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'''Joseph Peter Lopinto, III''', known as '''Joe Lopinto''' (born June 11, 1976), is an [[attorney]]  from Metairie who is the interim [[sheriff]] of populous Jefferson Parish in suburban [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. A [[Republican Party|Republican]], he is a former eight-year member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having represented District 80 from 2008 until his resignation in 2016 to rejoin the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. In 2017, Lopinto became sheriff on the resignation of [[Moderate Republican]] Newell Normand.

'''Joseph Peter Lopinto, III''', known as '''Joe Lopinto''' (born June 11, 1976), is an [[attorney]]  from Metairie who is the interim [[sheriff]] of populous Jefferson Parish in suburban [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. A [[Republican Party|Republican]], he is a former eight-year member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having represented District 80 from 2008 until his resignation in 2016 to rejoin the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. In 2017, Lopinto became sheriff on the resignation of [[Moderate Republican]] Newell Normand.

Lopinto graduated in 1994 from the [[Roman Catholic]] Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. He then obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Juris Doctor]]ate from Loyola University and the Loyola Law School, both Catholic institutions in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/62066|title=Rep. Joseph Lopinto|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>  

Lopinto graduated in 1994 from the [[Roman Catholic]] Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. He then obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Juris Doctor]]ate from Loyola University and the Loyola Law School, two other Catholic institutions in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/62066|title=Rep. Joseph Lopinto|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>  

He was elected to the legislature in 2007 to succeed the term-limited Republican Charles D. Lancaster, Jr. In the nonpartisan blanket primary, unique to Louisiana and [[California]], Lopinto defeated another Republican, Glenn Lee, 6,170 (58.6 percent) to 4,357 (41.4 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns|date=October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>

He was elected to the legislature in 2007 to succeed the term-limited Republican Charles D. Lancaster, Jr. In the nonpartisan blanket primary, unique to Louisiana and [[California]], Lopinto defeated another Republican, Glenn Lee, 6,170 (58.6 percent) to 4,357 (41.4 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns|date=October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>

He was the vice chair of the House Commerce Committee and a member of the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=80|title=Rep. Joseph P. Lopinto|publisher=house.louisiana|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref> In his first term, Lopinto he backed the positions of the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation and the Louisiana Family Forum 100 percent of the time. He sided with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide chamber of commerce, 88 percent of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=93741|title=Rep. Joseph P. Lopinto, III|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>

He was the vice chair of the House Commerce Committee and a member of the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=80|title=Rep. Joseph P. Lopinto|publisher=house.louisiana|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref> In his first term, Lopinto backed the positions of the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation and the Louisiana Family Forum 100 percent of the time. He sided with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide chamber of commerce, 88 percent of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=93741|title=Rep. Joseph P. Lopinto, III|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>

Lopinto was reelected to the House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>State of Louisiana, Primary election returns, October 22, 2011</ref>Lopinto has also held the District 80 seat on the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/03242012/03242012_MultiParish.html|title=Results for Election Date: 3/24/2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=January 27, 2014}}</ref> On entering his third House term on January 11, 2016, Lopinto announced his support for the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Walt Leger, III, of New Orleans as the state House Speaker. Leger was the choice of Democratic [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', December 17, 2015.</ref> However, in an upset, lawmakers chose not Leger as Speaker but Republican Taylor Barras, a more [[conservative]] representative from New Iberia in south Louisiana.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', January 11, 2016.</ref>

Lopinto was reelected to the House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>State of Louisiana, Primary election returns, October 22, 2011</ref>Lopinto has also held the District 80 seat on the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/03242012/03242012_MultiParish.html|title=Results for Election Date: 3/24/2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=January 27, 2014}}</ref> On entering his third House term on January 11, 2016, Lopinto announced his support for the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Walt Leger, III, of New Orleans as the state House Speaker. Leger was the choice of Democratic [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', December 17, 2015.</ref> However, in an upset, lawmakers chose not Leger as Speaker but Republican Taylor Barras, a more [[conservative]] representative from New Iberia in south Louisiana.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', January 11, 2016.</ref>

Lopinto joined the sheriff's office in 1997, first as a patrol officer and then a [[narcotics]] detective. He returned to patrol to attend Loyola Law School at night. He left the agency in 2004 and was in the private practice of law until he returned as executive counsel in 2016. After eight years in the legislature, he stepped down to rejoin the sheriff's office. Lopinto succeeded to the sheriff's position when Normand stepped down tin 2017 to host a [[radio]] talk show on station WWL in New Orleans.<ref name=sheriffsrace>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_4b0e199e-f173-11e7-ae61-33187e96721a.html|title=In heated Jefferson sheriff race, candidates battle over whose experience is better|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=January 6, 2018|author=Jim Mustian and Faimon Roberts, III|accessdate=January 7, 2018}}</ref>

Lopinto joined the sheriff's office in 1997, first as a patrol officer and then a [[narcotics]] detective. He returned to the patrol division so that he could attend Loyola Law School at night. He left the agency in 2004 and was in the private practice of law until he returned as executive counsel to Sheriff Normand in 2016. After eight years in the legislature, he stepped down to rejoin the sheriff's office. Lopinto succeeded to the sheriff's position when Normand stepped down tin 2017 to host a [[radio]] talk show on station WWL in New Orleans.<ref name=sheriffsrace>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_4b0e199e-f173-11e7-ae61-33187e96721a.html|title=In heated Jefferson sheriff race, candidates battle over whose experience is better|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=January 6, 2018|author=Jim Mustian and Faimon Roberts, III|accessdate=January 7, 2018}}</ref>

Lopinto faces two opponents in the March 24, 2018, primary election. One, Republican John Fortunato, with forty-six years experience in law enforcement, was for years the spokesman for Normand's predecessor, Harry Lee, a Democrat of Chinese descent who rarely drew serious opposition for the position. Anthony Bloise, a septuagenarian former submarine builder without law enforcement experience, is also running in the special election. Bloise polled  12 percent of the vote in the 2015 contest against Normand. The winner of the office will serve until July 2020; he must run again in the 2019 regular state elections to gain a full term as sheriff.<ref name=sheriffsrace/>

Lopinto faces two opponents in the March 24, 2018, special election. One, Republican John Fortunato, with forty-six years experience in law enforcement, was for years the spokesman for Normand's predecessor, Harry Lee, a Democrat of [[China|Chinese]] descent who rarely drew serious opposition for the position. Anthony Bloise, a septuagenarian former submarine builder without law enforcement experience, is also running in the special election. Bloise polled  12 percent of the vote in the 2015 contest against Normand. The winner of the office will serve until July 2020; he must run again in the 2019 regular state elections to gain a full term as sheriff.<ref name=sheriffsrace/>

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