Dee Richard seeks second statehouse term

State Rep. Jerome Dee Richard, No Party-Thibodaux, announced last week that he would seek a second term in the Legislature’s 55th House District during the fall election cycle.

He said unfinished business as it pertains to downsizing state government through attrition and cutting spending on consulting contracts, two issues he spearheaded with legislation in 2011, provoked him to seek re-election.

“The legislative actions passed the House, but were blocked in the Senate by the governor, who, also, went against my legislation to keep Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes together during the redistricting session in early 2011,” Richard said.

The state lawmaker said the biggest issue facing he and his colleagues in the coming years is new variations of the income tax repeal. Richard opposes the movement because he doesn’t want to increase property or sales tax in order to replace the lost revenue.

“To allow taxpayers to keep more of their money, I voted to repeal the Stelly Tax Plan in [2008], voted to repeal five other business taxes that were stifling business growth, and voted against all tax increases, including the cigarette tax,” said Richard, who added that he did support the existing 4-cent cigarette tax because it was not a tax increase.

Richard, 56, was first elected in 2008. He served on the Lafourche Parish School Board for 10 years, and spent eight years as a councilman-at-large.

Richard has been visible in the debate for restoring funding to higher education and health care.

The incumbent was once a proponent of raising the limit for how many credit hours a student can be charged from 12 to 15, but because lawmakers, including himself, approved hikes in tuition through the Grad Acts, that is no longer the case, Richard said.

Instead, he said, higher education and health care funding needs to come from the government cutbacks he pursues.

“I supported the workforce training programs at NSU and the Louisiana Technical College; and, I supported to continue the workforce connection between NSU and Fletcher by approving over $20 million in capital outlay for the construction of the new Fletcher Memorial Community College,” Richard said.

When asked what piece of legislation he was most proud of, Richard said it was the failed legislation in 2008 that would have given state lawmakers a hefty pay raise.

“I don’t think it would be a specific piece of legislation. Instead, I’m most proud of my opposition to the failed Legislative pay raise,” Richard said. “I was one of 13 legislators who signed an affidavit declining the raise.”

He said that opposition was a symbol of his independence, an example that he has “not been afraid to go against the ‘powers-that-be’ in state government.”

Richard was named “Outstanding Family Advocate” by the Louisiana Family Forum in 2009 and 2010. “I am proud of my ‘Pro-Family’ and ‘Pro-Life’ stance,” he said.

The 55th House District includes all of north Lafourche and a western section of central Lafourche.

The primary election is scheduled for Oct. 22. Registration is from Sept. 6-8.

“If re-elected, I will fight to continue reducing state government and state spending and focus on job creation,” Richard said.