John Bel Edwards

About John Bel Edwards

Who is it?: 56th Governor of Louisiana
Birth Day: September 16, 1966
Birth Place: Amite, Louisiana, U.S., United States
Birth Sign: Libra
Lieutenant: Billy Nungesser
Preceded by: Robby Carter
Succeeded by: Robby Carter
Political party: Democratic
Spouse(s): Donna Hutto
Children: 3
Residence: Governor's Mansion
Education: U.S. Military Academy (BS) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (JD)
Website: Government website
Allegiance: United States
Service/branch: United States Army
Years of service: 1988–1996
Rank: Captain
Unit: 25th Infantry Division 82nd Airborne Division

John Bel Edwards Net Worth

John Bel Edwards was born on September 16, 1966 in Amite, Louisiana, U.S., United States, is 56th Governor of Louisiana. Democrat John Bel Edwards is the 56th governor of Louisiana. After graduating from the United States Military Academy, he went on to serve his country for eight years as an airborne ranger in the U.S. Army. As an attorney and politician, John Bel has been an active civilian for his state and country. He assumed the office of governor in 2016 after winning the gubernatorial election of 2015 against Republican nominee David Vitter. John always knew that his chances of victory as a democrat was low and scarce so he requested the voters not to vote for a candidate on the basis of party but select the individual first, citing the example of ex- republican governor Bobby Jindal. At campaigns his life-story became an inspiration for many, and voters were impressed with the disciplined life John lived. He is not known to be one with great humor, and he doesn’t tell the best of jokes and has a more serious and “no-nonsense” demeanor. Many of the Louisiana folks believe that their state is presently in need of a governor who cracks less jokes and implements reforms for the betterment of its people. He is also revered for being a staunch catholic and is a Eucharistic minister, altar server and liturgical reader.
John Bel Edwards is a member of Political Leaders

💰 Net worth: Under Review

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Biography/Timeline

1967

Edwards and his wife, the former Donna Hutto (born February 1967), have two daughters, Sarah and Samantha Edwards, and one son, John Miller Edwards. John Bel Edwards is a regular parishioner of the St. Helena Roman Catholic Church in Amite. Edwards is the brother of Independence, Louisiana chief of police Frank Millard Edwards, as well as Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel H. Edwards. Edwards is brother-in-law to 21st Judicial District Court Juvenile Judge Blair Downing Edwards, a Republican. In 2014, Edwards and other members of his Tangipahoa Parish political family were inducted as a group into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame Winnfield.

1984

Edwards was born and raised in Amite, Louisiana, the son of Dora Jean (née Miller) and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Frank M. Edwards, Jr., a member of the administration of Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (no known family relation). Edwards graduated from Amite High School in 1984 as valedictorian. In 1988, Edwards received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy, where he was on the Dean's List and served as vice chairman of the panel that enforced the West Point honor code.

1986

Edwards completed Airborne School in 1986, while he was a student at West Point. After receiving his commission, he completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning (1988), Ranger School (1989), and the Infantry Officer Advanced Course (1992). Edwards served in the Army for eight years, mostly in the 25th Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division, including commanding a company in the 82nd's 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He ended his military career to return to Louisiana because of family considerations. Edwards earned a law degree from the Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1999, and he was a practicing attorney with the Edwards & Associates Law Firm in Amite. As an attorney, Edwards handled a variety of cases, though he did not practice Criminal law because of his brother's status as the local sheriff.

2008

Edwards is a conservative Democrat who is pro-life and pro-gun rights. In 2008, Edwards ran for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Edwards was forced into a general election run-off with fellow attorney George Tucker. Edwards was overwhelmingly elected, winning every parish in the district. Edwards was the only freshman lawmaker to chair a committee in the legislature. Edwards chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee in the House. Edwards was also selected as chairman of the Democratic house caucus, a rarity for a freshman legislator. Edwards became a critic of Governor Bobby Jindal for the governor's frequent trips away from Louisiana to raise political funds for Republicans elsewhere while Louisiana has been reducing its funding for higher education.

2011

In 2011, Edwards was re-elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, having defeated opponent Johnny Duncan, 83 to 17 percent. Edwards served as chairman of the Louisiana House Democratic Caucus, making him the Louisiana House Minority Leader. Cities/towns that Edwards represented included Amite, Greensburg, and Kentwood as well as part of Hammond.

2012

Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association entered the Louisiana campaign in support of Vitter with an advertisement highlighting Edwards' past support for President Barack Obama, who twice lost Louisiana's electoral votes. Edwards was a delegate for Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Edwards supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

2013

On February 21, 2013, Edwards announced that he would run for governor in 2015. He said that his state needs "a healthy dose of Common sense and compassion for ordinary people". The only major Democrat in the race, Edwards polled first in the nonpartisan blanket primary with 444,517 votes (39.9 percent), followed by Vitter, who finished second with 256,300 votes (23 percent). In third place was Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle of Breaux Bridge, who received 214,982 votes (19.3 percent).

2015

The governor also rescinded another executive order issued in 2015 by his predecessor, Bobby Jindal, which protected businesses and nonprofit organizations who oppose same-sex marriage from being legally punished for holding those views. This order had prohibited state agencies from penalizing businesses and individuals who act from a “religious belief that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman."

2016

On April 13, 2016, Edwards signed an executive order to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from harassment or job dismissals. The order prohibits state agencies from discrimination based on either gender identity or sexual orientation. The order allows an exception for religious organizations who claim that compliance would violate their religious beliefs. "We respect our fellow citizens for their beliefs, but we do not discriminate based on our disagreements. I believe in giving every Louisianan the opportunity to be successful and to thrive in our state," Edwards said.

2017

In February 2017, Edwards and other state officials went to Italy, where he met with Pope Francis.