Franklin Johnson Foil 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 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 District 70, which includes a portion of 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...

. In 2008, he succeeded term-limited Republican Representative Carl Crane

Carl Crane

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...

, the former chairman of the House Education Committee. To win the seat, Foil defeated fellow Republican attorney Pat Culbertson.

Early life

Foil was born and raised in Baton Rouge, the son of Frank Foil and the former Judith Johnson. He graduated 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 1987 with a B.A. in Political Science and in 1991 received his 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 Loyola University Law School

Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...

 in New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran, a Captain in the Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps

Judge Advocate General's Corps

Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...

, and has served as Judge Pro Tempore at the Baton Rouge City Court.

Family

Foil is married to the former Tanja Dee Van Hook (born March 10, 1967), and the couple has three children: Kathleen, Grace, and Andy. The family attends First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge where Foil has been a member since 1977 and currently serves as an elder. Tanja has a B.A.

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 in journalism

Journalism

Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

 from LSU. She currently serves on the boards of the Baton Rouge Bar Auxiliary and the Chi Omega House Corporation. She is a Sustaining Advisor for the Junior League

Junior League

The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...

 of Baton Rouge and is an active member and volunteer at First Presbyterian Church.

Election history

Foil defeated Pat Culbertson in the general election held on November 17, 2007: 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 third Republican candidate, self-styled "Reagan conservative" Aidan Reynolds, also an attorney, drew only 11 percent of the vote.

Foil was easily reelected in the primary election held on October 22, 2011. He defeated the Independent Greg Baldwin, 6,947 votes (77.4 percent) to 2,033 (22.6 percent).