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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=James Joseph "Jim" Donelon, III​

|name=James Joseph "Jim" Donelon, III​

|birth_date=December 14, 1944 ​

|birth_date=December 14, 1944 ​

|death_date=​

|death_date=​

|death_place=​

|death_place=​

|spouse=Merilynn Boudreaux Donelson

|spouse=Merilynn Boudreaux "Mopsy" Donelson

|children=Four daughters

|children=Four daughters<br>

|religion= [[Roman Catholic]] ​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]] ​

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]] (1980)

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​-turned-[[Republican Party|Republican]] (1980)

|occupation=[[Lawyer]]<br>

|occupation=[[Lawyer]]<br>

Judge Advocate for the Louisiana Army National Guard.​

Judge Advocate for the Louisiana Army National Guard​

|alma_mater=Jesuit High School<br>

|alma_mater=Jesuit High School<br>

University of New Orleans<br>

University of New Orleans<br>

'''James Joseph Donelon, III, known as '''Jim Donelon''' (born December 14, 1944), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] insurance commissioner in [[Louisana]], a statewide post to which he succeeded on February 15, 2006.  

'''James Joseph Donelon, III, known as '''Jim Donelon''' (born December 14, 1944), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] insurance commissioner in [[Louisana]], a statewide post to which he succeeded on February 15, 2006.  

Donelon was first elected on September 30, 2006,  to complete a 15-month unexpired term as [[insurance]] commissioner, created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], J. Robert Wooley.  

Donelon was first elected on September 30, 2006,  to complete a 15-month unexpired term as [[insurance]] commissioner, created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], J. Robert Wooley. Thereafter, Donelon won a full-term as commissioner in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, when Republican [[Bobby Jindal]] was elected [[governor]] to succeeded former opponent, Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], a Democrat from [[Lafayette]]. Two other Republican candidates garnered the remaining 13 percent of the ballots cast in 2007.

 

Thereafter, Donelon won a full-term as commissioner in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, when Republican [[Bobby Jindal]] was elected [[governor]] to succeeded former opponent, Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], a Democrat from [[Lafayette]]. Two other Republican candidates garnered the remaining 13 percent of the ballots cast in 2007.

Wooley left the insurance postion to become a [[lobbyist]] for the high-powered law firm, Adams and Reese in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 2001, Wooley appointed Donelon as his first deputy; under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Donelon autotically became temporary commissioner upon Wooley's departure. Wooley said that he chose Donelon for chief deputy because of Donelon's impeccable reputation and his extensive knowledge of insurance:

Wooley left the insurance postion to become a [[lobbyist]] for the high-powered law firm, Adams and Reese in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 2001, Wooley appointed Donelon as his first deputy; under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Donelon automatically became temporary commissioner upon Wooley's departure. Wooley said that he chose Donelon for chief deputy because of Donelon's impeccable reputation and his extensive knowledge of insurance:

<blockquote

<blockquote

Jim was the only guy I knew who could help me restore the credibility and integrity of an office embarrassed because the three previous insurance commissioners had gone to jail ... He is a consumer advocate who does the right thing for the right reasons, and he knows insurance inside and out. I believe he is the most qualified commissioner of insurance ever to assume the position.</blockquote>

Jim was the only guy I knew who could help me restore the credibility and integrity of an office embarrassed because the three previous insurance commissioners had gone to jail ... He is a consumer advocate who does the right thing for the right reasons, and he knows insurance inside and out. I believe he is the most qualified commissioner of insurance ever to assume the position.</blockquote>

Donelon serves on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and is chairman of the NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force. He also sits on the board of directors of the [[New Orleans]] Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Blood Center for Southeast Louisiana. The Alliance for Good Government honored Donelon as both "Outstanding Jefferson Parish Official" and "Legislator of Distinction".

Donelon serves on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and was chosen as chairman of that body in 2013.<ref name=bio/> He also chairs the NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force. He also sits on the board of directors of the [[New Orleans]] Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Blood Center for Southeast Louisiana. The Alliance for Good Government honored Donelon as both "Outstanding Jefferson Parish Official" and "Legislator of Distinction".

==Background==

==Background==