Carl Crane
Encyclopedia
Carl Norman Crane is the former Republican
chairman of the Education
Committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives
. He served in the state House from 1984 to 2008 from District 70 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Crane was elected as a Democrat
to his first term in the House but switched to GOP
affiliation to win his second term in 1987.
A computer
consultant by profession, Crane obtained a bachelor of arts
degree from the University of New Orleans
and a Master of Arts
from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge. He is a veteran of the United States Army
. He is married to the former Nancy Burns and is Roman Catholic.
Crane supported school vouchers to assist families with children in private or parochial schools, but the legislature has rejected the plan on the grounds that it would deprive funding from already cash-strapped public schools.
Crane secured his second term in 1987 with 9,048 votes (54 percent) over three opponents, two Democrats and one "No Party" candidate. In 1988, Crane ran unsuccessfully for the office of Mayor-President of the Baton Rouge Metro-Council, but he polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 percent). The winner, Tom Ed McHugh
of Zachary
, defeated former Mayor W.W. Dumas, who sought a comeback for a fifth term in an all-Democrat general election
.
In 1991, Crane led the jungle primary
with 5,488 votes (39 percent) and went into a contested general election
with Democrat Margaret Pereboom, who trailed with 4,366 ballots (31 percent). A third candidate, fellow Republican Steve Myers, received 4,135 votes (30 percent). Pereboom had also run in 1987. In the second balloting, Crane defeated Pereboom, 8,946 (57 percent) to 6,789 (43 percent).
In 1995, Crane won again over Steve Myers, who had dropped the "R" label and ran as "No Party". He prevailed with 8,182 votes (55 percent) to Myers' 6,666 (45 percent). In 1999, Crane won in the primary over Democrat Charles Moore, 8,897 (62 percent) to 5,453 (38 percent).
In 2003, Crane won his sixth and final term with 10,319 votes (74 percent) over two fellow Republicans, Bryce Murray, who received 2,294 votes (16 percent) and Donald Gene Luther, with 1,388 ballots (10 percent). In 2003, Crane was among thirty-three legislators in both houses and parties who endorsed former House Speaker
Hunt Downer
for governor
. Downer, however, ran a weak sixth in the primary election. The governorship ultimately went to the Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, who defeated Bobby Jindal
, her ultimate successor in the office.
Crane was succeeded by fellow Republican Franklin J. Foil
(born October 31, 1964), the winner of the November 17, 2007, general election. Foil defeated a fellow Republican attorney, Pat Culbertson, 5,399 (53 percent) to 4,809 (47 percent) in a small-turnout election. Culberton had nearly won the seat outright in the October 20 primary, with 49 percent to 40 percent for Foil, a United States Navy
reserve commander. A third Republican candidate, self-styled "Reagan
conservative" Aidan Reynolds, also an attorney, drew only 11 percent of the 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...
chairman of the Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
Committee 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...
. He served in the state House from 1984 to 2008 from District 70 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Crane was elected as a 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...
to his first term in the House but switched to 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...
affiliation to win his second term in 1987.
A computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
consultant by profession, Crane obtained a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
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. He is a veteran of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He is married to the former Nancy Burns and is Roman Catholic.
Crane supported school vouchers to assist families with children in private or parochial schools, but the legislature has rejected the plan on the grounds that it would deprive funding from already cash-strapped public schools.
Crane secured his second term in 1987 with 9,048 votes (54 percent) over three opponents, two Democrats and one "No Party" candidate. In 1988, Crane ran unsuccessfully for the office of Mayor-President of the Baton Rouge Metro-Council, but he polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 percent). The winner, Tom Ed McHugh
Tom Ed McHugh
Thomas Edward McHugh, known as Tom Ed McHugh , has since 2001 been the executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association. McHugh is a former Mayor-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. A resident of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, McHugh...
of Zachary
Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, defeated former Mayor W.W. Dumas, who sought a comeback for a fifth term in an all-Democrat 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...
.
In 1991, Crane led 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...
with 5,488 votes (39 percent) and went into a contested 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...
with Democrat Margaret Pereboom, who trailed with 4,366 ballots (31 percent). A third candidate, fellow Republican Steve Myers, received 4,135 votes (30 percent). Pereboom had also run in 1987. In the second balloting, Crane defeated Pereboom, 8,946 (57 percent) to 6,789 (43 percent).
In 1995, Crane won again over Steve Myers, who had dropped the "R" label and ran as "No Party". He prevailed with 8,182 votes (55 percent) to Myers' 6,666 (45 percent). In 1999, Crane won in the primary over Democrat Charles Moore, 8,897 (62 percent) to 5,453 (38 percent).
In 2003, Crane won his sixth and final term with 10,319 votes (74 percent) over two fellow Republicans, Bryce Murray, who received 2,294 votes (16 percent) and Donald Gene Luther, with 1,388 ballots (10 percent). In 2003, Crane was among thirty-three legislators in both houses and parties who endorsed former House Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Hunt Downer
Hunt Downer
Major General Huntington Blair Downer, Jr., known as Hunt Downer , is a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Louisiana who is the assistant adjutant general of the state National Guard and the first ever director of the new Louisiana Veterans Affairs Department.A former Speaker of the...
for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. Downer, however, ran a weak sixth in the primary election. The governorship ultimately went to the Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, who defeated 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....
, her ultimate successor in the office.
Crane was succeeded by fellow Republican Franklin J. Foil
Franklin Foil
Franklin Johnson Foil is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 70, which includes a portion of Baton Rouge. In 2008, he succeeded term-limited Republican Representative Carl Crane, the former chairman of the House Education Committee...
(born October 31, 1964), the winner of the November 17, 2007, general election. Foil defeated a fellow Republican attorney, Pat Culbertson, 5,399 (53 percent) to 4,809 (47 percent) in a small-turnout election. Culberton had nearly won the seat outright in the October 20 primary, with 49 percent to 40 percent for Foil, a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
reserve commander. A third Republican candidate, self-styled "Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
conservative" Aidan Reynolds, also an attorney, drew only 11 percent of the vote.