John A. Alario Jr. (born September 15, 1943) is an American politician from Louisiana who represented the 8th district in the Louisiana State Senate from 2008 until 2020. Currently a Republican, Alario previously represented District 83 in the Louisiana House of Representatives as a Democrat between 1971 and 2007.[1][2] Alario was term-limited from the Senate in 2019, and chose not to seek another office.[3]
John Alario | |
|---|---|
| President of the Louisiana Senate | |
| In office January 9, 2012 – January 13, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Joel Chaisson |
| Succeeded by | Page Cortez |
| Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 8th district | |
| In office January 14, 2008 – January 13, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Ullo |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Connick |
| Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1992 – January 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Jimmy Dimos |
| Succeeded by | Hunt Downer |
| In office January 1984 – January 1988 | |
| Preceded by | John Hainkel |
| Succeeded by | Jimmy Dimos |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 83rd district | |
| In office January 1972 – January 14, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | ??? |
| Succeeded by | Robert Billiot |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 15, 1943 |
| Political party | Democratic (Before 2010) Republican (2010–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Ree Williamson (Deceased 2006) Trina Edwards (m. 2023) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Southeastern Louisiana University (BA) |
Alario was the President of the Louisiana State Senate, serving in that role between 2012 and 2020; he is also a former two-term Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is the first politician in Louisiana history to hold both roles for two terms each, as well as the longest-serving legislator in state history.[4]
Early career
editA graduate of West Jefferson High School and Southeastern Louisiana University, Alario worked as a teacher and accountant prior to entering politics. He has been the owner of John A. Alario, Jr. Tax Income Service since 1972.[1]
Electoral history
editLouisiana House of Representatives
editAlario was first elected as a Democrat to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1971, representing the 83rd district in suburban Jefferson Parish.
Speaker of the House
editIn 1984, Alario was chosen to be Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives under Governor Edwin Edwards. He lost that title under Governor Buddy Roemer in 1988, but won it back in 1992 to serve another 4-year term.[5]
Louisiana State Senate
editAlario was elected in 2007 to the 6th district in the Louisiana State Senate, defeating Democratic opponent John Roberts 63-37%. In 2010, Alario switched to the Republican Party due to the national direction of the Democratic Party and the increasingly-Republican politics of Louisiana.[6]
Alario was re-elected unopposed in 2011 and 2015. He was term-limited in 2019. Though there was speculation that he would run for his former House of Representatives seat, Alario declined and chose to retire from politics.[3]
Senate President
editAlario was chosen as President of the Louisiana State Senate under Governor Bobby Jindal in 2011, and served a second term under Governor John Bel Edwards. He is the second Republican Senate President since Reconstruction.
Personal life
editAlario's first wife, Alba "Ree" Williamson Alario, died in 2006; the couple had four children – Jan Marie, John, Christopher, and Kevin – and seven grandchildren.[7]
He remarried in 2023 to Trina Scott Edwards, who is the widow of former Governor Edwin Edwards.
References
edit- ^ a b "Senator John A. Alario, Jr". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "John Alario". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Staff Report (July 25, 2019). "John Alario won't run for House seat, marking end to 48-year era in Louisiana Legislature". The Advocate. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ Tyler Bridges (July 6, 2019). "John Alario, master of Louisiana Senate, is term-limited. Will he retire or run for old House seat?". The Advocate. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ Julia O'Donoghue (April 24, 2019). "Sen. John Alario: Louisiana's most powerful legislator". Nola.com. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- ^ Jan Moller (April 24, 2019). "State Sen. John Alario switches to GOP". Nola.com. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Alba Williamson "Ree" Alario Obituary". Nola.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.