Suzanne Haik Terrell
Encyclopedia
Suzanne Haik Terrell is a Louisiana
lawyer who failed in a high-profile Republican
bid for the U.S. Senate
in 2002 and for state attorney general
in 2003. She was the state's last commissioner of elections, having served from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, President George W. Bush
named Terrell to a position in the Economic Development Administration
.
in 1976. In 1984, she received her Juris Doctor
degree from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
in New Orleans.
-- 437,817 (59%) to 302,261 (41%). However, Jenkins had led in the primary, 26 percent to 22 percent. Incumbent Democrat
Jerry Fowler
of Natchitoches
, engulfed in scandal, ran third and was eliminated in the primary. In 1996 Jenkins had opposed Terrell's would-be Senate opponent, Mary Landrieu
, but lost by about 4,000 votes.
As elections commissioner, Terrell streamlined department operations and advocated the merging of her office with the secretary of state, who already oversaw some elections operations. She was successful in abolishing her office as her term ended in 2004.
's bid for reelection. Terrell made it into the general election with Landrieu. Eliminated in the primary were Congressman John Cooksey
of Monroe
and Tony Perkins
, a state representative from East Baton Rouge Parish and later the head of the conservative think-tank, the Family Research Council.
The Landrieu-Terrell matchup was the last Senate race decided that year. Terrell's campaign attracted national attention, including visits from President George W. Bush and his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Vice President Richard Cheney. Terrell had been an elector for the Bush-Cheney slate in 2000.
Landrieu was reelected largely on the basis of her 79,000-vote plurality in Orleans Parish. She polled roughly 42,000 votes ahead of Terrell statewide, defeating her 52-48 percent.
In a debate with Landrieu in 2002, the senator lashed out at Terrell and told her the Senate race would be "her last campaign", but it was not. In 2003, Terrell ran unsuccessfully for attorney general of Louisiana, losing to a Democrat backed by the Landrieu family, Charles C. Foti, Jr.
, the former Orleans Parish criminal sheriff
. Foti received 54 percent of the vote to Terrell's 46 percent.
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...
lawyer who failed in a high-profile 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...
bid for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2002 and for state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 2003. She was the state's last commissioner of elections, having served from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, 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....
named Terrell to a position in the Economic Development Administration
Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides grants to economically distressed communities to generate new employment, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.-History:The EDA was established under...
.
Early life
She is a native of New Orleans, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Newcomb College of Tulane UniversityTulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 1976. In 1984, she received her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is a private law school in New Orleans, Louisiana affiliated with Loyola University New Orleans. Loyola's law school opened in 1914 and is now located on the Broadway Campus of the University in the historic Audubon Park District of the city. The College...
in New Orleans.
Elections Commissioner
Terrell was a Republican city councilwoman in New Orleans during the 1990s. In November 1999, she was elected as Louisiana elections commissioner. She defeated a fellow Republican, Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins of Baton Rouge, in the general electionGeneral 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...
-- 437,817 (59%) to 302,261 (41%). However, Jenkins had led in the primary, 26 percent to 22 percent. Incumbent 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...
Jerry Fowler
Jerry Fowler
Jerry Marston Fowler was a Baton Rouge businessman who served as Louisiana's state Elections Commissioner from 1980 until his defeat in the 1999 jungle primary. He was part of the Fowler family Democratic political dynasty...
of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, engulfed in scandal, ran third and was eliminated in the primary. In 1996 Jenkins had opposed Terrell's would-be Senate opponent, Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, but lost by about 4,000 votes.
As elections commissioner, Terrell streamlined department operations and advocated the merging of her office with the secretary of state, who already oversaw some elections operations. She was successful in abolishing her office as her term ended in 2004.
2002 Senate election
Terrell challenged freshman Democratic Senator Mary LandrieuMary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
's bid for reelection. Terrell made it into the general election with Landrieu. Eliminated in the primary were Congressman John Cooksey
John Cooksey
John Charles Cooksey, M.D. is an ophthalmologist who was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana from 1997 to 2003.-Early life:...
of Monroe
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
and Tony Perkins
Tony Perkins (politician)
Anthony Richard "Tony" Perkins is president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think tank and public policy foundation based in Washington, D.C...
, a state representative from East Baton Rouge Parish and later the head of the conservative think-tank, the Family Research Council.
The Landrieu-Terrell matchup was the last Senate race decided that year. Terrell's campaign attracted national attention, including visits from President George W. Bush and his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Vice President Richard Cheney. Terrell had been an elector for the Bush-Cheney slate in 2000.
Landrieu was reelected largely on the basis of her 79,000-vote plurality in Orleans Parish. She polled roughly 42,000 votes ahead of Terrell statewide, defeating her 52-48 percent.
In a debate with Landrieu in 2002, the senator lashed out at Terrell and told her the Senate race would be "her last campaign", but it was not. In 2003, Terrell ran unsuccessfully for attorney general of Louisiana, losing to a Democrat backed by the Landrieu family, Charles C. Foti, Jr.
Charles Foti
Charles Carmen Foti, Jr. , is a former Democratic Attorney General of the U.S. state of Louisiana, United States. He served as his state's chief legal officer for a single term from 2004 to 2008....
, the former Orleans Parish criminal sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. Foti received 54 percent of the vote to Terrell's 46 percent.