Changes

Previously, from 2008 to 2020, Pope was a Republican state senator for District 71 in Livingston Parish.​ In the House, Pope served on the Appropriations, Health and Welfare, and Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.<ref name=jrp/>

Previously, from 2008 to 2020, Pope was a Republican state senator for District 71 in Livingston Parish.​ In the House, Pope served on the Appropriations, Health and Welfare, and Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.<ref name=jrp/>

 

He received bachelor's and master's degrees and addition graduate credits in education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. After twenty-two years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, Pope was named in 1984 as the Livingston Parish school superintendent, a post that he held until 2001. Superintendent Pope worked to make the Livingston Parish school system into one of the most productive and highest-achieving systems in the state.<ref name=jrp/> He earned a number of awards: 1998 "Educator of the Year" and 2000 "State Superintendent of the Year." After the superintendency, he became executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Executives.​

Pope received bachelor's and master's degrees and addition graduate credits in education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. After twenty-two years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, Pope was named in 1984 as the Livingston Parish school superintendent, a post that he held until 2001. Superintendent Pope worked to make the Livingston Parish school system into one of the most productive and highest-achieving systems in the state.<ref name=jrp/> He earned a number of awards: 1998 "Educator of the Year" and 2000 "State Superintendent of the Year." After the superintendency, he became executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Executives.​

In 2007, four Republicans and a Democrat entered the House District 71 race to choose a successor to Republican Dale Michael Erdey (born 1954), who was instead elected without opposition to the state Senate seat vacated by the [[conservative]] Republican [[Heulette Fontenot]]. Pope led with 4,837 votes (34.7 percent). In second place was another Republican, John Ware, who received 2,966 votes (21.3 percent). In fourth place was the Republican mayor of Livingston, D. Derral Jones.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the second balloting on November 17, which had a much lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Pope prevailed, 2,684 (52.2 percent) to Ware's 2,462 (47.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>

In 2007, four Republicans and a Democrat entered the House District 71 race to choose a successor to Republican Dale Michael Erdey (born 1954), who was instead elected without opposition to the state Senate seat vacated by the [[conservative]] Republican [[Heulette Fontenot]]. Pope led with 4,837 votes (34.7 percent). In second place was another Republican, John Ware, who received 2,966 votes (21.3 percent). In fourth place was the Republican mayor of Livingston, D. Derral Jones.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the second balloting on November 17, which had a much lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Pope prevailed, 2,684 (52.2 percent) to Ware's 2,462 (47.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>