Steve Carter (Louisiana politician)

Stephen Frank Carter, known as Steve Carter (born October 29, 1942), is a retired tennis coach from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 68 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

A Baton Rouge native, Carter graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He is Presbyterian. Carter is married to the former Gloria Marjorie Solomon, and their children include Solomon Stephen Carter and Doris Amelia Carter Hunt.^[1] Carter is a former tennis coach and assistant athletic director at LSU. Many university employees reside in his District 68.^[2]

Three Republicans entered the House District 68 race in 2007 to succeed the Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent William Daniel, a petroleum engineer. Lobbyist Kyle Ardoin, a Republican-turned-Democrat-returned-Republican, led the field with 5,531 votes (41 percent) to Carter's 5,242 (38.9 percent). The remaining 2,705 votes (20 percent) were received by Jay Lyles.^[3] In the second balloting on November 17, which had a lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Carter prevailed by 87 votes, 4,967 (50.4 percent) to Ardoin's 4,880 (49.6 percent).^[4]

In the House, Carter has served on these committees: (1) Education, (2) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, (3) Ways and Means, and (4) Joint House and Senate Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay.^[5] Prior to his election to the House, Carter had not previously sought office. His neighboring district colleague is fellow Republican Franklin Foil.

Carter was unopposed for his second term in the legislature in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He won his third term outright in the October 24, 2015 primary with 6,095 votes (54.7 percent).

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