Mike Walsworth
Encyclopedia
Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth (born March 27, 1956) is a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
, elected in the October 20, 2007 jungle primary
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
of Oak Ridge
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
, a retired farmer
from Bastrop
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the Democrat
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
adjacent to Monroe
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured a bachelor of arts
degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
. He worked on the Ethics
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth (born March 27, 1956) is a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
, elected in the October 20, 2007 jungle primary
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
of Oak Ridge
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
, a retired farmer
from Bastrop
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the Democrat
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
adjacent to Monroe
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured a bachelor of arts
degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
. He worked on the Ethics
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth (born March 27, 1956) is a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
, elected in the October 20, 2007 jungle primary
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
of Oak Ridge
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
, a retired farmer
from Bastrop
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the Democrat
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
adjacent to Monroe
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured a bachelor of arts
degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
. He worked on the Ethics
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
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 State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
, elected in the October 20, 2007 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...
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
Robert J. Barham
Robert Jocelyn Barham is a large-scale farmer from Morehouse Parish who has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the secretary of the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries...
of Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Louisiana
Oak Ridge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 142 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oak Ridge is located at ....
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
Sam Little
Samuel Perry Little is a retired farmer from Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 14 in northeastern portion of his state.-Background:...
, a retired farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from Bastrop
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the 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...
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
adjacent to 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...
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured 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 Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Civitan
Civitan International, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is an association of community service clubs founded in 1917. The organization aims "to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people...
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
. He worked on the Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth (born March 27, 1956) 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 State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
, elected in the October 20, 2007 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...
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
Robert J. Barham
Robert Jocelyn Barham is a large-scale farmer from Morehouse Parish who has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the secretary of the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries...
of Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Louisiana
Oak Ridge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 142 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oak Ridge is located at ....
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
Sam Little
Samuel Perry Little is a retired farmer from Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 14 in northeastern portion of his state.-Background:...
, a retired farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from Bastrop
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the 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...
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
adjacent to 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...
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured 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 Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Civitan
Civitan International, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is an association of community service clubs founded in 1917. The organization aims "to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people...
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
. He worked on the Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth (born March 27, 1956) 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 State Senate
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All Senators serve four year terms and are assigned multiple committees to work on. The Republicans control the State Senate following a Special Election Victory in District 26 by Jonathan W. Perry...
, elected in the October 20, 2007 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...
. Prior to this he represented District 15 (Ouachita Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
until he was unable to seek reelection due to term limits. His Senate District 33 includes Ouachita, Claiborne, Morehouse, Union, and West Carroll parishes. He defeated the Democratic State Representative Charles McDonald of the Fairbanks community in northern Ouachita Parish to succeed the term-limited Republican Senator Robert J. Barham
Robert J. Barham
Robert Jocelyn Barham is a large-scale farmer from Morehouse Parish who has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the secretary of the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries...
of Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Louisiana
Oak Ridge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 142 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oak Ridge is located at ....
in Morehouse Parish. Walsworth polled 17,292 (52 percent) to McDonald's 16,058 (48 percent). McDonald's House seat, to which he was term-limited, was narrowly won in the November 17, 2007, state election by a Republican, Sam Little
Sam Little
Samuel Perry Little is a retired farmer from Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 14 in northeastern portion of his state.-Background:...
, a retired farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from Bastrop
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
, the seat of Morehouse Parish.
Walsworth was a candidate for a seat on the Republican State Central Committee from his former State Representative District 15 berth in the Louisiana closed primary scheduled for February 9, 2008. However, he withdrew his candidacy two days before the election, and the position went by default to M. Randall "Randy" Donald.
Walsworth was first elected to the state House in the 1995 primary, when he unseated the 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...
Charles R. Anding. He assumed the seat in 1996.
Walsworth was born to the late Leo Walsworth and the former Lila "Tootsie" Kitchens (1921–2007) in West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
adjacent to 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...
in Ouachita Parish. His maternal grandparents, Marshall and Emily Kitchens, operated a grocery store in Monroe. Walsworth graduated from West Monroe High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1974. Thereafter, he procured 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 Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
(then Northeastern Louisiana University). He is a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer. He previously worked in management of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He was a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee from 1984 to 1996. He is affiliated with the Greater Ouachita Lions Club, the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Civitan
Civitan
Civitan International, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is an association of community service clubs founded in 1917. The organization aims "to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people...
Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. He is also involved in the United Way, the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, and the ULM Alumni Association. Walsworth is the song leader at a local Church of Christ. He is the father of one daughter, Lindsay Michelle Walsworth, a ULM student.
"Looking at the generation, not the next election" is a motto of the Walsworth campaign. In the legislature, Walsworth worked to establish the Ouachita Port Commission and the Ouachita Expressway Commission. He authored the new law which prohibits video voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
. He worked on the Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
Reform Bill to prohibit lawmakers from doing business with the state. He also worked to pass tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
in his first legislative session. He has pushed for funding of rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
schools, which abound in Senate District 15.
In his initial election to the House, Walsworth defeated Charles Anding, 7,745 (55 percent) to 6,403 (45 percent). In 1999, with 9,060 (67 percent), he defeated the Democrat Royce Calhoun, with 4,441 (33 percent) to win his second term in the House. He was unopposed in 2003.
News Articles
- "Meet the Next Governor of Louisiana" louisianaconservative.com April, 2007
- "Senate Candidate Mike Walsworth Leads the Way" louisianaconservative.com August, 2007
- "REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALSWORTH “A Warrior for What Is Right”" louisianaconservative.com September, 2007
- "MONROE NEWSSTAR ENDORSES MIKE WALSWORTH - SENATE DISTRICT 33" louisianaconservative.com October, 2007
External links
- Louisiana State Senate - Mike Walsworth official government website
- Mike Walsworth for State Senate official campaign website