Changes

| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

| occupation=[[Businessman]]; Politician

| occupation=[[Businessman]]; Politician

| spouse=Stephanie Gele Schedler

| spouse=Estranged from Stephanie Gele Schedler

| parents=

| parents=

| children=Michelle, Rachel, and Jessica<br>

| children=Michelle, Rachel, and Jessica (last names unavailable)<br>

Three granddaughters

Three granddaughters

}}

}}

   

   

==Background==

==Background==

A [[New Orleans]] native, Schedler graduated in 1967 from De La Salle High School]. In 1999, he was honored by De La Salle as one of the school's 125 outstanding graduates over the first half-century of the institution. In 1971, Schedler received his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in marketing from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He served in the [[U.S. Navy]] Reserve from 1971 to 1976 and the [[Louisiana National Guard]]. His business concerns have been in the fields of banking, real estate, and health-care management. In the middle 1990s, he was a hospital foundation director<ref name=enlou>Senate Diostrict 11,  enlou.com (site no longer available), accessed November 4, 2009.</ref> in St. Tammany Parish.<ref name=bio/>

A [[New Orleans]] native, Schedler graduated in 1967 from De La Salle High School]. In 1999, he was honored by De La Salle as one of the school's 125 outstanding graduates over the first half-century of the institution. In 1971, Schedler received his Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He served in the [[U.S. Navy]] Reserve from 1971 to 1976 and the Louisiana [[National Guard]]. His business concerns have been in the fields of banking, real estate, and health-care management. In the middle 1990s, he was a hospital foundation director<ref name=enlou>Senate Diostrict 11,  enlou.com (site no longer available), accessed November 4, 2009.</ref> in St. Tammany Parish.<ref name=bio/>

   

   

A former member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, Schedler was a [[George W. Bush]]-committed delegate to the 2000 [[Republican National Convention]] in  [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He was also chairman of the State Senate Republican delegation.<ref name=bio/>  

A former member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, Schedler was a [[George W. Bush]]-committed delegate to the 2000 [[Republican National Convention]] in  [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He was also chairman of the State Senate Republican delegation.<ref name=bio/>  

   

   

From 1984 to 1990, Schedler was chairman of the Slidell Board of Zoning and Adjustment. In 1995, he was the president of the St. Tammany Municipal Association. From 1990 to 1996, Schedler served on the Slidell City Council, having been vice president and then president of the body. In 1990, at the age of forty, he was named "Slidell Citizen of the Year". In 1991, he graduated from the civic program "Leadership Louisiana",<ref name=enlou/> sponsored by the [[interest group]] Council for a Better Louisiana. Schedler is a former president of Slidell Rotary International, having also been a Paul P. Harris Fellow, an honor named for the founder of the organization. He has been affiliated with the Slidell [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the Lions Internatinal. He is married to the former Stephanie Gele (born March 3, 1950) of Lafayette, an administrator of [[hospice]] programs in the Greater New Orleans area. The Schedlers have three grown daughters, Michelle, Rachel, and Jessica. They attend St. Margaret Mary [[Roman Catholic Church in Slidell.<ref name=bio/> but reside in Mandeville, also in St. Tammany Parish.

From 1984 to 1990, Schedler was chairman of the Slidell Board of Zoning and Adjustment. In 1995, he was the president of the St. Tammany Municipal Association. From 1990 to 1996, Schedler served on the Slidell City Council, having been vice president and then president of the body. In 1990, at the age of forty, he was named "Slidell Citizen of the Year". In 1991, he graduated from the civic program "Leadership Louisiana",<ref name=enlou/> sponsored by the [[interest group]] Council for a Better Louisiana. Schedler is a former president of Slidell Rotary International, having also been a Paul P. Harris Fellow, an honor named for the founder of the organization. He has been affiliated with the Slidell [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the Lions Internatinal. He is married to the former Stephanie Gele (born March 3, 1950) of Mandeville, who has been an administrator of [[hospice]] programs in the Greater New Orleans area. The Schedlers have three grown daughters, Michelle, Rachel, and Jessica, and three granddaughters. They attend St. Margaret Mary [[Roman Catholic Church in Slidell.<ref name=bio/> but reside in Mandeville, also in St. Tammany Parish.

==Legislative service==

==Legislative service==

==Election integrity issue==

==Election integrity issue==

In July 2017, Secretary Schedler cited "privacy" concerns ([[Social Security]] numbers, dates of birth, mother's maiden names, and party registrations, the latter of which constitute [[public information]]) for his refusal to turn over Louisiana voter registration information to [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]'s  commission investigating potential fraud in the 2016 presidential election. Schedler called the request politically motivated and a “federal intrusion and overreach.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/|title=Louisiana rejects Trump commission request for voter data|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk, citing story from ''The Lafayette Daily Advertiser''|date=July 3, 2017|accessdate=July 5, 2017}}</ref>

In July 2017, Secretary Schedler cited "privacy" concerns ([[Social Security]] numbers, dates of birth, mother's maiden names, and party registrations, the latter of which constitute public information) for his refusal to turn over Louisiana voter registration information to [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]'s  commission investigating potential fraud in the 2016 presidential election. Schedler called the request politically motivated and a “federal intrusion and overreach.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/|title=Louisiana rejects Trump commission request for voter data|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk, citing story from ''The Lafayette Daily Advertiser''|date=July 3, 2017|accessdate=July 5, 2017}}</ref>

