Rep. Bodi White Announces Candidacy for State Senate

BATON ROUGE — In a news conference in Memorial Hall at the State Capitol, State Rep. Mack “Bodi” White (R-Central) today announced he will seek election for State Senate District 6 in the Oct. 22 primary election.

State Senate District 6 includess parts of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes.  It is currently represented by Sen. Julie Quinn of Jefferson Parish. Under reapportionment, the district has a completely different configuration.

White said the new district is a bridge from Baton Rouge to the Florida Parishes.  “This is a sprawling district, almost 100 miles long.  It is an area of tremendous growth.  The I-10 and I-12 corridors have added five new representative districts and 1-1/2 new Senate seats as a result of the census.  It’s also where we expect the growth to be over the next 10 years.”

White said he has been traveling the district and found a lot of commonality among the people.  “This is a conservative district, made up of working people.  They believe in family values, and they don’t want any tax increases.  When you look at Ponchatoula, Central, and many other areas of the district, people have shared values,” he said.

Surrounded by family members and supporters, White cited his experience as an effective legislator who has led efforts to lower taxes, create jobs, invest in infrastructure, strengthen laws against criminals and improve education during his tenure in the Louisiana House.  In an interview afterwards, he said he is proud of having authored legislation to bring new businesses to Louisiana and said he wants to continue to do that.

At the news conference, he said, “I will continue to work hard to get the job done for the people I represent,” White said.  “I look forward to putting my experience in state government to work in the State Senate, and continuing to accomplish positive, forward-moving changes for my district and for the state as a whole.”

White has been a fiscal conservative and never voted for a tax increase during his eight years in the House.  White said,  “In fact, over the last six years, the State Legislature has reduced more than $1 billion in state and personal taxes, including a reduction in the Stelly Tax.”

White said he secured $400 million in funding for infrastructure projects in the Baton Rouge area, including the widening of I-12 and I-10 and repairing local bridges. In a release, he said, “Those projects are considered crucial factors in improving economic development opportunities in the area that will in turn create local jobs in the future.”

White also was instrumental in passing legislation that allowed the Livingston Parish governing districts to enter into a tax-incentive-financing agreement with Bass Pro Shops, creating hundreds of jobs and bringing thousands of tourist dollars into the local community.

“Investing in our infrastructure, creating an environment for more jobs, and improving education for our children are important ways the state can support our local economy.  I will continue to seek ways to improve conditions for people, so they can have the resources to have good, high-paying jobs in their home areas,” White said.

White holds important committee assignments in the State House, including Appropriations, Judiciary, Criminal Justice, and Homeland Security, which he presides over as chairman.  White also serves on the state’s Juvenile Justice Commission and the Louisiana Emergency Response Network.

White was among those legislators who pushed for ethics reform in this current administration by authoring a bill to protect government whistleblowers who reported illegal or unfair activities in their office.  He also supported and lobbied for legislators to disclose information on their financial dealings, for the Ethics Administration’s Executive Director to be a full-time appointee, and for mandatory governmental ethics training for legislative officials.

White is an active member of the Central community.  He’s involved in local civic, community and youth recreation organizations, and he is a member of the chambers of commerce throughout the district.  He is also an active, long-time member of Blackwater Methodist Church.

White and his wife, Robin Wunstel White, will celebrate their 29th anniversary this fall.  They are the parents of three children — Kimberly, Kristen, and Mackie — and grandparents to Sydney Elizabeth. Their son-in-law is Ivan McKnight.

White holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Southeastern Louisiana University and did post-graduate studies at Loyola University.  He served as an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s detective for six years, and worked as a supervisor at ExxonMobil for 17 years.  He currently works as a commercial and property real estate agent with Rogillio Real Estate Company in Baton Rouge and owns a small private security company.

White has been named the City of Central’s “Man of the Year” and has received numerous awards for his public service.  He has been recognized for has assistance in providing student scholarships for Southeastern Louisiana University.

PHOTO: Robin and Bodi White.  Photo by Connor Lloyd