Willie Mount
Encyclopedia
Willie Landry Mount is an American
politician from Louisiana
. Mount is a Democratic
member of the Louisiana State Senate
and has since 2000 represented District 27, which includes parts of Lake Charles
and surrounding cities Sulphur
and Westlake
. From 1993 to 1999 she served as the first female mayor of Lake Charles.
Mount was a candidate in the 2004 U.S. House of Representatives election for Louisiana's 7th congressional district
. She was defeated after in a contested general election
campaign that received national attention.
degree from McNeese State University
in Lake Charles. She owned a small business and worked as a real estate agent and pharmaceutical representative for Lederle Laboratories
. Mount resides in her hometown with her husband, attorney Benjamin Mount; they have no children.
, and ran for mayor of Lake Charles in 1993, winning against Paul Savoie, a Democrat and former mayor, becoming the first female mayor of the city. During her tenure she served as president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors and supported restoration efforts following hurricanes. To this end Mount testified before Congress
in support of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999. She also co-sponsored the building of an Amtrak
station, modeled after an older station that had been destroyed in a fire. In an effort to succeed retiring state senator James J. Cox, Mount announced her senate candidacy on October 19, 1999, while addressing the Calcasieu Parish School Board
, which she asked to support her. Upon being elected, Mount resigned as mayor and City Council President Rodney Geyen took over the office.
In the senate, Mount served on a variety of committees, chairing the Senate Committees on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control, Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and also serving as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. In 2008, she became chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. Mount often sponsors legislation regarding health and public service. This includes bills intended to identify sex offenders and enact term limits for various boards and commissions. She was responsible for passing these term limits as an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution
, as SB 232 on November 4, 2008. Mount also sponsored legislation to merge New Orleans criminal and civil district courts, create a childhood and family learning center, couple the opening of new hospice care
providers with inspections of existing ones, allow police to suspend driver's licenses of teenagers with problems at school, and create a state-run internet database providing information on the quality of health care providers. Mount was responsible for legislation that made Louisiana water fluoridation
mandatory, and, in her capacity as chair of the Senate Health committee, Mount in 2008 declared major Louisiana health care reform
unlikely without prior federal reform.
As senator, Mount raised funds for health care facilities (Mount had herself roasted
in support of the Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services). Mount is a member of a number of boards and charitable organisations and provides an annual compilation of "Louisiana positives" about Louisiana's standing in national ratings. Due to term limits, Mount is eligible to serve as senator until 2012.
, who had announced his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives
to run for the U.S. Senate
. She positioned herself as a conservative Democrat, supportive of balanced budgets and conservative social views, emphasizing job creation, health care and her opposition to offshoring
. Her major Democratic opponent in the jungle primary was African American Don Cravins, father of Don Cravins, Jr.
Her major Republican
opponent was Charles Boustany
, a retired heart surgeon, who ran on a platform of preventing tax increases and passing a new energy bill. The Louisiana Democratic Party
was supporting Mount, as Cravins was believed to be a weaker contestant in a run-off. Polls taken in late October had shown Boustany, Cravins and Mount statistically tied and the election was hotly contested.
In the first ballot on November 2, 2004, Boustany and Mount garnered the most votes; Cravins was defeated by less than two thousand votes. As both fell short of a majority, a second ballot was mandated. In the subsequent campaign, Mount criticized Boustany for favouring tax cuts for the rich and being indifferent to health care, while Boustany rejected the attacks as false and stressed his willingness to work with Democrats and Independents. Boustany in turn portrayed Mount as liberal and favoring tax increases. Mount also criticized Boustany for favoring the privatization of social security
, an unpopular position in Louisiana, and as removed from the interests of voters. She received endorsements by U.S. Senator John Breaux
, who had represented the 7th district for over fourteen years, and governor Kathleen Blanco
. Boustany was helped by Vice President Dick Cheney
, who campaigned on his behalf in Lake Charles. Mount, however, was not endorsed by Democratic primary opponent Don Cravins, who complained about the state Democratic Party's endorsement of Mount in a partially party funded mailer that excluded him and which he believed contributed to his narrow loss. Cravins prepared a suit in federal court claiming that the state Democratic Party violated the Voting Rights Act
.
