Pat Brister
Encyclopedia
Patricia Phillips Brister, known as Pat Brister (born December 6, 1946), is the president-elect of St. Tammany Parish
, Louisiana
. Brister is a Republican
politician
and business
woman from Mandeville
on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain
in St. Tammany Parish. She is the first woman to have served as chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Republican national committeewoman
from 1996–2000, and a former ambassador
to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
under former U.S. President George W. Bush
. Brister's tenure on the commission included the annual meetings held from February 28 through March 11, 2006, and again from February 25-March 7, 2008. Brister has also served on the elected St. Tammany Parish Council. On October 22, 2011, she was elected parish president of St. Tammany Parish with 73 percent of the vote; she will be sworn into office in January 2012.
In May 2006, Brister was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to the Commission on the Status of Women, after her first convention session had ended. The commission was founded in 1946, a year after the United Nations
was organized. During her tenure, Brister defended the Bush administration regarding its policies concerning the role of women and repeatedly praised the appointment of Condoleezza Rice
as the United States secretary of state
. "The policies of the U.S. government have been and continue to be to encourage countries to include women in their initiatives. President Bush has been a strong advocate of democratization
and we fully believe empowering women will strengthen a country. We will continue to talk about that specific issue here at CSW," said Brister.
Brister continued, having noted the United States commitment to medical care for women and children: "The US has been at the forefront, particularly here at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, in advocating for availability of medical care for women and children. We point to President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS
relief . . . which supports a variety of bilateral, regional, and multilateral initiatives."
Brister won the first of her two terms on the St. Tammany Parish Council from District 4 in the primary election held on October 23, 1999. With 2,214 votes (54.1 percent), she defeated two fellow Republicans. Brister was unopposed for a second term in the 2003 primary. She declined to seek a third term and was succeeded by fellow Republican Reid R. Falconer (born December 26, 1956) of Madisonville
, the winner of the 2007 primary over another Republican named John Robertson.
Earlier, Brister ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana State Senate
from District 11 (St. Tammany and Tangipahoa
parishes). She was defeated by fellow Republican Tom Schedler
of Slidell
, who held the seat from 1996–2008, when he was term-limited by state law and succeeded by the Mandeville Republican Jack Donahue
.
Brister was elected party chairman in 2000 by the 144-member Republican State Central Committee to succeed Chuck McMains
, a Baton Rouge
state representative, who served in 2000. She was in turn succeeded in 2004 by Roger F. Villere, Jr.
, a Metairie
businessman. Brister was a member of the site-selection committee which tapped Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
, to host the 2000 Republican National Convention
. She was a Louisiana state elector in 2000. Thereafter, she was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention
, which met in New York City
to renominate the Bush-Cheney ticket and worked thereafter for the GOP
slate in Louisiana.
Involved in various businesses over the years, Brister was also for a time the chief executive officer and chairman of the trustees of Orion College, which existed in Mandeville from 1997-2002. In 2002, President Bush named Brister to a three-year term on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
Brister, whose political interest was initially fueled by the Parent-Teacher Association
, is the executive director of the Northshore Business Council and is mentioned as a potential candidate in 2011 for the presidency of the St. Tammany Parish Commission.
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington....
, 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...
. Brister 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
woman from Mandeville
Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
in St. Tammany Parish. She is the first woman to have served as chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Republican national committeewoman
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
from 1996–2000, and a former ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council , one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender...
under former U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Brister's tenure on the commission included the annual meetings held from February 28 through March 11, 2006, and again from February 25-March 7, 2008. Brister has also served on the elected St. Tammany Parish Council. On October 22, 2011, she was elected parish president of St. Tammany Parish with 73 percent of the vote; she will be sworn into office in January 2012.
In May 2006, Brister was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to the Commission on the Status of Women, after her first convention session had ended. The commission was founded in 1946, a year after the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
was organized. During her tenure, Brister defended the Bush administration regarding its policies concerning the role of women and repeatedly praised the appointment of Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
as the United States secretary of state
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
. "The policies of the U.S. government have been and continue to be to encourage countries to include women in their initiatives. President Bush has been a strong advocate of democratization
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
and we fully believe empowering women will strengthen a country. We will continue to talk about that specific issue here at CSW," said Brister.
Brister continued, having noted the United States commitment to medical care for women and children: "The US has been at the forefront, particularly here at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, in advocating for availability of medical care for women and children. We point to President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
relief . . . which supports a variety of bilateral, regional, and multilateral initiatives."
Brister won the first of her two terms on the St. Tammany Parish Council from District 4 in the primary election held on October 23, 1999. With 2,214 votes (54.1 percent), she defeated two fellow Republicans. Brister was unopposed for a second term in the 2003 primary. She declined to seek a third term and was succeeded by fellow Republican Reid R. Falconer (born December 26, 1956) of Madisonville
Madisonville, Louisiana
Madisonville is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 677 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, the winner of the 2007 primary over another Republican named John Robertson.
Earlier, Brister ran unsuccessfully for 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 11 (St. Tammany and 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...
parishes). She was defeated by fellow Republican Tom Schedler
Tom Schedler
John Thomas Schedler, known as Tom Schedler , is a politician from suburban St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, USA, who served as the District 11 Louisiana state senator from 1996 to 2008, when he was term-limited after twelve years...
of Slidell
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
, who held the seat from 1996–2008, when he was term-limited by state law and succeeded by the Mandeville Republican Jack Donahue
Jack Donahue (Louisiana politician)
John Leo Donahue, Jr., known as Jack Donahue is a building contractor and philanthropist in Mandeville, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 11...
.
Brister was elected party chairman in 2000 by the 144-member Republican State Central Committee to succeed 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...
, a 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...
state representative, who served in 2000. She was in turn succeeded in 2004 by Roger F. Villere, Jr.
Roger F. Villere, Jr.
Roger Francis Villere, Jr. is a businessman from Metairie in Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans who on March 26, 2004, was elected state chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party by the 144-member GOP State Central Committee. He succeeded Pat Brister of St...
, a Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
businessman. Brister was a member of the site-selection committee which tapped Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to host the 2000 Republican National Convention
2000 Republican National Convention
The 2000 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 31 to August 3, 2000. The 2066 delegates assembled at the convention nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush as the Republican candidate for U.S....
. She was a Louisiana state elector in 2000. Thereafter, she was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
, which met in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to renominate the Bush-Cheney ticket and worked thereafter for the GOP
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...
slate in Louisiana.
Involved in various businesses over the years, Brister was also for a time the chief executive officer and chairman of the trustees of Orion College, which existed in Mandeville from 1997-2002. In 2002, President Bush named Brister to a three-year term on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
Brister, whose political interest was initially fueled by the Parent-Teacher Association
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
, is the executive director of the Northshore Business Council and is mentioned as a potential candidate in 2011 for the presidency of the St. Tammany Parish Commission.