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University of [[New Orleans]]  

University of [[New Orleans]]  

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'''Julie Skinner Stokes''' (born January 23, 1970) is a [[Certified Public Accountant]] who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 79 in Kenner in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. She is a candidate for Louisiana Secretary of State in the special election scheduled for November 6, 2018, with a December 8 runoff if needed.

'''Julie Skinner Stokes''' (born January 23, 1970) is a [[Certified Public Accountant]] who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] departing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 79 in Kenner in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. She was an unsuccessful candidate for Louisiana Secretary of State in the special election held on November 6, 2018. On July 29, 2019, Stokes announced that she would not seek a third term in her position to be more available for her children. "I do not want to miss any of the few years remaining with my children before they leave for college," Stokes said in her announcement of non-candidacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_0e8536c0-b237-11e9-af71-4bc8b4f6a80a.html|title=Kenner Republican Julie Stokes won't seek reelection to Louisiana House se3at|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 29, 2019|author=Faimon Roberts, III|accessdate=July 31, 2019}}</ref>

Until her diagnosis of [[breast cancer]] in 2017, Stokes had been a candidate<ref name=breastcancer>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/07/julie_stokes_treasurer_not_run.html|title=Julie Stokes quits Louisiana treasurer race after breast cancer diagnois|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 6, 2017|author=Julia O'Donoghue|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> for state treasurer in the special election held on October 14, 2017, to choose a successor to [[John Neely Kennedy]], who was elected in 2016 to the [[United States Senate]] to succeed fellow Republican [[David Vitter]]. Stokes underwent [[chemotherapy]] and remains a legislator.<ref name=breastcancer/> Her legislative colleague, [[John Schroder]], from St. Tammany Parish, won a special election runoff against an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] for the right to succeed Kennedy.

Until her diagnosis of [[breast cancer]] in 2017, Stokes had been a candidate<ref name=breastcancer>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/07/julie_stokes_treasurer_not_run.html|title=Julie Stokes quits Louisiana treasurer race after breast cancer diagnois|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 6, 2017|author=Julia O'Donoghue|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> for state treasurer in the special election held on October 14, 2017, to choose a successor to [[John Neely Kennedy]], who was elected in 2016 to the [[United States Senate]] to succeed fellow Republican [[David Vitter]]. Stokes underwent [[chemotherapy]] and remains a legislator until January 2020.<ref name=breastcancer/> Her legislative colleague, [[John Schroder]], from St. Tammany Parish, won a special election runoff against an [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] for the right to succeed Kennedy.

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 held the remaining 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 is the only child of the former Doris Guerin, a native of the unincorporated city of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, and the late Edward Thomas Skinner.<ref name=rehgobit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Ruth-Guerin&lc=7863&pid=155649286&mid=4972726&Affiliate=nola&PersonID=155650324&FHID=11014|title=Obituary of Ruth Elizabeth Hauck Guerin (c. 1922-2012) (maternal grandmother of Julie Stokes)|publisher=Obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> She graduated in 1988 from East Jefferson High School in the unincorporated city of Metairie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/people-search/Julie-S-Stokes/Kenner-LA|title=Julie Stokes|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> In 1992, Stokes received her Bachelor of Science [[magna cum laude]] in accounting from the University of New Orleans and immediately passed her CPA exam. From 2000 to 2010, she operated Julie S. Stokes, CPA, but thereafter became the chief financial officer of Stokes & Associates. She also prepares federal and state tax returns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokes-associates.com/staff.html|title=Stokes & Associates, Inc.|publisher=stokes-associates.com|accessdate=August 26, 2013}}</ref> She is in business with her husband, Larry Steven Stokes (born September 30, 1955);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/larry-stokes/e798003691236|title=Larry Stokes: Kenner, Louisiana|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> the couple has two children, Brandon and Taylor Stokes.<ref name=rehgobit/>

Stokes is the only child of the former Doris Guerin, a native of the unincorporated city of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, and the late Edward Thomas Skinner.<ref name=rehgobit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Ruth-Guerin&lc=7863&pid=155649286&mid=4972726&Affiliate=nola&PersonID=155650324&FHID=11014|title=Obituary of Ruth Elizabeth Hauck Guerin (c. 1922-2012) (maternal grandmother of Julie Stokes)|publisher=Obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> She graduated in 1988 from East Jefferson High School in the unincorporated city of Metairie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/people-search/Julie-S-Stokes/Kenner-LA|title=Julie Stokes|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> In 1992, Stokes received her Bachelor of Science [[magna cum laude]] in accounting from the University of New Orleans and immediately passed her CPA exam. From 2000 to 2010, she operated Julie S. Stokes, CPA, but thereafter became the chief financial officer of Stokes & Associates. She also prepares federal and state tax returns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokes-associates.com/staff.html|title=Stokes & Associates, Inc.|publisher=stokes-associates.com|accessdate=August 26, 2013}}</ref> She is in business with her husband, Larry Steven Stokes (born September 30, 1955);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/larry-stokes/e798003691236|title=Larry Stokes: Kenner, Louisiana|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> the couple has two children, Brandon and Taylor Stokes.<ref name=rehgobit/>