Jeffrey Dennis Sadow, a conservative who is an associate [[political science]] [[professor]] at Louisiana State University in [[Shreveport]], questions why Schedler maintains faith in the integrity of elections held outside his state because Schedler's role as chief election officer applies only in Louisiana. Sadow suggested that Schedler considers any challenge to election integrity, no matter how potentially valid, as ultimately a loss of faith in the elections officials. He urged Schedler to cooperate with the federal voter integrity probe because "ensuring untainted elections is too important to politicize."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_d20c1070-6cb9-11e7-996b-4ba08a38469e.html|title=Louisiana officials should avoid 'playing politics' and cooperate with fraud probe|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 22, 2017|author=Jeffrey Dennis Sadow|accessdate=July 25, 2017}}</ref> Despite Sadow's questioning, Trump shut down the elections integrity unit after so many secretaries of state across the nation refused to cooperate.

Jeffrey Dennis Sadow, a conservative who is an associate [[political science]] [[professor]] at Louisiana State University in [[Shreveport]], questions why Schedler maintains faith in the integrity of elections held outside his state because Schedler's role as chief election officer applies only in Louisiana. Sadow suggested that Schedler considers any challenge to election integrity, no matter how potentially valid, as ultimately a loss of faith in the elections officials. He urged Schedler to cooperate with the federal voter integrity probe because "ensuring untainted elections is too important to politicize."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_d20c1070-6cb9-11e7-996b-4ba08a38469e.html|title=Louisiana officials should avoid 'playing politics' and cooperate with fraud probe|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 22, 2017|author=Jeffrey Dennis Sadow|accessdate=July 25, 2017}}</ref> However, Trump shut down the elections integrity unit after so many secretaries of state across the nation refused to cooperate.

In July 2016, Schedler rebuked comments made by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, a fellow Republican whose father was a former state Republican chairman,  regarding allegations of abuse of early voting procedures in Louisiana. Schedler called Nungesser

In July 2016, Schedler rebuked comments made by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, a fellow Republican whose father was a former state Republican chairman,  regarding allegations of abuse of early voting procedures in Louisiana. Schedler called Nungesser

==Sexual harassment suit==

==Sexual harassment suit==

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, the former Stephanie Gele on Mandeville, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual.  However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler gave the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

In 2018, Schedler was named the defendant in [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit filed by an unidentified employee still working in the office of the secretary of state. In response to the suit, Schedler, who has long been estranged from his wife, the former Stephanie Gele on Mandeville, said that the relationship with the woman was consensual.  However, the woman's attorney, Jill Craft, claims that the relationship was not consensual and began as early as 2007, before Schedler was the secretary of state and still a deputy to Jay Dardenne. The suit alleges that Schedler bought a townhouse in the complex where the woman lives and spied on her and that he obtained her cell phone to look through her contacts, including a boyfriend. In 2014, the harassment expanded to text, email messages, and cards "that became more sexual" in theme, according to the suit. He allegedly addressed her as "My dearest sunshine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/schedler_claims_consensual_rel.html|title=Schedler claims consensual relationship with employee suing him for sexual harassment|date=February 22, 2018|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Greg LaRose|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> The suit also claims that Schedler showed the woman [[pornography]].<ref name=wafb/>

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation as secretary of state. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."

The sexual harassment suit prompted Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] and Republican state Senator Sharon Woodall Hewitt, who represents St. Tammany Parish, to call for Schedler's resignation as secretary of state. Hewitt said: "Sadly, I have reached the conclusion that Secretary Schedler can no longer be an effective leader or role model for our state. In the coming days, I hope that he too will reach the same conclusion and consider stepping down."

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign immediately, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV| author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brproud.com/news/local-news/governor-and-other-state-leadership-join-together-in-calling-for-schedlers-resignation/998699217|title=Governor and other state leadership join together in calling for Schedler's resignation|date=February 28, 2018|author=Norman Dotson|publisher=Brproud.com (Fox 44)|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Schedler said that while he would not resign immediately, he will not seek a third full term as secretary of state in the 2019 state elections. He indicated that an immediate resignation would be "cowardly" and noted that his office must prepare for the 2018 national election as well as ongoing special or local elections.<ref name=wafb>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/37728968/attorney-for-schedlers-accuser-fires-back-following-his-decision-to-not-resign-immediately|title=Attorney for Schedler's accuser fires back following his decision not to resign immediately|publisher=WAFB-TV|author=Scottie Hunter|date=March 14, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

Schedler said he will fight the allegations and argued that the truth in the dispute lies "somewhere in the middle". Meanwhile, he is on extended leave from his office.<ref>{{cite web|=http://www.wafb.com/story/37718691/sec-of-state-announces-will-not-seek-reelection-in-2019-amid-sexual-harassment-scandal|title=Secretary of State announces he will not seek reelection in 2019 amid sexual harassment scandal|publisher=WAFB-TV|date=March 13, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>  

Schedler said he will fight the allegations and argued that the truth in the dispute lies "somewhere in the middle". Meanwhile, he is on extended leave from his office.<ref>{{cite web|=http://www.wafb.com/story/37718691/sec-of-state-announces-will-not-seek-reelection-in-2019-amid-sexual-harassment-scandal|title=Secretary of State announces he will not seek reelection in 2019 amid sexual harassment scandal|publisher=WAFB-TV|date=March 13, 2018|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>