John Stefanski
| John M. Stefanski | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 42th district |
|
| Assumed office April 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Jack Montoucet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1984 Crowley, Louisiana, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Crowley, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
John M. Stefanski is a lawyer who since April 2017 serves as Representative of the 42nd District (Acadia and Lafayette Parishes) at the Louisiana House of Representatives.
Contents
Early life, education and career
John Michael Stefanski was born on 14 April 1984 in Crowley, Louisiana, where he also grew up.
Education
Stefanski is a 2002 graduate from Notre Dame High School.[1] He holds an B.A. in from History from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (2007)[2] and an J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (2010).[3]
Career
After his admission to the Bar in 2010, he entered what he calls a true "family general law practice", working with his father, an uncle and two first cousins as well as a long-time business partner and friend of the family. He is a member of the Acadia Parish-, Louisiana State-, and American Bar Associations.[4] He was President of the Acadia Parish Bar Association in 2013.[5] His practice areas include Criminal-, Family-, and juvenile law, as well as Workers Compensation.[4] He also handles indigent defender cases.
Member of the House
Campaign and election
Stefanski took over Jack Montoucet's remaining term, an alligator farmer[6] who was the former representative of Louisiana House District 42. The rural district manly depends economically on agriculture, oil and gas and has for more than two decades been represented by a Democrat. Montoucet resigned a year into his third term[7] to become secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Governor John Bel Edwards’ administration.
On elections day on 25 March 2017, Stefanski won against his single challenger, the lawyer Jay Suire, a fellow Republican, by receiving 54 percent of the vote.[8] Stefanski’s campaign was supported by The Louisiana Federation for Children Action Fund, which conducted independent expenditures on his behalf[9] as well as Westpac, a political action committee for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI).[10]
Political positions
Stefanski is a social- and fiscal conservative who favors small government and is wary of additional state taxes. He is Pro-life and a defender of the 2nd amendment. On his website, Stefanski states that: "Louisiana now has the highest sales tax bill in America. […] You cannot tax your way into prosperity." In his eyes, one of the most urgent tasks for the State of Louisina is to get his finances in order through fiscal discipline and invest existing funds wisely into issues of general importance, such as the State's crumbling infrastructure.[11]
Committees
Representative Stefanski is a member of the following Legislative Committees:[12]
- Administration of Criminal Justice Committee
- Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee
- Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee
Caucus
Stefanski is member of the Acadiana Delegation, the Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation, and the Louisiana Rural Caucus.[12]
Electoral history
In a 17 May 2017 vote, the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice blocked a vote to end capital punishment in the state of Louisiana by a 9-8 vote. Stefanski was amongst those who voted against abolition.[13]
Two days later, he voted against a successful 7-6 decision to prohibit anyone in Louisiana to hand over fully automatic weapons to children 12 or younger.[14]
Personal life
Stefanski, who is currently single, lives and works in Acadia Parish. He was drawn to public service through the experience of having a younger brother who was diagnosed with autism and who faced obstacles in receiving the support and services he needed.[7]
Stefanski is very much engaged in the local community, who is a Lector at St. Michael's Catholic Church and a Volunteer Basketball Coach for his former Elementary School, St. Michael's, where he coaches the 6th graders.[8]
Stefanski sits on the Acadiana Area Human Services District Board of Directors[15] as well as the Crowley Chamber of Commerce.[16] He is a former member of the Acadia Parish Planning Commission Board.[17]
He is an sportsman and a hunter and fisherman. He is a member of the hunting organization Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, and its Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) program.
Stefanski is a Junior Board Member of The Grand Opera House of the South.[18]
References
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