Changes

|preceded=Christopher Charles John ​

|preceded=Christopher Charles John ​

|succeeded=Jack Montoucet​

|succeeded=Jack Montoucet​

|office2Member of the Crowley City Council ​

|office2=Member of the Crowley City Council ​

|term_start2=1987​

|term_start2=1987​

|term_end2=1995​

|term_end2=1995​

Kelli Pinac<br>​

Kelli Pinac<br>​

Mary Catherine Pinac​

Mary Catherine Pinac​

|party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] turned [[Republican Party|Republican]](2008)​

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] turned [[Republican Party|Republican]] (2008)​

|occupation=[[Hospital]] administrator ​

|occupation=[[Hospital]] administrator ​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

}}​

}}​

'''Gillis James Pinac''', known as '''Gil Pinac''' (born November 29, 1957),<ref>"Louisiana: Gil Pinac", ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2007-2008'' (Marquis Who's Who: [[New Providence, New Jersey]], 2007), p. 668.</ref> is a former 12-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He resides in Crowly, where he formerly served on the city council. In 2008, he switched his affiliation to [[Republican Party|Republican]] a week before announcing his candidacy for the Louisiana Public Service Commission]in the [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009.<ref name=adtt>"Gil Pinac in race for PSC seat," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed December 24, 2008.</ref>​

'''Gillis James Pinac''', known as '''Gil Pinac''' (born November 29, 1957),<ref>"Louisiana: Gil Pinac", ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2007-2008'' (Marquis Who's Who: [[New Providence, New Jersey]], 2007), p. 668.</ref> is a former 12-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He resides in Crowly, where he formerly served on the city council. In 2008, he switched his affiliation to [[Republican Party|Republican]] a week before announcing his candidacy for the Louisiana Public Service Commission]in the [[special election]] held on April 4, 2009.<ref name=adtt>"Gil Pinac in race for PSC seat," ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed December 24, 2008.</ref>​

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==Background==​

==Background==​

He graduated from the parochial school, Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in [[Business Administration]] from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He procured his [[Master of Business Administration]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. Pinac is married to the former Cherie Arceneaux and is the father of four daughters: Lauren, Andrea, Kelli, and Mary Catherine. The family holds membership at St. Michael's [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] Church in Crowley.<ref name="adtt"/>​

 

He graduated from the parochial school, Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in [[Business Administration]] from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He procured his [[Master of Business Administration]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. Pinac is married to the former Cherie Arceneaux and is the father of four daughters: Lauren, Andrea, Kelli, and Mary Catherine. The family holds membership at St. Michael's [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] Church in Crowley.<ref name="adtt"/>

 

Prior to his legislative service, Pinac was as a member of the Crowley City Council from 1987 to 1995 and served for a time as mayor pro-tem.<ref name=adtt/>​

Prior to his legislative service, Pinac was as a member of the Crowley City Council from 1987 to 1995 and served for a time as mayor pro-tem.<ref name=adtt/>​

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===State representative===

===State representative===

Pinac was first elected to the District 42 seat in the state legislature in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 21, 1995, when he defeated a fellow Democrat, Isabella L. DelaHoussaye (born April 24, 1939) of Crowley, 6,512 (55.9 percent) to 5,148 ballots (44.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Pinac succeeded Representative Christopher Charles John of Crowley, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1995. In 1996, John was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for the since disbanded 7th congressional district.​

Pinac was first elected to the District 42 seat in the state legislature in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 21, 1995, when he defeated a fellow Democrat, Isabella L. DelaHoussaye (born April 24, 1939) of Crowley, 6,512 (55.9 percent) to 5,148 ballots (44.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Pinac succeeded Representative Christopher Charles John of Crowley, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1995. In 1996, John was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for the since disbanded 7th congressional district.​

 

In the Louisiana House, Pinac was the chairman of the Commerce Committee. He maintained a [[pro-life]] voting record<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brownpelicanla.com/index.php/all?cat=2|title=Lay Catholics Dedicated to Proclaiming the Truth|publisher=Brown Pelican Society|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> but was otherwise not [[conservative]]. In other legislative votes, Pinac opposed (1) [[human cloning]], (2) the restoration of mortgage interest deductions for Louisiana state income taxes, and (3) placing constitutional limits on state spending. He supported (1) more [[slot machine]]s at [[horse racing]] tracks, (2) permitting public officials to be employed by [[casino]]s, (3) allowing bars to be located near churches, and (4) [[tuition]] tax deductions for private schools.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://louisianavoterguide.com/races.asp?RaceID=x&OfficeSought=Senate&District=25|title=Louisiana Voter Guide, 2007|publisher=louisianavoterguide.com|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Pinac was unopposed for his second and third terms in 1999 and 2003. ​

