Changes

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:

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 was chosen as chairman of that body in 2013. He also chairs the NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force.<ref name=bio/> 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. He also chairs the NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force.<ref name=bio/> 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".

Before he left the legislature, Donelon ran in a special judicial election on March 27, 1999. He was defeated by Republican Ronald Bodenheimer (born 1953), who polled 8,981 votes (55 percent) to Donelon's 7,300 (45 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Jefferson Parish, March 27, 1999.</ref> In that race Donelon unsuccessfully used the slogan "Who Better to Interpret the Laws Than the Person Who Wrote Them?" Judge Bodenheimer, a former prosecutor, went to prison for three years on conviction of having conspired to plant the prescription painkiller [[OxyContin]] in the automobile of an [[FBI]] informant who frequently complained about drug trafficking and zoning violations at a seafood marina owned by Bodenheimer in Orleans Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noethics.net/News/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2266:former-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-of-new-orleans-criminal-convict-&Itemid=82 |title=Former Judge Ronald Bodenheimer of New Orleans; criminal, convict|publisher=The Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Judges, Attorney, and Public Official|accessdate=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

Before he left the legislature, Donelon ran in a special judicial election on March 27, 1999. He was defeated by Republican Ronald Bodenheimer (born 1953), who polled 8,981 votes (55 percent) to Donelon's 7,300 (45 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Jefferson Parish, March 27, 1999.</ref> In that race Donelon unsuccessfully used the slogan "Who Better to Interpret the Laws Than the Person Who Wrote Them?" Judge Bodenheimer, a former prosecutor, went to prison for three years on conviction of having conspired to plant the prescription painkiller [[OxyContin]] in the automobile of an [[FBI]] informant who frequently complained about drug trafficking and zoning violations at a seafood marina owned by Bodenheimer in Orleans Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noethics.net/News/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2266:former-judge-ronald-bodenheimer-of-new-orleans-criminal-convict-&Itemid=82 |title=Former Judge Ronald Bodenheimer of New Orleans; criminal, convict|publisher=The Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Judges, Attorney, and Public Official|accessdate=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

Donelon, along with fellow lawmakers Kernan "Skip" Hand, Ken Hollis, and Steve Theriot, all of the New Orleans suburbs, admitted to having given [[Tulane University]] scholarships to their children. Legislators are allowed under an 1884 law to designate one Tulane scholarship recipient per year, but the practice of giving such awards, totaling $17,000 in 1993 dollars, to family members had been previously unknown.

Donelon, along with fellow lawmakers Kernan "Skip" Hand, Ken Hollis, and Steve Theriot, all of the New Orleans suburbs, admitted to having given [[Tulane University]] scholarships to their children. Legislators are allowed under an 1884 law to designate one Tulane scholarship recipient per year, but the practice of giving such awards, totaling $17,000 in 1993 dollars, to family members had been previously unknown.<ref>Scott Dyer, "Scholarship Controversy Grows," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'', June 17, 1993, p. 1-A.</ref>

 

==Insurance commissioner==

==Insurance commissioner==