not part of the Louisiana Purchase, as it had been...
of East Baton Rouge
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...
, East Feliciana
East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
East Feliciana Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Clinton. In 2000, the population was 21,360.East Feliciana Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical...
, Livingston
Livingston Parish, Louisiana
Livingston Parish Is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Livingston. As of 2010, its population was 128,026....
, St. Helena
St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
St. Helena Parish is a parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Greensburg. As of 2000, its population was 10,525.St. Helena Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical Area.-History:For the past...
, Tangipahoa
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. The parish seat is Amite City, but the major city is Hammond. As of 2006, the population was 113,137...
, and West Feliciana. His office is located in Jackson
Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson is a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,130 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in East Feliciana Parish.In 2012, the district will be reconfigured to include only parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and the two Felicianas.
Background
McVea was born in ColumbiaColumbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He graduated from St. Francisville High School, now West Feliciana High School, in St. Francisville, the parish seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of West Feliciana Parish. In 1972, McVea graduated from 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
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...
. He also formerly resided in East Feliciana Parish, where he served on the police jury, the governing council of the parish. McVea is married to the former Antoinette "Toni" Stephens. He is Presbyterian.
Elections
From 1980 to 1984, during the administration of Republican Governor David C. TreenDavid C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
, McVea was 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...
member of the state House. More than sixteen years later, he returned to represent the reconfigured District 62. McVea won a special election in 2000 called because of the resignation of Democratic Representative John D. Travis. By this time that McVea began his second three-term stint in the legislature, he had already switched to the GOP
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...
. Under legislative rules, McVea is term-limited in the October 22, 2011, nonpartisan blanket primary.
On November 7, 2000, McVea won the special election runoff to fill the District 62 seat by defeating a Democrat, Myron Hall, 9,161 votes (52 percent) to 8,385 (48 percent).
McVea was unopposed in 2003. In 2007, he polled nearly 57 percent of the vote against a Democrat, David Ridder (34.8 percent), and another Republican, Anthony J. Denenea, Jr. (9.6 percent). McVea was able to win as a Republican because only half of the district includes the Democratic strongholds of St. Helena and East and West Feliciana, the latter his home base.
Legislative matters
District 62 in East and West Feliciana parishes has considerable state government employment at hospitals and correctional faciities. West Feliciana is a tourist mecca with antique shops and bed and breakfast facilities. There are also some large employers, including chemical plants and Entergy’s Riverbend Nuclear Energy plant. The district supports some agriculture, primarily dairy and cattle farming. Families and white collar workers have increasingly vacated the Baton Rouge area in search of quieter communities like ClintonClinton, Louisiana
Clinton is a town in and the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was named for New York Governor DeWitt Clinton. The population was 1,998 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in East Feliciana Parish and Zachary
Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in East Baton Rouge Parish.
As a representative, McVea has pushed for vocational education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in high schools and advocates for improved teacher salaries. He has also pushed for a plan to obtain permanent financing for the state's highways. He has encouraged the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to study ways of raising additional revenue through the marketing of the state's historic sites. In his final term, McVea was the vice chairman of the House Insurance Committee. He also served on Appropriations, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and the Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
Republican Kenny Havard and Democrat Ken Dawson will compete in the general election scheduled for November 19, 2011, to select the successor to Representative McVea.