J. Rogers Pope
| J. Rogers Pope | |
Louisiana State Senator for District 13 (East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes)
| |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2020 | |
Louisiana State Representative
for District 71 (Livingston Parish) | |
| In office January 14, 2008 – January 13, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Dale Michael Erdey |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Buddy Mincey, Jr. |
| Born | June 30, 1941 Place of birth missing Resident of Denham Springs in Livingston Parish |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia A. Dixon Pope |
| Children | Two children |
| Alma mater | Southeastern Louisiana University |
| Occupation | Retired educator Former school superintendent |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
James Rogers Pope, known as J. Rogers Pope (born June 30, 1941), is a retired school superintendent from Denham Springs in Livingston Parish, near the capital city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who at the age of seventy-eight became on January 13, 2020, a freshman Republican state senator for District 13, which encompasses East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes.
Previously, from 2008 to 2020, Pope was a Republican state representative for District 71 in Livingston Parish. In the House, Pope served on the Appropriations, Health and Welfare, and Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.[1]
Pope received bachelor's and master's degrees and addition graduate credits in education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. After twenty-two years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, Pope was named in 1984 as the Livingston Parish school superintendent, a post that he held until 2001. Superintendent Pope worked to make the Livingston Parish school system into one of the most productive and highest-achieving systems in the state. He earned a number of awards: 1998 "Educator of the Year" and 2000 "State Superintendent of the Year." After the superintendency, he became executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Executives.[1]
In 2007, four Republicans and a Democrat entered the House District 71 race to choose a successor to Republican Dale Erdey, who was instead elected without opposition to the state Senate seat vacated by the conservative Republican Heulette Fontenot. Pope led with 4,837 votes (34.7 percent). In second place was another Republican, John Ware, who received 2,966 votes (21.3 percent). In fourth place was the Republican mayor of Livingston, D. Derral Jones.[2] In the second balloting on November 17, which had a much lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Pope prevailed, 2,684 (52.2 percent) to Ware's 2,462 (47.8 percent).[3]
In 2010, Rogers received a 90 percent rating from the conservative Louisiana Family Forum and 81 percent from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.[4]
In 2010, Pope was named "Ethicist of the Year" by the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. The honor was presented before his home congregation, the First Baptist Church of Denham Springs.[5] In 2011, Representative Pope voted to override the veto of then Governor Bobby Jindal, a fellow Republican who had blocked a legislative increase in the tobacco tax]]. He also voted to prohibit hand-held cellular devices while driving.[4] Pope has been in the forefront of efforts to improve Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish. He helped to bring to fruition a four-lane bridge on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge at the Amite River, which has relieved traffic congestion. He also voted to restrict funding and coverage of abortion.[6]
Pope is married to the former Patricia A. Dixon (born August 25, 1941) ; the couple has two children and six grandchildren.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Trusted Leader for Us. rogerspope.com. Retrieved on December 4, 2019.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rep. J. Rogers Pope. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 4, 2019.
- ↑ Pope receives state ethics award. Livingston Parish News' (September 11, 2010). Retrieved on December 4, 2019.
- ↑ J. Rogers Pope. jrogerspope.com. Retrieved on December 4, 2019.