In the run-off on December 4, 2004, Boustany defeated Mount, 55 percent to 45 percent in an election with low general voter turnout
. Democrats had hoped on a big turnout, as the district is nearly a quarter African American, a reliable Democratic constituency. Analysis of the race suggested that Mount's defeat was helped by the open primary system that had the Democratic candidates work against each other and led to Cravin's conflict with the state Democratic Party which in turn led to suppressed voter turnout. The large number of negative advertisements was also cited as a factor that contributed to low turnout. Another detriment for Mount mentioned was the strong support for George W. Bush
in the presidential election in the district, which he carried by about 60 percent. Following her defeat, Mount ruled out another campaign for the seat, but not a campaign for another state-wide office.
When Mount leaves the Senate in 2012, she will be succeeded by a Republican, former State Representative Ronnie Johns
of Sulphur
, who is unopposed for the open seat in the October 22 nonpartisan blanket primary.
Aguillard, an Independent who led the primary balloting with 17,208 votes (48.9 percent). A third candidate, Republican Mike Regan, was also eliminated in the primary, having received the remaining 4,538 votes (12.9 percent).
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 3, 1993
Second Ballot, May 1, 1993
Mount was unopposed for a second term as mayor.
Louisiana State Senator, 27th Senatorial District, 1999
October 23, 1999
Mount was unopposed on October 4, 2003 and October 20, 2007 for her second and third term as state senator.
U.S. Representative, 7th Congressional District, 2004
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 2, 2004
Second Ballot, December 4, 2004
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from 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...
. Mount is 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 Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
and has since 2000 represented District 27, which includes parts of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
and surrounding cities Sulphur
Sulphur, Louisiana
Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Westlake
Westlake, Louisiana
Westlake is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is considered a suburb of Lake Charles. The population was 4,668 at the 2000 census...
. From 1993 to 1999 she served as the first female mayor of Lake Charles.
Mount was a candidate in the 2004 U.S. House of Representatives election for Louisiana's 7th congressional district
Louisiana's 7th congressional district
Louisiana's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana located in the southwestern part of the state. It contains the cities of Crowley, Eunice, Jennings, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Opelousas, Sulphur and Ville Platte....
. She was defeated after in a contested 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...
campaign that received national attention.
Personal life
Born and reared in Lake Charles, Mount in 1974 obtained a Bachelor of Business AdministrationBachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
degree from McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
in Lake Charles. She owned a small business and worked as a real estate agent and pharmaceutical representative for Lederle Laboratories
Wyeth
Wyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...
. Mount resides in her hometown with her husband, attorney Benjamin Mount; they have no children.
Career
Mount had been active in community work, through organizations such as the Junior League of Lake CharlesJunior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
, and ran for mayor of Lake Charles in 1993, winning against Paul Savoie, a Democrat and former mayor, becoming the first female mayor of the city. During her tenure she served as president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors and supported restoration efforts following hurricanes. To this end Mount testified before Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in support of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999. She also co-sponsored the building of an Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station, modeled after an older station that had been destroyed in a fire. In an effort to succeed retiring state senator James J. Cox, Mount announced her senate candidacy on October 19, 1999, while addressing the Calcasieu Parish School Board
Calcasieu Parish Public Schools
Calcasieu Parish School Board is a school district based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. The CPSB operates all public schools in Calcasieu Parish, including the city of Lake Charles.-Demographics:...
, which she asked to support her. Upon being elected, Mount resigned as mayor and City Council President Rodney Geyen took over the office.
In the senate, Mount served on a variety of committees, chairing the Senate Committees on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control, Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and also serving as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. In 2008, she became chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. Mount often sponsors legislation regarding health and public service. This includes bills intended to identify sex offenders and enact term limits for various boards and commissions. She was responsible for passing these term limits as an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution
Louisiana Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Louisiana is the cornerstone of Louisiana state law ensuring the rights of individuals, describing the distribution and power of state officials and local government, establishes the state and city civil service systems, creates and defines the operation of a state...
