Ledricka Thierry

Ledricka Johnson Thierry (born September 1978)^[1] is an African-American attorney in Opelousas, Louisiana, who is a Democratic former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 40, based in St. Landry Parish in the southern portion of her state. She has held the position since her victory in a special election in 2009.^[2] She succeeded Elbert Guillory, another African-American Democrat who was elected to the Louisiana State Senate but who later switched to Republican affiliation and in 2015 was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor.

Thierry graduated from historically black Southern University in 1999 and the Southern University Law Center in 2003, both in the capital city of Baton Rouge.^[3]

Political life

Thierry serves on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) Insurance (vice chair), (4) Joint Legislative Budget, (5) Judiciary, and (6) Legislative Audit Advisory Council.^[3]

In 2011, Thierry introduced a bill to prohibit convicted child sex predators from using social network sites.^[4]

Thierry's legislative ratings have ranged from 50 to 67 percent from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012, she was rated 50 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business. From 2010 to 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored her 56 and 44 percent, respectively. From 2008 to 2014, she was ranked 83 to 100 percent by Louisiana Right to Life. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated her 83 and 92 percent, respectively.^[5]

In 2014, Thierry voted for the requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved, 88-5. In 2014, she did not vote to extend the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. She voted to halt the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on interstate highways. She voted to require companies to give notice when they engage in hydraulic fracking. She co-sponsored the establishment in 2013 of surrogacy contracts. She voted that year to reduce penalties for the possession of marijuana. In 2014,she supported concealed carry gun permits in restaurants in which alcoholic beverages are served. However, she did not vote in 2013 for permanent concealed-carry permits or on the matter of making information about permit holders a matter of public record. In 2012, she voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving. Thierry opposed tax incentives for attracting a National Basketball Association team to Louisiana and for individuals who contribute to scholarship funds. She voted against the reduction in the number of hours that polling locations remain open. Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days. She voted against the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients. In 2011, she did not vote on the matter of establishing a commission to consider abolition of the state income tax. She voted for a permanent tax on cigarettes. She supported a failed bill which supporters said would halt bullying in public schools. She voted in 2011 for parole eligibility for elderly inmates. She opposed the redistricting plans for both the Louisiana State Senate and the six seats in the United States House of Representatives reserved for Louisiana.^[6]

Thierry is leaving the House after her unsuccessful race in the October 24 primary for state senator to succeed Elbert Guillory. She lost to her fellow Democrat, Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette, who received 17,827 votes (60.8 percent) to her 11,488 ballots (39.2 percent). Two Democrats, Donovan K. Hudson and Dustin Miller, competed in November 21 general election for the right to succeed Representative Thierry.^[7] Miller prevailed, 56 to 44 percent.

References