Tom Greene
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alan Greene, known as Tom Greene (born September 7, 1948), is a veterinarian
and rancher from Maringouin
in Iberville Parish
, Louisiana
, who served in the Louisiana State Senate
from 1992 to 2000. He narrowly won the general election
of 1991 and prevailed comfortably in the nonpartisan blanket primary in 1995 as a Democrat
. During his second term, however, he switched affiliation to Republican
. He did not seek a third term in the Senate in the 1999 primary. Instead, he challenged fellow Democrat-turned-Republican Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
in the gubernatorial primary, but polled only 35,434 votes (2.7 percent).
Greene graduated in 1966 from Fenton High School in the village
of Fenton
near Jennings
in Jeff Davis Parish. He received three degrees, Bachelor of Science
, Master of Science
, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
. He was president of the College of Engineering student body in 1970 and from 1971 to 1974 was an electrical engineer. Greene is a member of the American and Louisiana veterinary medical associations as well as the Louisiana Cattleman's and the International Brangus Breeders associations. He is Christian
. He and his wife, the former Cathy Castleman (born ca. 1950), have four grown sons, and a daughter.
In the 1991 primary, Greene narrowly trailed incumbent
Democrat John Enoul Jumonville, Jr. (born ca. 1943) of Ventress
in Pointe Coupee Parish
, 20,077 (44.3 percent) to 21,286 (46.9 percent). Two other Democratic candidates split the remaining but critical 9 percent of the vote. In the general election, Greene defeated Jumonville, who had served as senator since 1976, by 685 votes, 25,523 (50.7 percent) to 24,838 (49.3 percent). J.E. Jumonville, Sr. (1919–1983) had also served in the position from 1968 to 1976.
In 1995, Greene defeated Jumonville again in a two-candidate primary race, 24,851 (57.6 percent) to 18,289 (42.4 percent).
Greene ran for governor in 1999, rather than seeking a third term in the state Senate. He entered the governor's race at the last minute and had no statewide campaign organization. His platform proposed that parents be given more control over their children's educations and that the state institute educational voucher
s. He called for the elimination of the state's dependence on gambling
. He proposed that the state find a balance between industry and the environment, and he urged greater disclosure of interest groups on state government.
The state Senate seat was won by the Democrat Robert Mark "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.
, who defeated Tim Johnson, the Republican candidate. Marionneaux still holds the Senate seat but is term-limited in 2012.
District 37 is Democratic in part because it is 37 percent African American
in voter registration. There are also unionized plant workers, sugar cane farmers, and government employees. There is a considerable Republican presence because the northwestern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish is included in the district. This area, known as "Central City", has been incorporated and is seeking to form its own independent school district. Though the whole district has grown at less than the statewide rate, the East Baton Rouge portion has grown nearly 5 percent during the first decade of the 21st century. The GOP
is competitive in national races, but Democrats usually win the statewide contests.
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
and rancher from Maringouin
Maringouin, Louisiana
Maringouin is a town in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,262 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Maringouin is located at ....
in Iberville Parish
Iberville Parish, Louisiana
Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Plaquemine. The 2010 population of the parish was 33,387....
, 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 served in 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 1992 to 2000. He narrowly won the 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...
of 1991 and prevailed comfortably in the nonpartisan blanket primary in 1995 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...
. During his second term, however, he switched affiliation to 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...
. He did not seek a third term in the Senate in the 1999 primary. Instead, he challenged fellow Democrat-turned-Republican Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Murphy J. Foster, Jr.
Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. served as 53rd Governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St...
in the gubernatorial primary, but polled only 35,434 votes (2.7 percent).
Greene graduated in 1966 from Fenton High School in the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Fenton
Fenton, Louisiana
Fenton is a village in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 380 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area.Thomas A...
near Jennings
Jennings, Louisiana
Jennings is a small city in and the parish seat of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States, near Lake Charles. The population was 10,986 at the 2000 census....
in Jeff Davis Parish. He received three degrees, 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...
, Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 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
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...
. He was president of the College of Engineering student body in 1970 and from 1971 to 1974 was an electrical engineer. Greene is a member of the American and Louisiana veterinary medical associations as well as the Louisiana Cattleman's and the International Brangus Breeders associations. He is Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. He and his wife, the former Cathy Castleman (born ca. 1950), have four grown sons, and a daughter.
In the 1991 primary, Greene narrowly trailed incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democrat John Enoul Jumonville, Jr. (born ca. 1943) of Ventress
Ventress, Louisiana
Ventress is an unincorporated village located in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana along the northeastern end of False River . The population of the area is approximately 1,100 individuals. It is home to the Hunter Fabre Post 248 American Legion Hall on Legion Road...
in Pointe Coupee Parish
Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana
Pointe Coupee Parish, pronounced "Pwent Koo-Pay" and , is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is New Roads. As of 2000, the population was 22,763....
, 20,077 (44.3 percent) to 21,286 (46.9 percent). Two other Democratic candidates split the remaining but critical 9 percent of the vote. In the general election, Greene defeated Jumonville, who had served as senator since 1976, by 685 votes, 25,523 (50.7 percent) to 24,838 (49.3 percent). J.E. Jumonville, Sr. (1919–1983) had also served in the position from 1968 to 1976.
In 1995, Greene defeated Jumonville again in a two-candidate primary race, 24,851 (57.6 percent) to 18,289 (42.4 percent).
Greene ran for governor in 1999, rather than seeking a third term in the state Senate. He entered the governor's race at the last minute and had no statewide campaign organization. His platform proposed that parents be given more control over their children's educations and that the state institute educational voucher
Voucher
A voucher is a bond which is worth a certain monetary value and which may be spent only for specific reasons or on specific goods. Examples include housing, travel, and food vouchers...
s. He called for the elimination of the state's dependence on gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
. He proposed that the state find a balance between industry and the environment, and he urged greater disclosure of interest groups on state government.
The state Senate seat was won by the Democrat Robert Mark "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.
Robert M. Marionneaux
Robert Mark Marionneaux, Jr., also known as Rob Marrionneaux , is an attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who has served since 1996 as a Democrat in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature...
, who defeated Tim Johnson, the Republican candidate. Marionneaux still holds the Senate seat but is term-limited in 2012.
District 37 is Democratic in part because it is 37 percent African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
in voter registration. There are also unionized plant workers, sugar cane farmers, and government employees. There is a considerable Republican presence because the northwestern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish is included in the district. This area, known as "Central City", has been incorporated and is seeking to form its own independent school district. Though the whole district has grown at less than the statewide rate, the East Baton Rouge portion has grown nearly 5 percent during the first decade of the 21st century. The 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...
is competitive in national races, but Democrats usually win the statewide contests.