Changes

Carter represented District 72 from 1996 to 2008 and again beginning on January 11, 2016. Sandwiched from 2008 to 2016 between Carter's terms was former Representative [[John Bel Edwards]] of Amite in Tangipahoa Parish, who was instead elected [[governor]] in the [[general election]] held on November 21, 2015. In that same election, Carter defeated another Democrat also named "Carter", Hunter Carter, 8,156 votes (63 percent) to 4,748 (37 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=November 21, 2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

Carter represented District 72 from 1996 to 2008 and again beginning on January 11, 2016. Sandwiched from 2008 to 2016 between Carter's terms was former Representative [[John Bel Edwards]] of Amite in Tangipahoa Parish, who was instead elected [[governor]] in the [[general election]] held on November 21, 2015. In that same election, Carter defeated another Democrat also named "Carter", Hunter Carter, 8,156 votes (63 percent) to 4,748 (37 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=November 21, 2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

 

 

Carter was first elected to the legislature on August 17, 1996, when in a special election he defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Rhett Bergeron, 63 to 37 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title= State Representative -- 72nd Representative District|date=August 17, 1996|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> The seat had previously been held by the Democrat Buster J. Guzzardo, Sr., who resigned mid-way in the first year of his third term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref> In 2003, for his third term, Carter defeated the Republican R. J. Saia, 82 to 18 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Election Returns|date=October 4, 2016|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

Carter was first elected to the legislature on August 17, 1996, when in a special election he defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Rhett Bergeron, 63 to 37 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title= State Representative -- 72nd Representative District|date=August 17, 1996|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> The seat had previously been held by the Democrat Buster J. Guzzardo, Sr., who resigned mid-way in the first year of his third term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2003, for his third term, Carter defeated the Republican R. J. Saia, 82 to 18 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 2003.</ref>

 

In his first legislative stint, Carter was vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the Rural Caucus, and floor leader for then Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]]. He co-authored the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as the TOPS program and named for the late [[New Orleans]] [[business]]man Patrick F. Taylor. Carter worked to increase pay of teachers and university professors and to fund the Florida Parishes Technical College. He penned the legislation which halted the construction of an industrial landfill in St. Helena Parish. He pushed for completion of the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite, the FAARM Arena in Clinton, and the Interstate 55 Welcome Center in Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.actionnews17.com/Politics/former-representative-robby-carter-announces-for-district-72-1131075|title=Former Representative Robby Carter announces for District 72|date=July 31, 2015|publisher=Action News 17|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

In his first legislative stint, Carter was vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, chairman of the Rural Caucus, and floor leader for then Democratic Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]]. He co-authored the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as the TOPS program and named for the late [[New Orleans]] [[business]]man Patrick F. Taylor. Carter worked to increase pay of teachers and university professors and to fund the Florida Parishes Technical College. He penned the legislation which halted the construction of an industrial landfill in St. Helena Parish. He pushed for completion of the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite, the FAARM Arena in Clinton, and the Interstate 55 Welcome Center in Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.actionnews17.com/Politics/former-representative-robby-carter-announces-for-district-72-1131075|title=Former Representative Robby Carter announces for District 72|date=July 31, 2015|publisher=Action News 17|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>