Gary Beard
Encyclopedia
Gary James Beard is a former conservative Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from East Baton Rouge Parish who was handily defeated in his bid for lieutenant governor
in the jungle primary
held on October 20, 2007. Beard ran third in the race with 130,935 (11 percent). The incumbent
, Democrat
Mitchell "Mitch" Landrieu
of New Orleans, was reelected with 57 percent of the vote. Also running was a second Republican, Country music
singer Sammy Kershaw
of Abbeville
, the seat of Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana, who drew 30 percent of the ballots.
Beard holds a bachelor of science
degree in civil engineering
from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge.
Beard won a special election on August 18, 2001, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican State Representative Chuck McMains
. Five Republicans ran in the special election in the heavily Republican
District 69. Beard and David Boneno, a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council, advanced to the runoff because no one polled a majority in the initial balloting. Beard then defeated Boneno, 4,093 (59 percent) to 2,847 (41 percent). Boneno had the support of McMains and Republican Governor
Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
in the special election. Beard countered with the backing of the "Christian Right". Beard took his seat on August 30, 2001.
On October 4, 2003, Beard won his full term in the state House. He drew 11,317 votes (69 percent) in the jungle primary
over the "No Party" candidate, Robelynn Hood Abadie, and his fellow Republican, Don Simmons, who polled 3,091 (20 percent) and 1,421 (9 percent), respectively.
Beard announced his candidacy for the state's second-highest constitutional office on June 4, 2007. The lieutenant governor is the overseer of the Department of Culture, Recreation
, and Tourism
and no longer presides over the Louisiana State Senate
, as is the custom in many states. Beard said that had he been elected he would become involved in more than tourism. Beard estimated that his campaign cost about $1.8 million.
Beard describes himself as a "family-values" candidate. He supports right-to-life, having introduced bills to ban human cloning
and to outlaw partial-birth abortion. He also was initially elected to the legislature on a strongly anti-tax platform.
Beard is involved in a dispute with state officials over $320,000 in movie tax credit
s that he claims he is owed for his work on a proposed film studio.
Beard is married to the former Diane Hay (born 1966).
Two Republicans met in the low-turnout November 17 general election to fill Beard's seat. Building contractor Erich Ponti
, with 6,772 votes (63 percent), defeated retired Entergy Corporation executive William L. "Bill" Benedetto (born 1941), who polled 4,059 ballots (37 percent). Two eliminated primary candidates, Brian P. McNabb and Joseph Robert "Bob" Thibodeaux, both Republicans, had polled a combined 40 percent of the original vote.
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 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...
from East Baton Rouge Parish who was handily defeated in his bid for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
in the jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
held on October 20, 2007. Beard ran third in the race with 130,935 (11 percent). The incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, Democrat
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...
Mitchell "Mitch" Landrieu
Mitch Landrieu
Mitchell Joseph "Mitch" Landrieu is the Mayor of New Orleans, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, and a member of the Landrieu family. Landrieu is a member of the Democratic Party and a Roman Catholic. He is the son of former New Orleans mayor and Secretary of the United States Department of...
of New Orleans, was reelected with 57 percent of the vote. Also running was a second Republican, Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Sammy Kershaw
Sammy Kershaw
Samuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
of Abbeville
Abbeville, Louisiana
Abbeville is a town in and the parish seat of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States, 150 miles west of New Orleans. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 census...
, the seat of Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana, who drew 30 percent of the ballots.
Beard holds 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 civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
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.
Beard won a special election on August 18, 2001, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican State Representative Chuck McMains
Chuck McMains
Francis Charles "Chuck" McMains, Jr. , is a Baton Rouge attorney and businessman who was a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992–2001, having represented District 69 . In 1996, McMains made an unsuccessful race for the United States Senate seat being vacated by...
. Five Republicans ran in the special election in the heavily 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...
District 69. Beard and David Boneno, a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council, advanced to the runoff because no one polled a majority in the initial balloting. Beard then defeated Boneno, 4,093 (59 percent) to 2,847 (41 percent). Boneno had the support of McMains and Republican Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Murphy J. Foster, Jr.
Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. served as 53rd Governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St...
in the special election. Beard countered with the backing of the "Christian Right". Beard took his seat on August 30, 2001.
On October 4, 2003, Beard won his full term in the state House. He drew 11,317 votes (69 percent) in the jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
over the "No Party" candidate, Robelynn Hood Abadie, and his fellow Republican, Don Simmons, who polled 3,091 (20 percent) and 1,421 (9 percent), respectively.
Beard announced his candidacy for the state's second-highest constitutional office on June 4, 2007. The lieutenant governor is the overseer of the Department of Culture, Recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
, and Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and no longer presides over 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...
, as is the custom in many states. Beard said that had he been elected he would become involved in more than tourism. Beard estimated that his campaign cost about $1.8 million.
Beard describes himself as a "family-values" candidate. He supports right-to-life, having introduced bills to ban human cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
and to outlaw partial-birth abortion. He also was initially elected to the legislature on a strongly anti-tax platform.
Beard is involved in a dispute with state officials over $320,000 in movie tax credit
Tax credit
A tax credit is a sum deducted from the total amount a taxpayer owes to the state. A tax credit may be granted for various types of taxes, such as an income tax, property tax, or VAT. It may be granted in recognition of taxes already paid, as a subsidy, or to encourage investment or other behaviors...
s that he claims he is owed for his work on a proposed film studio.
Beard is married to the former Diane Hay (born 1966).
Two Republicans met in the low-turnout November 17 general election to fill Beard's seat. Building contractor Erich Ponti
Erich Ponti
Erich Edward Ponti , a general contractor, is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 69 in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana....
, with 6,772 votes (63 percent), defeated retired Entergy Corporation executive William L. "Bill" Benedetto (born 1941), who polled 4,059 ballots (37 percent). Two eliminated primary candidates, Brian P. McNabb and Joseph Robert "Bob" Thibodeaux, both Republicans, had polled a combined 40 percent of the original vote.