Central Elects Its First Woman Lawmaker

by Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — Voters in Central made history last Saturday when they elected Valarie Hodges as State Representative from House District 64.

A mother of three and grandmother of three others, she is the first woman elected to represent Central in the Louisiana House or Senate, since single-member districts were created.

Ms. Hodges has a similar distinction in Livingston Parish.  She is the first woman ever elected to represent Livingston Parish in the state House or Senate.

Ironically, one other woman represented Livingston Parish in the state Senate, but she was appointed to that position.

Doris Lindsey Holland, the first woman to serve in the Louisiana Legislature, was appointed to serve in the Senate from 1936 to 1940 after the death of her husband. The editor of the St. Helena Echo newspaper, she lived until 1997.

Ms. Hodges’ three grandchildren live with her and her husband Leland.  Valarie and Leland are pastors of Destiny International church and will continue serving their congregation after Valarie’s swearing in next year, she said.

Since Saturday, Rep.-elect Hodges said her phone has been ringing off the hook.  Every five minutes, there’s a well-wisher or a fellow representative or senator wanting to get acquainted.

This week, the politics of the House of Representatives rose to the surface.  Candidates for Speaker of the House have been working to elect candidates for the past year.  On Tuesday, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced his support for Rep. Chuck Kleckley of Lake Charles for that position.

Hodges said she has a good relationship with Kleckley and intends to support him.  On Wednesday night, she was reviewing the jurisdiction of each of the standing committees of the House.  Most representatives serve on two or three standing committees.

Hodges said she was interested in Appropriations, Highways and Transportations, Education, and several other committees.

Her priorities will be three-fold: 1) improve roads and bridges in House District 64, 2) fight crime, and 3) improve education, she said.

Hodges represents Central, parts of Zachary, and the Watson area of Livingston Parish.

She said, “Our area has experienced a lot of growth, and transportation is our No. 1 need.”

“We are a bedroom community, and our crime rate is low.  We want to keep it that way and further reduce crime in our communities.”

“House District 64 is unusual, because we have three of the best school districts in the state — Central, Zachary, and Livingston.  In most of the state, there are serious problems in public education, but our area is different, because public education is working here,” she said.

Leland and Valarie have three children — Michael, 37, Kellie, 31, and Joshua, 26.  Their grandchildren are Tiffany, 5, Elisha, 4, and London Joy, 2.

The Hodges lost two grandchildren, and Valarie said the chance to serve in the legislature is an opportunity to rise above personal sorrow and be of service, especially to families and children.

She can be reached at 620-4100.