John Frank LaBruzzo
Louisiana State Representative for
District 81 (then Jefferson Parish)
In office
2004 – January 9, 2012
Preceded byJennifer Sneed Heebe
Succeeded byClay Schexnayder
Personal details
Born (1970-07-06) July 6, 1970
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBrandi Davison LaBruzzo
Children
  • Ava LaBruzzo
  • Emme LaBruzzo
  • Lucca Labruzzo
  • Roman Labruzzo
  • Jackamo Labruzzo (Dog)
Residence(s)Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Alma materLouisiana State University
OccupationBusinessman

John Frank LaBruzzo (born July 6, 1970) is an American businessman who is a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 81 in Jefferson Parish.[1] LaBruzzo occupied the legislative district formerly held by Charles Cusimano, David Duke, and David Vitter.[1][2][3][4]

District profile

District 81 formerly included a section of Metairie, a large unincorporated area of Jefferson Parish, near the storied 17th Street Canal, which was breached in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The district consisted of the mostly residential neighborhoods of "Bucktown" (until redistricting moved this area to District 94),[3] "Hog Alley," and "Old Metairie."

Many of the residents were upper income, especially in the Old Metairie neighborhoods near the Metairie Country Club and enclaves on Metairie Road. There were pockets too of older, blue-collar residents and mostly middle-class whites. The district was arguably one of the most conservative in the state and had a large number of declared Republican voters.

In the House, LaBruzzo served on the Civil Law and Procedure, Health and Welfare, and Labor and Industrial Relations committees.[2][5][6][7]

Legislative elections

Voluntary sterilization proposal

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On September 23, 2008, LaBruzzo raised controversy by proposing that women who receive public welfare benefits should receive $1,000 if they voluntarily choose to be sterilized. The proposal was criticized by opponents as "racist, sexist, unethical, and immoral."[8]

The plan was similar to a previous proposal by former Representative David Duke, whose 1991 legislation offered $100 a year to welfare recipients who used Norplant. That proposal too was defeated.[9] LaBruzzo's proposal urged permanent sterilization, rather than the temporary birth control advocated by Duke. Norplant has a 5-year period of effectiveness.

Then State Senator Joe McPherson, a Democrat from Woodworth in Rapides Parish, said of LaBruzzo:

You don't know whether to laugh at him or run from him. He comes up with all kinds of outlandish proposals. They don't go anywhere. They keep him in the news, and maybe if that's what a politician is looking for, maybe he's accomplishing his purpose."[10]

The public furor and negative reaction that arose over LaBruzzo's proposal led to his losing a leadership position. On October 6, 2008, he was removed by Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Jim Tucker as the vice chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee.[11][12]

Pro-life legislator

2011 Primary Defeat

Lorusso prevailed with 5,087 votes (56.6 percent) to LaBruzzo's 3,909 (43.5 percent).[13][14][15]

The District 81 seat is now held by Republican Clay Schexnayder of Ascension Parish, a businessman who polled 5,549 votes (64 percent) in the low-turnout general election held on November 19, 2011. Schexnayder defeated Democrat Kevin Hull, who received 3,116 votes (36 percent).[16][17]

2015 Comeback Falls Short

Early in 2015, laBruzzo announced he is considering making his political comeback on the Jefferson Parish Council.[18][19]

References

  1. 1 2 "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2012" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "John LaBruzzo". house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Drew Broach, "John LaBruzzo wastes no time campaigning in new district", May 10, 2011". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ "John LaBruzzo: State Representative: Honest, Outspoken, Conservative". johnlabruzzo.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 4, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Louisiana general election returns, November 15, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Louisiana special election returns, June 4, 2005". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  8. ↑ "LaBruzzo considering plan to pay poor women $1,000 to have tubes tied". NOLA.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Lewin, Tamar (November 29, 1991). "5-Year Contraceptive Implant Seems Headed for Wide Use". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  10. ↑ "LaBruzzo no stranger to controversy, criticism". ourcampaigns.com. September 28, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Rep. LaBruzzo loses House vice-chair over sterilization remarks". NOLA.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tanya Somanader, "LA GOP Rep Defends Bill Banning Abortion, Compares Women Seeking Abortion to Heroin Addicts", June 6, 2011". thinkprogress.org. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bill Barrow, "Gov. Bobby Jindal makes endorsements, but not for lieutenant governor, secretary of state," September 13, 2011". nola.com. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  15. ↑ Richard Rainey (August 19, 2008). "Jennifer Sneed resigns Jefferson Parish Council". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 19, 2011
  17. ↑ Emily Lane (May 19, 2015). "Louisiana's religious freedom bill effectively defeated in committee". Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (2015-03-31). "Former State Rep. John LaBruzzo says Jefferson Parish Council may be where he attempts political comeback". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  19. ↑ "Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
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