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| | '''James Joseph Donelon, III,''' known as '''Jim Donelon''' (born December 14, 1944), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[insurance]] commissioner in [[Louisiana]], a statewide post which he filled on February 15, 2006. | | '''James Joseph Donelon, III,''' known as '''Jim Donelon''' (born December 14, 1944), is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[insurance]] commissioner in [[Louisiana]], a statewide post which he filled on February 15, 2006. |
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| − | On September 30, 2006, Donelon was elected to complete a 15-month unexpired term as insurance commissioner, created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], J. Robert Wooley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pianet.com/news/insurance-news/2006/donelon-sworn-in-as-louisiana-commissioner-predecessor-wooley-joins-law-firm|title=Donelon Sworn in as Louisiana Commissioner; Predecessor Wooley Joins Law Firm|date=February 22, 2006|publisher=pianet.com|accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref> 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. | + | On September 30, 2006, Donelon was elected to complete a 15-month unexpired term as insurance commissioner, created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], J. Robert Wooley, who left the insurance position 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pianet.com/news/insurance-news/2006/donelon-sworn-in-as-louisiana-commissioner-predecessor-wooley-joins-law-firm|title=Donelon Sworn in as Louisiana Commissioner; Predecessor Wooley Joins Law Firm|date=February 22, 2006|publisher=pianet.com|accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref> |
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| − | 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 said that he chose Donelon for chief deputy because of Donelon's impeccable reputation and his extensive knowledge of insurance: |
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| | <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> | | <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> |
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| | + | 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.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> |
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| | 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". |