In the Louisiana House, Pinac was the chairman of the Commerce Committee. He maintained a [[pro-life]] voting record<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brownpelicanla.com/index.php/all?cat=2|title=Lay Catholics Dedicated to Proclaiming the Truth|publisher=Brown Pelican Society|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> but was otherwise not [[conservative]]. In other legislative votes, Pinac opposed (1) [[human cloning]], (2) the restoration of mortgage interest deductions for Louisiana state income taxes, and (3) placing constitutional limits on state spending. He supported (1) more [[slot machine]]s at [[horse racing]] tracks, (2) permitting public officials to be employed by [[casino]]s, (3) allowing bars to be located near churches, and (4) [[tuition]] tax deductions for private schools.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://louisianavoterguide.com/races.asp?RaceID=x&OfficeSought=Senate&District=25|title=Louisiana Voter Guide, 2007|publisher=louisianavoterguide.com|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Pinac was unopposed for his second and third terms in 1999 and 2003. ​

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===State Senate election defeat===

===State Senate election defeat===

Limited to three terms in the state House, Pinac instead ran as a Democrat in the primary held on October 20, 2007, for the District 25 seat in the state Senate seat vacated by another Democrat-turned-Republican, [[Gerald Theunissen]] of Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish. In that same election, he was a strong backer of the Democrat [[Bob Odom]], who was eliminated from another term as state commissioner of agriculture and forestry. Pinac led in the primary with 13,437 votes (38.5 percent) and went into the [[general election]] with Republican [[Dan "Blade" Morrish]] of Jennings, who had trailed in the first round of balloting with 11,145 (32 percent). A third candidate, Republican [[Mark Abraham]], the president of the Lake Charles Port Authority, a member of the Lake Charles City Council from 1989 to 1992, and a former LSU [[football]] star.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisianaconservative.com/?p=197|title=Mark Abraham for Louisiana Senate, District 25|publisher=louisianaconservative.com|accessdate=December 27, 2008}}</ref> ran third with a crucial 10,294 votes (29.5 percent)<ref name=lsos>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the November 17 general election, with a much lower turnout, Morrish prevailed with 11,186 (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>

Limited to three terms in the state House, Pinac instead ran as a Democrat in the primary held on October 20, 2007, for the District 25 seat in the state Senate seat vacated by another Democrat-turned-Republican, [[Gerald J. Theunissen]] of Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish. In that same election, he was a strong backer of the Democrat [[Bob Odom]], who was eliminated from another term as state commissioner of agriculture and forestry. Pinac led in the primary with 13,437 votes (38.5 percent) and went into the [[general election]] with Republican [[Dan "Blade" Morrish]] of Jennings, who had trailed in the first round of balloting with 11,145 (32 percent). A third candidate, Republican [[Mark Abraham]], the president of the Lake Charles Port Authority, a member of the Lake Charles City Council from 1989 to 1992, and a former LSU [[football]] star.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisianaconservative.com/?p=197|title=Mark Abraham for Louisiana Senate, District 25|publisher=louisianaconservative.com|accessdate=December 27, 2008}}</ref> ran third with a crucial 10,294 votes (29.5 percent)<ref name=lsos>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> In the November 17 general election, with a much lower turnout, Morrish prevailed with 11,186 (53.9 percent) to Pinac's 9,556 (46 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>

After his failure to win the state Senate seat, Pinac switched parties just prior to announcing that he would run for the PSC. Isabella delaHoussaye also switched to Republican affiliation and ran for the House seat again in 2007, but she was defeated by the Democrat Jack Montoucet, 57 to 43 percent.<ref name=lsos/>​

After his failure to win the state Senate seat, Pinac switched parties just prior to announcing that he would run for the PSC. Isabella delaHoussaye also switched to Republican affiliation and ran for the House seat again in 2007, but she was defeated by the Democrat Jack Montoucet, 57 to 43 percent.<ref name=lsos/>​