Tom Willmott

Thomas Phillip Willmott, known as Tom Willmott (born February 22, 1960), is an attorney and registered nurse[1] from Kenner, Louisiana, who is a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 92 in Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs. In 2016, Willmott was elected to the Kenner City Council.

Thomas Phillip "Tom" Willmott
Louisiana State Representative for District 92 (Jefferson Parish)
In office January 14, 2008 – 2016
Preceded by	Glenn Ansardi
Succeeded by	Joe Stagni
Personal details
Born	February 22, 1960
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sherry Kleinpeter Willmott
Residence	Kenner, Jefferson Parish Louisiana
Alma mater	Southeastern Louisiana University
Occupation	Attorney Registered nurse

Willmott's place of birth, names of most family members, and religious affiliation are not included on the political websites. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, and a Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He also holds the A.D. nursing degree from Louisiana State University.[2] A graduate of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Training Academy,[3] Willmott is a former sheriff's reserve deputy.[4]

He has practiced law since the early 1990s and has worked in several hospitals as a nurse. He is a member of both the Louisiana State Bar and Nurses associations.[4]

Willmott nearly won outright the three-candidate nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, to succeed the term-limited Democrat, Glenn Ansardi, who never again faced an opponent after the 1991 primary and was elected as a state court judge in 2008.. Willmot led with 3,750 votes (46 percent). Fellow Republican Michael McMyne trailed with 2,593 votes (31.8 percent). Democrat Michael Austin trailed with 1,802 votes (22.1 percent).[5] In the November 17 general election, Willmott defeated McMyne, 3,563 (65 percent) to 1,912 (34.9 percent).[6] The New Orleans Times-Picayune endorsed McMyne before the primary, but the Democrat, Michael Austin, supported Willmott in the general election.[4]

Willmott served on the House (1) Civil Law and Procedure and (2) Health and Welfare committees. In 2010, Willmott was rated 56 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and 78 percent from the Louisiana Family Forum. In 2009, he was rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life Federation[7] As a nurse, Willmott has demonstrated interest in alleviating the staffing shortage in health care. He has proposed grants to recruit new students in exchange for an agreement to work in areas with great need for nurses. He has also proposed nonrefundable tax credits to health care workers in needed areas.[4]

District 92 is traditionally Democratic, with an African American and Hispanic presence, but Willmott handily reversed the party trend in the 2007 legislative race. Large employers in the district include the Louis Armstrong International Airport and Esplanade Mall.[4]

Willmott resigned from the House late in 2016 after his election to the at-large Place B position on the Kenner City Council. In a voter turnout of 65.8 percent in the November 8 general election corresponding with the 2016 presidential election, Willmott handily defeated another Republican, Victor Amstutz, 13,933 votes (73 percent) to 5,232 (27 percent), to join the Kenner council.[8] He was succeeded in the state House by fellow Republican Joe Stagni, a former member of the Kenner City Council.

References

1. "Rep. Timothy Burns". congress.org. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
2. "Rep. Tom Willmott". lmgma.capwiz.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
3. "Thomas P. Willmott". statesurge.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
4. "Rep. Willmott, Thomas P." mobilelgs.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
5. "Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
6. "Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
7. "Rep. Thomas P. Willmott". votesmart.org. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
8. "Jefferson Parish election returns". November 8, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2017.