Changes

On March 2, 2013, Stokes won a special election to succeed fellow Republican Anthony V. "Tony" Ligi, Jr., who resigned to become director of the Jefferson Business Council. On the same day that Stokes was elected to the Louisiana House, another Republican, Barry Dee Ivey of Baton Rouge]], won a special election in District 65 to choose a successor to the Republican Clifton Russell "Clif" Richardson, who resigned because of health issues. In defeating three fellow Republicans, Stokes received 56 percent of the vote to fill the nearly three years left in Ligi's term. Businessman Jack Rizzuto, a  candidate defeated by Ligi in 2007, finished second in the 2013 contest with 31 percent of the ballots cast. Allison Bent Bowler, the chief financial officer at Benjamin Franklin High School  in New Orleans received 9 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/baton_rouge_businessman_barry.html|author=Lauren McGaughy|title=Baton Rouge businessman Barry Ivey wins special House election, March 2, 2013|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> No Democrat sought the District 79 House seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|date=March 2, 2013|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

On March 2, 2013, Stokes won a special election to succeed fellow Republican Anthony V. "Tony" Ligi, Jr., who resigned to become director of the Jefferson Business Council. On the same day that Stokes was elected to the Louisiana House, another Republican, Barry Dee Ivey of Baton Rouge]], won a special election in District 65 to choose a successor to the Republican Clifton Russell "Clif" Richardson, who resigned because of health issues. In defeating three fellow Republicans, Stokes received 56 percent of the vote to fill the nearly three years left in Ligi's term. Businessman Jack Rizzuto, a  candidate defeated by Ligi in 2007, finished second in the 2013 contest with 31 percent of the ballots cast. Allison Bent Bowler, the chief financial officer at Benjamin Franklin High School  in New Orleans received 9 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/baton_rouge_businessman_barry.html|author=Lauren McGaughy|title=Baton Rouge businessman Barry Ivey wins special House election, March 2, 2013|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> No Democrat sought the District 79 House seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|date=March 2, 2013|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Stokes serves on these House committees: Executive, Ways & Means, Health & Welfare, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.aspx?ID=79|title=Louisiana House Member page: Julie Stokes|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>  She is affiliated with the National Conference of State Legislators. She was selected with twenty-four other women for the 2017 Class of"Women in Government Leadership" in  ''Governing Magazine''.

Stokes serves on these House committees: Executive, Ways & Means, Health & Welfare, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.aspx?ID=79|title=Louisiana House Member page: Julie Stokes|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>  She is affiliated with the National Conference of State Legislators. She was selected with twenty-four other women for the 2017 Class of"Women in Government Leadership" in  ''Governing Magazine''.

In 2015, she received the Southwest Chamber Louisiana’s Fusion Five Award as the " best new up-and-coming legislator." The next year, she was named one of four “Women of Distinction” by the  [[Girl Scouts]] of Louisiana East. In 2003 and 2014, she was one of the "Women of the Year" designated by ''New Orleans City Business Magazine''.<ref name=honors>{{cite web|url=https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=f25df6aee3779ed678ec15a8c&id=dc2f2e132b&e=|title=CPA and Conservative State Representative Julie Stokes Announces for State Treasurer Race|author=Jason Hebert|date=February 10, 2017|publisher=Us4.campaign|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, she received the "Fusion Five Award" from the Louisiana Southwest Chamber as the "best new up-and-coming legislator." The next year, she was named one of four “Women of Distinction” by the  [[Girl Scouts]] of Louisiana East. In 2003 and 2014, she was one of the "Women of the Year" designated by ''New Orleans City Business Magazine''.<ref name=honors>{{cite web|url=https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=f25df6aee3779ed678ec15a8c&id=dc2f2e132b&e=|title=CPA and Conservative State Representative Julie Stokes Announces for State Treasurer Race|author=Jason Hebert|date=February 10, 2017|publisher=Us4.campaign|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

Her other legislative awards include:

Her other legislative awards include:

• "Education Choice Champion" for 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Federation for Children<ref name=honors/>

• "Education Choice Champion" for 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Federation for Children<ref name=honors/>

In March 2018, in remission from cancer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/julie_stokes_illness.html|title=Louisiana Rep. Julie Stokes' breast cancer surgery was 'successful'|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes announced that she is considering running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish, is  vacating after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought againsthim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/03/22/rep-julie-stokes-cancer-free-eyes-secretary-state-race/444754002/|title=Rep. Julie Stokes, cancer free, eyes secretary of state race|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

The [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk-show host [[Moon Griffon]], based in [[Lafayette]] but broadcast statewide, has long characterized Stokes, who also considers herself a conservative,<ref name=honors/> and her fellow lawmaker Barry Ivey and former Representative [[Chris Broadwater]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/>

The [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk-show host [[Moon Griffon]], based in [[Lafayette]] but broadcast statewide, has long characterized Stokes, who also considers herself a conservative,<ref name=honors/> and her fellow lawmaker Barry Ivey and former Representative [[Chris Broadwater]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/>

In March 2018, in remission from cancer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/julie_stokes_illness.html|title=Louisiana Rep. Julie Stokes' breast cancer surgery was 'successful'|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes announced that she is considering running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish, is  vacating after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought against him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/03/22/rep-julie-stokes-cancer-free-eyes-secretary-state-race/444754002/|title=Rep. Julie Stokes, cancer free, eyes secretary of state race|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

==References==

==References==