Changes

In 2011, Whitney won the right to succeed the term-limited [[Democrat]] Damon Baldone. She defeated fellow Republican Billy Hebert, a member of the Terrebonne Parish Council, 3,709 (59 percent) top 2,552 (41 percent). District 53 encompasses the Oakshire, Broadmoor, Park Avenue,  Bayou Blue, Cocodrie, Montegut, Bourg, and Pointe-aux-Chenes sections of Houma, the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish.<ref name=houmac>{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20111122/articles/111129914?p=1&tc=pg|title=Nate Monroe, "Terrebonne elections yield historic results"|publisher=''Houma Courier'', November 22, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

In 2011, Whitney won the right to succeed the term-limited [[Democrat]] Damon Baldone. She defeated fellow Republican Billy Hebert, a member of the Terrebonne Parish Council, 3,709 (59 percent) top 2,552 (41 percent). District 53 encompasses the Oakshire, Broadmoor, Park Avenue,  Bayou Blue, Cocodrie, Montegut, Bourg, and Pointe-aux-Chenes sections of Houma, the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish.<ref name=houmac>{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20111122/articles/111129914?p=1&tc=pg|title=Nate Monroe, "Terrebonne elections yield historic results"|publisher=''Houma Courier'', November 22, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

Whitney graduated from Vanderbilt High School in Houma and obtained an [[associate degree]] in business from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.  Since she was sixteen, she has operated a dance school. She has sales experience in oil field fabrication, repair and maintenance, and the media and telecommunications . Her husband, Lee Whitney, has operated Whitney Signs since the early 1980 and is a strong supporter of the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]]. He was reared in Houma and Upper Caillou and established a lifelong friendship with the politically connected Chabert family.  Whitney traces her family tree on the Ledet and Boquet side directly to the Bourg/Montegut’s families. Whitney has two children; both graduates of [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lenarwhitney.com/about-lenar-whitney/|title=About Lenar Whitney|publisher=lenarwhitney.com|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

Whitney graduated from Vanderbilt High School in Houma and obtained an associate's degree in business from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.  Since she was sixteen, she has operated a dance school. She has sales experience in oil field fabrication, repair and maintenance, and the media and telecommunications . Her husband, Lee Whitney, has operated Whitney Signs since the early 1980 and is a strong supporter of the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]]. He was reared in Houma and Upper Caillou and established a lifelong friendship with the politically connected Chabert family.  Whitney traces her family tree on the Ledet and Boquet side directly to the Bourg/Montegut’s families. Whitney has two children; both graduates of [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lenarwhitney.com/about-lenar-whitney/|title=About Lenar Whitney|publisher=lenarwhitney.com|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

Whitney is the first woman to represent Terrebonne in the legislature and the first Republican to hold the District 53 seat. She describes herelf as a [[conservative]] who is pledged to reduce taxation and the size of government.<ref name=houmac/>

Whitney is the first woman to represent Terrebonne in the legislature and the first Republican to hold the District 53 seat. She describes herelf as a [[conservative]] who is pledged to reduce taxation and the size of government.<ref name=houmac/>