Education
Northwestern State University.
Northwestern State University.
A resident of Colfax in Grant Parish, Brown claimed the reconfigured District 22 seat in North Louisiana by unseating in the general election held on November 19, 2011 the Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent Billy Chandler of Dry Prong, also in Grant Parish. Brown is one of three children of June Hafer Brown (1920-2003) and Ralph Edison Brown (1916-2002), who fought in both theaters of World World War II and was employed by the Veterans Administration medical center in Pineville. The senior Brown was an area commander of the American Legion and active in the Boy Scouts of America in south Grant Parish.
Both Browns are interred at Colfax Cemetery.
Terry Brown"s siblings are Michael L. Brown of Colfax and Jimmie Brown Ballard of Camden, Arkansas. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
In the nonpartisan blanket primary held in October 2011, a third candidate, Republican businessman James Timothy "Tim" Murphy of Natchitoches, previously from Montgomery in Grant Parish, polled 3,666 votes (259 percent), sufficient to force a runoff between Chandler, who led with 5,790 (408 percent) and Brown, who polled 4,724 (333 percent). Brown then unseated Chandler, 6,015 (524 percent) to 5,465 (476 percent).
He lost only in the combined eight precincts in Natchitoches Parish within the district.
Brown sits on these House committees: (1) Administration of Criminal Justice, (2) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, and (3) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works. Brown holds a 60 percent rating from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Brown opposes the controversial Common Core State Standards Initiative, which was first supported by Governor Bobby Jindal, who then reversed his position on the issue.
Brown told a public forum in Alexandria that some of his constituents have children who are "literally pulling their hair out" or faking illnesses because of frustration with Common Core.
Brown said that 84 percent of his constituents oppose Common Core. The lawmaker criticized Louisiana Education Superintendent John White for insistence on keeping Common Core.
Brown said that he favors returning to an elected state superintendent who unlike White would be "answerable to the people."
In his bid for re-election to the state House in the October 24, 2015, non-partisan blanket primary, Brown defeated a Republican challenge from John Robert Stephens, I (born August 1970), of Jena in LaSalle Parish. Brown polled 6,627 votes (524 percent) to Stephens" 6,026 (476 percent).
Brown is the author of House Bill 11 (2016), which if implemented would halt open burning of munitions or explosive waste.
Such burning is underway at the company Clean Harbors Colfax, which is located five miles northwest of Colfax. The neighboring Rapides Parish Police Jury approved a resolution opposing Brown"s bill. Juror Richard Vanderlick explained that Brown"s measure "might shut that operation down, and that"s going to cause some people to lose their jobs.” Brown, however, insists that the open burning is a health hazard and must be stopped.
Active in the Grant Parish community, he is a charter member of the Louisiana Pecan Festival Association and a vice chairman of the Grant Parish Library Board. He is also a member of the Louisiana Rural Caucus.