==Career==

==Political career==

For ten years, Stokes was a registered Louisiana Democrat.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', November 1, 2018.</ref>

For ten years, Stokes was a registered Louisiana Democrat.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' November 1, 2018.</ref>

In her freshman legislative year, Representative Stokes, by then a Republican, was rated 71 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide Chamber of Commerce, but she was scored 97 percent by that group in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbwoExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes serves on the Health & Welfare, Labor & Industrial Relations, and Ways & Means committees. In 2013, she voted to increase the pay of state judges. In 2017, she did not vote on the House-passed measure, which was nevertheless blocked in the state Senate, to forbid the removal of [[Confederacy|Confederate]] monuments from government locations. Stokes co-sponsored the tax increases on [[cigarette]]s in 2016 and voted to hike [[gasoline]] taxes in 2017.<ref name=projectvotesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbgaExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

In her freshman legislative year, Representative Stokes, by then a Republican, was rated 71 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide Chamber of Commerce, but she was scored 97 percent by that group in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbwoExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes serves on the Health & Welfare, Labor & Industrial Relations, and Ways & Means committees. In 2013, she voted to increase the pay of state judges. In 2017, she did not vote on the House-passed measure, which was nevertheless blocked in the state Senate, to forbid the removal of [[Confederacy|Confederate]] monuments from government locations. Stokes co-sponsored the tax increases on [[cigarette]]s in 2016 and voted to hike [[gasoline]] taxes in 2017.<ref name=projectvotesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbgaExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

* "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/>

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]], current Representative [[Rob Shadoin]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. Griffon also noted that Stokes contributed to the successful [[John Bel Edwards]] gubernatorial campaign in 2015.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 6, 2018.</ref>"Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 10, 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]], former Representative [[Rob Shadoin]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. Griffon also noted that Stokes contributed to the successful [[John Bel Edwards]] gubernatorial campaign in 2015.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 6, 2018.</ref>"Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' August 10, 2018.</ref>

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 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>

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 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>

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 would consider running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish vacated after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought against him by one of his female office employes. Schedler vacated the office on May 8, 2018.<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> On May 16, 2018, Stokes announced she would run for the year remaining in Schedler's term. Her opposition includes businessman and former state Sen. Almond Gaston Crowe, Jr. (born 1948), of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who served in both legislative chambers from 2000 to 2016; Republican state Representative [[Rick Edmonds]], a [[Southern Baptist]] minister from Baton Rouge (formerly of [[Shreveport]]), who has pledged a "watchdog" role for the office to guarantee that only qualified voters in Louisiana can cast ballots, and Paul Hollis of Covington in St. Tammany Parish, who is expected to announce later in July. Renee Fontenot Free, the official choice of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> as the only member of her party in the race for secretary of state is a favorite to gain a runoff berth. The interim secretary of state, Kyle Ardoin, is not a candidate to complete Schedler's term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/27/former-louisiana-lawmaker-enters-secretary-of-stat/|title=Former Louisiana lawmaker enters secretary of state's race|publisher=''[[Washington Times]]''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/05/secretary-state-see-whos-whos-out-race/759474002/|title=Secretary of state race: See who's in, who's out|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=Greg Hilburn|date=July 5, 2018|accessdate=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

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 would consider running in 2019 for the secretary of state position which Republican [[Tom Schedler]] of St. Tammany Parish vacated after allegations of [[sexual harassment]] were brought against him by one of his female office employes. Schedler vacated the office on May 8, 2018.<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> On May 16, 2018, Stokes confirmed that she would run for the year remaining in Schedler's term. Her opposition included businessman and former state Sen. Almond Gaston Crowe, Jr. (born 1948), of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who served in both legislative chambers from 2000 to 2016; Republican state Representative [[Rick Edmonds]], a [[Southern Baptist]] minister from Baton Rouge (formerly of [[Shreveport]]), who pledged a "watchdog" role for the office to guarantee that only qualified voters in Louisiana can cast ballots. Renee Fontenot Free, the official choice of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> as the only member of her party in the race for secretary of state was a favorite to gain a runoff berth. The interim secretary of state, Kyle Ardoin, a Republican, delayed his announcement of candidacy,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/27/former-louisiana-lawmaker-enters-secretary-of-stat/|title=Former Louisiana lawmaker enters secretary of state's race|publisher=''[[Washington Times]]''|date=June 27, 2018|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/05/secretary-state-see-whos-whos-out-race/759474002/|title=Secretary of state race: See who's in, who's out|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=Greg Hilburn|date=July 5, 2018|accessdate=July 6, 2018}}</ref> but prevailed in the runoff contest in

==References==

==References==