, as SB 232 on November 4, 2008. Mount also sponsored legislation to merge New Orleans criminal and civil district courts, create a childhood and family learning center, couple the opening of new hospice care
Hospice care in the United States
Hospice care in the United States is a type and philosophy of end-of-life care whichfocuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or social in nature...
providers with inspections of existing ones, allow police to suspend driver's licenses of teenagers with problems at school, and create a state-run internet database providing information on the quality of health care providers. Mount was responsible for legislation that made Louisiana water fluoridation
Water fluoridation
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride...
mandatory, and, in her capacity as chair of the Senate Health committee, Mount in 2008 declared major Louisiana health care reform
Health care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
unlikely without prior federal reform.
Roast (comedy)
A roast is an event in which an individual is subjected to a public presentation of comedic insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes, the implication being that the roastee is able to take the jokes in good humor and not as serious criticism or insult, and...
in support of the Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services). Mount is a member of a number of boards and charitable organisations and provides an annual compilation of "Louisiana positives" about Louisiana's standing in national ratings. Due to term limits, Mount is eligible to serve as senator until 2012.
2004 Congressional race
Mount ran for Congress in 2004 to succeed Chris JohnChris John
Christopher Charles "Chris" John is American politician who was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005, representing Louisiana's 7th congressional district.-Early life:...
, who had announced his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to run for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. She positioned herself as a conservative Democrat, supportive of balanced budgets and conservative social views, emphasizing job creation, health care and her opposition to offshoring
Offshoring
Offshoring describes the relocation by a company of a business process from one country to another—typically an operational process, such as manufacturing, or supporting processes, such as accounting. Even state governments employ offshoring...
. Her major Democratic opponent in the jungle primary was African American Don Cravins, father of Don Cravins, Jr.
Don Cravins, Jr.
Donald R. "Don" Cravins, Jr. is a Democratic politician from the State of Louisiana.In the 2008 elections, Cravins unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic candidate for Louisiana's 7th congressional district seat held by Republican U.S. Representative Charles Boustany, Jr. In addition to Boustany,...
Her major 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...
opponent was Charles Boustany
Charles Boustany
Charles William Boustany, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:...
, a retired heart surgeon, who ran on a platform of preventing tax increases and passing a new energy bill. The Louisiana Democratic Party
Louisiana Democratic Party
The Louisiana Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Louisiana. The party historically has been prominent in politics since before the American Civil War, but consolidated this power after Reconstruction as a result of the rise of the Solid South...
was supporting Mount, as Cravins was believed to be a weaker contestant in a run-off. Polls taken in late October had shown Boustany, Cravins and Mount statistically tied and the election was hotly contested.
In the first ballot on November 2, 2004, Boustany and Mount garnered the most votes; Cravins was defeated by less than two thousand votes. As both fell short of a majority, a second ballot was mandated. In the subsequent campaign, Mount criticized Boustany for favouring tax cuts for the rich and being indifferent to health care, while Boustany rejected the attacks as false and stressed his willingness to work with Democrats and Independents. Boustany in turn portrayed Mount as liberal and favoring tax increases. Mount also criticized Boustany for favoring the privatization of social security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
, an unpopular position in Louisiana, and as removed from the interests of voters. She received endorsements by U.S. Senator John Breaux
John Breaux
John Berlinger Breaux is a former United States senator from Louisiana who served from 1987 until 2005. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1972 to 1987. He was considered one of the more conservative national legislators from the Democratic Party...
, who had represented the 7th district for over fourteen years, and governor Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was the 54th Governor of Louisiana, having served from January 2004 until January 2008. She was the first woman to be elected to the office of governor of Louisiana....
