Jim Donelon

Jim Donelon is an American politician. He is the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, a role he has served in since 2006.[1] He previously served as member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1981 to 2001.[2]

Jim Donelon
Insurance Commissioner of Louisiana
Incumbent
Assumed office February 15, 2006
Governor	Kathleen Blanco Bobby Jindal John Bel Edwards
Preceded by	J. Robert Wooley
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 98th district
In office January 1982 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Charles Grisbaum Jr.
Succeeded by	Tom Capella
Personal details
Born	James Joseph Donelon III (1944-12-14) December 14, 1944 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (Before 1980) Republican (1980–present)
Spouse(s)	Merilynn Boudreaux Donelon
Children	4 daughters
Education	University of New Orleans (BA) Loyola University, New Orleans (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Colonel
Unit	State Judge Advocate Louisiana Army National Guard

Early life and education

Donelon grew up New Orleans and attended Jesuit High School. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of New Orleans and his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.[2]

Political career

Donelon began his career in public office serving on the Jefferson Parish Council from 1978 to 1980.[3] From 1982 to 2001, he served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. As a state lawmaker, he chaired the House Committee on Insurance and co-chaired the Republican Legislative Delegation.[3]

He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana in 1979 and for United States Senate in 1998, but he lost both races.[3][4]

In 2001, he was appointed deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance by then-Insurance Commissioner J. Robert Wooley. In February 2006, Wooley resigned to take a legal position with the firm Adams and Reese in Baton Rouge, and Donelon succeeded him to the position of Insurance Commissioner.[5] Donelon subsequently won the office in a special election held in the fall of 2006 by defeating Republican State Senator James David Cain of Beauregard Parish.[6]

References

1. Ballard, Mark (October 12, 2019). "Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon weathers strong challenge". The Advocate. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
2. "JAMES J. DONELON: Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance". Louisiana Department of Insurance. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
3. Ballard, Mark (September 23, 2019). "State insurance commissioner being challenged by insurance veteran". The Advocate. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
4. "Louisiana primary election returns, September 30, 2006". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
5. "Donelon Sworn In as Louisiana Commissioner; Predecessor Wooley Joins Law Firm". pianet.com. February 22, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
6. "Louisiana Results for Election Date: 11/3/1998". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2013.

Party political offices
Preceded by Lyle Stocksill	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Louisiana (Class 3) 1998	Succeeded by David Vitter
Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles Grisbaum Jr.	Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 88th district 1982–2001	Succeeded by Tom Capella
Political offices
Preceded by J. Robert Wooley	Insurance Commissioner of Louisiana 2006–present	Incumbent