Background
Wooton, Ernest Durham was born on October 28, 1941.
Wooton, Ernest Durham was born on October 28, 1941.
He graduated from Portuguese Sulphur High School in Portuguese Sulphur in Plaquemines Parish. He attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, but his House website does not specify whether he received a degree.
He resides in Belle Chasse east of New Orleans. He was an unsuccessful Independent candidate for the United States. Senate election held on November 2, 2010. Wooton handles public relations for an oil company.
Wooton served as a Democratic sheriff from 1984 to 1992.
He was unseated as sheriff on November 16, 1991, by the Republican I.F. "Jiff" Hingle, Junior., 5,369 votes (54 percent) to 4,654 (46 percent). Hingle defeated Wooton again in a rematch held on October 21, 1995, having led a three-candidate field with 51 percent of the vote.
Wooton was elected as a Democrat to the Louisiana House special election held on March 27, 1999. He defeated fellow Democrat Jerry K. Hodnett, also of Belle Chasse, 52-48 percent.
The incumbent, Benny Rousselle, resigned to become Plaquemines Parish president
The district includes Plaquemines Parish and parts of Jefferson and Saint Charles parishes. Wooton switched to Republican status in 2005. As a legislator, Wooton has been known for his strong conservative views and outspoken rhetoric.
Because of his background in law enforcement, he is chairman of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice.
He also serves on the Homeland Security Committee. In 2010, Wooton introduced legislation to force Governor Bobby Jindal to open more records of the state executive branch to the public.
Jindal supporters carried the day with their contention that a governor needs a certain amount of executive privilege and must keep some of the materials in question confidential. After five years as a Republican, Wooton turned Independent on July 9, 2010, to qualify for the United States. Senate contest.
In making the switch, he bypassed the major party primaries.
Former Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn tried a similar approach in 2006 in a bid for governor but ran third in the general election to incumbent Rick Perry. In his announcement for United States. senator, Wooton said that he would drive about the state in a motor home and run a low-budget race, meeting voters directly. Wooton finished with only 8,167 votes, or 1 percent of the total cast.
Term-limited in the House, Wooton trailed in a weak third place in his bid as an Independent to regain the sheriff"s position in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011.
Two Republicans entered the November 19, 2011, general election for the Plaquemines sheriff"s position. Two other Republicans competed for the right to succeed Wooton in the House.Chris Leopold defeated Harold L. "Rocky" Asevedo, 4,786 (534 percent) to 4,183 (466 percent).
Democratic Party, Republican Party.
Unlike in Washington, District of Columbia, members of the minority party or independents may chair legislative committees in both houses of the Louisiana legislature.
Married Linda Green Wooton.