Ronnie Johns (Louisiana politician)
Encyclopedia
Ronald Steven Johns, known as Ronnie Johns (born 1949), is a State Farm Insurance
agency owner in Sulphur
, Louisiana
, who is an incoming Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from District 27 in Calcasieu Parish
. He is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary set for October 22, 2011, to choose a successor to the term-limited Democratic
Senator Willie Landry Mount. A former mayor of Lake Charles
and an unsuccessful candidate in 2004 for the United States House of Representatives
, Mount is seeking the Calcasieu Parish assessor's position in the October primary.
in Avoyelles Parish
, where his father, Johnny Johns
(1910-1999) was the municipal fire chief; his mother, Anna D. Johns (1921-1997) was a secretary. In 1967, he graduated from Bunkie High School, where he credits the principal for having inspired hard work in the students and teaching the elements of later success in life. Johns then procured his Bachelor of Science
degree in pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
.
After college, he practiced pharmacy until the early 1980s, having observed that numerous local drug stores were closing down or being purchased by chain store
s. He hence opened his own insurance agency in Sulphur in 1982.
Johns is a former member of the Sulphur City Council and, prior to his legislative years, has worked in numerous political campaigns for others. He is a lector and Eucharistic minister at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Sulphur. He is a member of the board of Christus St. Patrick's Hospital. Johns is a supporter of the Calcasieu Community Clinic, which provides free health care for those who unable to afford health insurance. He is active in the Salvation Army
of Lake Charles and numerous organizations that serve senior citizens.
Mrs. Johns, the former Michelle Ann Servat (born ca. 1953), is a retired teacher. Their daughter, Claire J. Broussard, was in 2011a nursing student at McNeese State University
in Lake Charles. Claire and her husband, Alex Broussard, had one son in 2011, the Johnses' only grandchild.
from District 33, also in Calcasieu Parish. In the 1995 primary for his first term in the legislature, Johns defeated a fellow Democrat, Terry Taylor, 7,870 (62.3 percent) to 4,765 (37.7 percent). The outgoing representative, Democrat Tim Stine, did not seek reelection in 1995.
In the House, Johns, as a former pharmacist, authored legislation to establish a statewide prescription monitoring program to prevent "illegal doctor- and pharmacy-shopping." After the first year of the program, the number of deaths from such prescription drug abuse had been reduced by 50 percent. Representative Johns also wrote laws to establish more secure adoptions and enforcement of court-mandated child-support payments. Because of these efforts, Johns received the "Russell B. Long Service Award," named for the former U.S. senator from Louisiana, Russell B. Long
, who served from 1948 to 1987. In 1999, Johns was named "Legislator of the Year" by the interest group, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. He was similarly honored in 2004 and 2007 by the Louisiana Automobile and Louisiana Orthopedic associations. Term-limited in the 2007 primary, he was succeeded in the House by Democrat Mike Danahay.
Johns said that his Senate service will focus on state budgetary woes: "Our government must live within its means and it should do so, like any family would, by tightening its belt and downsizing." Johns said that he will seek more efficient health care, improved public schools, reducing government waste, and demanding a greater of government service.
Johns and two other Republicans -- Page Cortez
, seeking Senate District 23 seat in Lafayette Parish
, and Stuart Bishop
, also of Lafayette
, running in House District 43 -- are the only unopposed candidates in 2011 for open legislative seats. All three take office with their incoming colleagues in January 2012.
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
agency owner in Sulphur
Sulphur, Louisiana
Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 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...
, who is an incoming 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 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 27 in Calcasieu Parish
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
. He is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary set for October 22, 2011, to choose a successor to the term-limited Democratic
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...
Senator Willie Landry Mount. A former mayor of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
and an unsuccessful candidate in 2004 for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Mount is seeking the Calcasieu Parish assessor's position in the October primary.
Background
Johns was reared in BunkieBunkie, Louisiana
Bunkie is a city in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,662 at the 2000 census.Bunkie is the birthplace of jazz drummer Zutty Singleton. Sue Eakin, Louisiana historian and former publisher of the Bunkie Record, resided in Bunkie for most of her life until her death in...
in Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Avoyelles is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Marksville. In 2000, its population was 41,481. The parish is named for the Avoyel Indian tribe.-History:...
, where his father, Johnny Johns
(1910-1999) was the municipal fire chief; his mother, Anna D. Johns (1921-1997) was a secretary. In 1967, he graduated from Bunkie High School, where he credits the principal for having inspired hard work in the students and teaching the elements of later success in life. Johns then procured his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in pharmacy 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:...
.
After college, he practiced pharmacy until the early 1980s, having observed that numerous local drug stores were closing down or being purchased by chain store
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
s. He hence opened his own insurance agency in Sulphur in 1982.
Johns is a former member of the Sulphur City Council and, prior to his legislative years, has worked in numerous political campaigns for others. He is a lector and Eucharistic minister at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Sulphur. He is a member of the board of Christus St. Patrick's Hospital. Johns is a supporter of the Calcasieu Community Clinic, which provides free health care for those who unable to afford health insurance. He is active in the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
of Lake Charles and numerous organizations that serve senior citizens.
Mrs. Johns, the former Michelle Ann Servat (born ca. 1953), is a retired teacher. Their daughter, Claire J. Broussard, was in 2011a nursing student at McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
in Lake Charles. Claire and her husband, Alex Broussard, had one son in 2011, the Johnses' only grandchild.
Legislative service
From 1996 to 2008, Johns was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana 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...
from District 33, also in Calcasieu Parish. In the 1995 primary for his first term in the legislature, Johns defeated a fellow Democrat, Terry Taylor, 7,870 (62.3 percent) to 4,765 (37.7 percent). The outgoing representative, Democrat Tim Stine, did not seek reelection in 1995.
In the House, Johns, as a former pharmacist, authored legislation to establish a statewide prescription monitoring program to prevent "illegal doctor- and pharmacy-shopping." After the first year of the program, the number of deaths from such prescription drug abuse had been reduced by 50 percent. Representative Johns also wrote laws to establish more secure adoptions and enforcement of court-mandated child-support payments. Because of these efforts, Johns received the "Russell B. Long Service Award," named for the former U.S. senator from Louisiana, Russell B. Long
Russell B. Long
Russell Billiu Long was an American Democratic politician and United States Senator from Louisiana from 1948 until 1987.-Early life:...
, who served from 1948 to 1987. In 1999, Johns was named "Legislator of the Year" by the interest group, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. He was similarly honored in 2004 and 2007 by the Louisiana Automobile and Louisiana Orthopedic associations. Term-limited in the 2007 primary, he was succeeded in the House by Democrat Mike Danahay.
Johns said that his Senate service will focus on state budgetary woes: "Our government must live within its means and it should do so, like any family would, by tightening its belt and downsizing." Johns said that he will seek more efficient health care, improved public schools, reducing government waste, and demanding a greater of government service.
Johns and two other Republicans -- Page Cortez
Page Cortez
Patrick Page Cortez, known as Page Cortez , is a Lafayette, Louisiana, businessman and a departing one-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives...
, seeking Senate District 23 seat in Lafayette Parish
Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Lafayette Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lafayette. According to the 2010 Census, its population was recorded as 221,578....
, and Stuart Bishop
Stuart Bishop
Stuart James Bishop is a businessman in Lafayette, Louisiana, who is an incoming Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He will assume the District 43 seat in January 2012, when the incumbent, his fellow Republican Page Cortez of Lafayette, instead becomes the District 23...
, also of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
, running in House District 43 -- are the only unopposed candidates in 2011 for open legislative seats. All three take office with their incoming colleagues in January 2012.