Dale M. Erdey
Encyclopedia
Dale Michael Erdey is a real estate and insurance agent in Livingston
, Louisiana
, who is a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from District 13 (East Baton Rouge
, Tangipahoa
, and mostly Livingston
parishes). He has served since 2008 and holds the seat vacated by the conservative Republican Heulette Fontenot
.
in Tangipahoa Parish, Erdey is a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, having served two terms from 2000 to 2008 in District 71 in Livingston Parish. He graduated from Doyle High School
in Livingston. In 1976, Erdey received a Bachelor of Science
degree in business administration from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
. From 1993 to 1997, Erdey was the mayor of Livingston. His father was also mayor of Livingston.
Erdey is a member of the Greater Denham Springs
Chamber of Commerce
, Kiwanis International, the Masonic lodge, and the National Rifle Association
. He is active in the Livingston United Methodist Church.
Erdey and his wife, the former Donna Carlisle, have four children, Lindsey E. McCaskill and husband Brian, Ashlyn E. McMorris and husband Cody, Leah E. Smith and husband Josh, and Trey Erdey.
, having polled 6,719 votes (42.2 percent). The runner-up was Kathleen Dawkins with 4,932 votes (30.1 percent). Two others held the remaining 27 percent of the ballots. In the general election
,
Erdey defeated Dawkins, 7,070 (60.5 percent) to 4,614 (39.5 percent). Erdey was unopposed for his second term in the House and for his thus far first term in the state Senate.
In 2010-2011, Erdey served on these committees: (1) Capital Outlay, (2) Enivronmental Quality, (3) Health and Welfare, (4) Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and (5) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works as the vice chairman. In 2010, Erdey supported the positions of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
59 percent of the time. In 2009 and 2010, he backed the Louisiana Family Forum
89 percent. In 2009, he was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Federation. In 2001, as a House member, Erdey was rated 0 percent by Louisiana Planned Parenthood
. In 2011, Erdey voted to make permanent an increase in the state tobacco tax, but the veto
of the measure by Governor Bobby Jindal
was upheld by the legislature.
Erdey claims to have voted to reduce taxes by more than $1 billion in the six legislative sessions prior to 2012. He voted to repeal the Stelly Plan
, a state income tax
and sales tax
transfer plan authored by former Representative Vic Stelly
of Lake Charles
. He advocates repeal of the state inheritance and gift taxes. He has also worked to increase funding for public education and major highway and major infrastructure projects in his district.
Livingston, Louisiana
Livingston is a town in and the parish seat of Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, 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 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 State Senate
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 13 (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...
, 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 mostly 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....
parishes). He has served since 2008 and holds the seat vacated by the conservative Republican Heulette Fontenot
Heulette Fontenot
Heulette Clovance Fontenot, Jr., known as Clo Fontenot , is a Livingston, Louisiana, businessman who served as a Republican member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature between 1996 and 2008. He was a one-term member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000 and served two terms...
.
Background
A native of HammondHammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
in Tangipahoa Parish, Erdey is a former 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...
, having served two terms from 2000 to 2008 in District 71 in Livingston Parish. He graduated from Doyle High School
Doyle High School
Doyle High School is a public high school in Livingston, Louisiana. It serves 508 students in grades 7-12. The school's athletic mascot is the Fighting Tiger, and its school colors are purple and gold. The school's principal is Tommy Hodges.-Notable alumni:...
in Livingston. In 1976, Erdey received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in business administration 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...
. From 1993 to 1997, Erdey was the mayor of Livingston. His father was also mayor of Livingston.
Erdey is a member of the Greater Denham Springs
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Denham Springs is a city in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States, and part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. Downtown Denham Springs has transformed itself from hardware stores, drug stores, doctor's offices, and a single movie theater to a collection of various and varied...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, Kiwanis International, the Masonic lodge, and the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
. He is active in the Livingston United Methodist Church.
Erdey and his wife, the former Donna Carlisle, have four children, Lindsey E. McCaskill and husband Brian, Ashlyn E. McMorris and husband Cody, Leah E. Smith and husband Josh, and Trey Erdey.
Legislative service
In the 1999 House primary to pick a successor to Representative Heulette Fontenot, who ran for the state Senate, Erdey led four DemocratsDemocratic 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...
, having polled 6,719 votes (42.2 percent). The runner-up was Kathleen Dawkins with 4,932 votes (30.1 percent). Two others held the remaining 27 percent of the ballots. In the 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...
,
Erdey defeated Dawkins, 7,070 (60.5 percent) to 4,614 (39.5 percent). Erdey was unopposed for his second term in the House and for his thus far first term in the state Senate.
In 2010-2011, Erdey served on these committees: (1) Capital Outlay, (2) Enivronmental Quality, (3) Health and Welfare, (4) Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and (5) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works as the vice chairman. In 2010, Erdey supported the positions of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, known by the acronym LABI, is the largest and most successful business lobbying group in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was founded in Baton Rouge in 1976, when Louisiana adopted a new right-to-work law during the administration of Democratic...
59 percent of the time. In 2009 and 2010, he backed the Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum is a social conservative non-profit advocacy group based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The organization supports Louisiana's covenant marriage law and opposes abortion and same-sex marriage...
89 percent. In 2009, he was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
Federation. In 2001, as a House member, Erdey was rated 0 percent by Louisiana Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
. In 2011, Erdey voted to make permanent an increase in the state tobacco tax, but the veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
of the measure by Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
was upheld by the legislature.
Erdey claims to have voted to reduce taxes by more than $1 billion in the six legislative sessions prior to 2012. He voted to repeal the Stelly Plan
Stelly Plan
The Stelly Plan is a since repealed 2002 tax measure in the U.S. state of Louisiana designed to shift certain state sales taxes on food for home consumption and utilities to increases in state income taxes. Narrowly approved by voters, the proposal soon ran into criticism as middle-class taxpayers...
, a state income tax
State income tax
State and local income taxes are imposed in addition to Federal income tax. State income tax is allowed as a deduction in computing Federal income tax, subject to limitations for individuals. Some localities impose an income tax, often based on state income tax calculations. Forty-three states...
and sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
transfer plan authored by former Representative Vic Stelly
Vic Stelly
Victor Theodore Stelly, known as Vic Stelly , is a retired businessman from Lake Charles, Louisiana, a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education, and from 1988-2004 a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 35 in Calcasieu Parish in the...
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...
. He advocates repeal of the state inheritance and gift taxes. He has also worked to increase funding for public education and major highway and major infrastructure projects in his district.