. Boustany was helped by Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, who campaigned on his behalf in Lake Charles. Mount, however, was not endorsed by Democratic primary opponent Don Cravins, who complained about the state Democratic Party's endorsement of Mount in a partially party funded mailer that excluded him and which he believed contributed to his narrow loss. Cravins prepared a suit in federal court claiming that the state Democratic Party violated the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
.
In the run-off on December 4, 2004, Boustany defeated Mount, 55 percent to 45 percent in an election with low general voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
. Democrats had hoped on a big turnout, as the district is nearly a quarter African American, a reliable Democratic constituency. Analysis of the race suggested that Mount's defeat was helped by the open primary system that had the Democratic candidates work against each other and led to Cravin's conflict with the state Democratic Party which in turn led to suppressed voter turnout. The large number of negative advertisements was also cited as a factor that contributed to low turnout. Another detriment for Mount mentioned was the strong support for 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....
in the presidential election in the district, which he carried by about 60 percent. Following her defeat, Mount ruled out another campaign for the seat, but not a campaign for another state-wide office.
When Mount leaves the Senate in 2012, she will be succeeded by a Republican, former State Representative Ronnie Johns
Ronnie Johns (Louisiana politician)
Ronald Steven Johns, known as Ronnie Johns , is a State Farm Insurance agency owner in Sulphur, Louisiana, who is an incoming Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 27 in Calcasieu Parish. He is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary set for October 22, 2011, to choose...
of Sulphur
Sulphur, Louisiana
Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, who is unopposed for the open seat in the October 22 nonpartisan blanket primary.
Campaign for tax assessor
In 2011, Mount announced her candidacy for tax assessor of Calcasieu Parish. She received 13,477 votes (38.3 percent) in the primary held on October 22 and promptly withdrew from the November 19 general election. Victory hence went to the acting assessor, Wendy CurphyAguillard, an Independent who led the primary balloting with 17,208 votes (48.9 percent). A third candidate, Republican Mike Regan, was also eliminated in the primary, having received the remaining 4,538 votes (12.9 percent).
Electoral history
Mayor, City of Lake Charles, 1993Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 3, 1993
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Willie Landry Mount | Democratic | 7,106 (35.67%) | Run-off |
| Paul A. Savoie, Sr. | Democratic | 4,853 (24.36%) | Run-off |
| Mark T. Abraham | Independent | 4,547 (22.83%) | Defeated |
| "Ken" Schexnider | Democratic | 3,413 (17.13%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, May 1, 1993
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Willie Landry Mount | Democratic | 10,429 (52.46%) | Elected |
| Paul A. Savoie, Sr. | Democratic | 9,451 (47.54%) | Defeated |
Mount was unopposed for a second term as mayor.
Louisiana State Senator, 27th Senatorial District, 1999
October 23, 1999
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Willie Landry Mount | Democratic | 23,271 (80.15%) | Elected |
| Anita Fields | Democratic | 4,240 (14.60%) | Defeated |
| Thimothy "Thimco" Francis, Sr. | Independent | 1,522 (5.24%) | Defeated |
Mount was unopposed on October 4, 2003 and October 20, 2007 for her second and third term as state senator.
U.S. Representative, 7th Congressional District, 2004
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, November 2, 2004
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Charles Boustany, Jr. | Republican | 105,761 (38.61%) | Run-off |
| Willie Landry Mount | Democratic | 69,079 (25.22%) | Run-off |
| "Don" Cravins | Democratic | 67,389 (24.60%) | Defeated |
| David Thibodaux David Thibodaux David Glenn Thibodaux was for twenty-seven years an English professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a member and officer of the Lafayette Parish School Board for twelve years, and a four-time Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 7th... |
Republican | 26,526 (9.68%) | Defeated |
| Malcolm R. Carriere | Democratic | 5,177 (1.89%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, December 4, 2004
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Charles Boustany, Jr. | Republican | 75,039 (54.96%) | Elected |
| Willie Landry Mount | Democratic | 61,493 (45.04%) | Defeated |
External links
- Willie Mount for Assessor website
- Senator Willie L. Mount Louisiana State Senate website.