Patrick O. Jefferson

Patrick O'Neal Jefferson (born November 1968)[1] is a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 11th district, which includes Bienville, Claiborne, and Lincoln parishes. Jefferson is an attorney in private practice in Arcadia, Louisiana.[2]

Patrick O'Neal Jefferson
Louisiana State Representative for District 11 (Bienville, Claiborne, and Lincoln parishes)
Assumed office
January 9, 2012
Preceded byRick Gallot
Personal details
Born18 November 1968
Bahamas
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceArcadia, Bienville Parish
Louisiana, USA
Alma materDillard University
Ohio State University College of Law
OccupationAttorney

Jefferson graduated in 1990 from the historically black Dillard University in New Orleans, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Law in Columbus, Ohio. He is a former president of the Bienville Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body. He is a supervisor of Southern University, another historically black institution, in Baton Rouge. Jefferson is affiliated with Lions International in Arcadia.

Opposition to Marriage and Conscience Act

On May 19, 2015, Jefferson was among ten legislators on the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee who voted to table the proposed Marriage and Conscience Act, authored by Republican Representative Mike Johnson of Bossier Parish and strongly supported by the Louisiana Family Forum. Only his fellow Republican Ray Garofalo of Chalmette stood with Johnson. Governor Bobby Jindal, who supported the legislation, then issued an executive order to implement the measure. Johnson said that he would in 2016, if he were reelected, re-introduce the measure because he preferred a statutory law to address the issue. Johnson explained that the measure is designed to block the state government from pulling licenses or tax benefits from a company because of the owner's counter view of same-sex marriage. Other Democrats who opposed the measure were committee chairman Neil Abramson and Joseph Bouie, Jr., both of New Orleans, and Alfred C. Williams of Baton Rouge. Republicans who voted to table the measure were Mike "Pete" Huval of Breaux Bridge, Gregory A. Miller of Norco, and Clay Schexnayder of Gonzales, and Nancy Landry of Lafayette.[3]

Jefferson ran unopposed for reelection to the House in the October 24, 2015, primary election.[4]

Jefferson and two Republican legislative colleagues, conservative Mike Johnson and Jim Morris of Caddo Parish, are expected to run in 2016 for the seat in the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 4th congressional district being vacated by U.S. Senate candidate John C. Fleming of Minden.[5]

References
  1. "Patrick Jefferson, November 1968". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  2. "Alumnus Patrick Jefferson Takes Office as Louisiana State Representative". Dillard University. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. Emily Lane (May 19, 2015). "Louisiana's religious freedom bill effectively defeated in committee". Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  4. "See who has already won election". The Monroe News-Star. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  5. Greg Hilburn (January 6, 2016). "4th District field inches toward gate". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by
Rick Gallot		 Louisiana State Representative for District 11 (Bienville, Claiborne, and Lincoln parishes)

Patrick O'Neal Jefferson, Jr.
2012–

Succeeded by
Incumbent


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