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|name=Stuart James Bishop​

|name=Stuart James Bishop​

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for District 43 ([[Lafayette]])​

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for District 43 ([[Lafayette]] Parish)​

| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]​

| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]​

| term_start=January 9, 2012​

| term_start=January 9, 2012​

'''Stuart James Bishop''' (born August 19, 1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/stuart-bishop/stewartbis29452bt|title=Stuart Bishop|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=January 31, 2020}}</ref> is a [[business]]man in [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 43. In 2012, he succeeded his fellow  Republican, [[Page Cortez]] of Lafayette, who was instead elected state senator and was elevated to Senate President on January 13, 2020.

'''Stuart James Bishop''' (born August 19, 1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/stuart-bishop/stewartbis29452bt|title=Stuart Bishop|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=January 31, 2020}}</ref> is a [[business]]man in [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 43. In 2012, he succeeded his fellow  Republican, [[Page Cortez]] of Lafayette, who was instead elected state senator and was elevated to Senate President on January 13, 2020.

With no previous political experience, Bishop was the only unopposed candidate for an open House seat in the Louisiana [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] held on October 22, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapolitics.com/|title=Two New Senators Walk in Unopposed|publisher=lapolitics.com|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}</ref>​

With no previous political experience, Bishop was the only unopposed candidate for an open House seat in the Louisiana nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 22, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapolitics.com/|title=Two New Senators Walk in Unopposed|publisher=lapolitics.com|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}</ref>​ Similarly, Cortez had no opponent in the 2011 Senate race to succeed the term-limited [[Michael J. Michot]], another Lafayette businessman and a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]-turned Republican.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20110909/NEWS01/110909012/Analysis-Many-La-incumbents-get-free-pass-|title=Many La. incumbents get a free pass|date=September 9, 2011|publisher=The Alexandria Town Talk|accessdate=September 11, 2011; no longer on-line</ref>​

 

Similarly, Cortez had no opponent in the 2011 Senate race to succeed the term-limited [[Michael J. Michot]], another Lafayette businessman and a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]-turned Republican.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20110909/NEWS01/110909012/Analysis-Many-La-incumbents-get-free-pass-|title=Many La. incumbents get a free pass|date=September 9, 2011|publisher=The Alexandria Town Talk|accessdate=September 11, 2011; no longer on-line</ref>​

==Background==

==Background==​

A native of Jeanerette, a small city in [[sugar]]-growing Iberia Parish, Bishop graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1997, after leaving LSU, he moved to Lafayette. He is an officer of his family's business, Baldwin Redi-Mix Concrete. Bishop and his wife, the former Kim Dugas, have two sons, Donald and Cooper Bishop.<ref name=indcom>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/news/7807-bishop-eyeing-cortez-seat|title=Bishop eyeing Cortez seat|date= February 18, 2011|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=September 14, 2011}}</ref>​

A native of Jeanerette, a small city in [[sugar]]-growing Iberia Parish, Bishop graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1997, after leaving LSU, he moved to Lafayette. He is an officer of his family's business, Baldwin Redi-Mix Concrete. Bishop and his wife, the former Kim Dugas, have two sons, Donald and Cooper Bishop.<ref name=indcom>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/news/7807-bishop-eyeing-cortez-seat|title=Bishop eyeing Cortez seat|date= February 18, 2011|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=September 14, 2011}}</ref>​

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==Political life==​

==Political life==​

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Even before it was clear that Bishop would run unopposed for the House seat, the candidate drew the endorsement of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a statewide trade association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electstuartbishop.com/breaking-news-labi-endorses-bishop|title=LABI endorses Bishop|publisher=Electstuartbishop.com|accessdate=September 14, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref> Bishop also carried the support of the [[Tea Party movement]], which endorsed his candidacy based on Bishop's stated belief in smaller government and the desire to reduce regulations that hamper business growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402131152/http://www.teapartyoflafayette.com/dotnetnuke/Portals/0/JDwyer/Stuart%20Bishop1%20(2).pdf#||title=The TEA Party of Lafayette endorses Mr. Stuart Bishop for District 43 State Representative|publisher=Teapartyoflafayette.com|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}</ref>

Even before it was clear that Bishop would run unopposed for the House seat, the candidate drew the endorsement of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a statewide trade association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electstuartbishop.com/breaking-news-labi-endorses-bishop|title=LABI endorses Bishop|publisher=Electstuartbishop.com|accessdate=September 14, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref> Bishop also held the support of the [[Tea Party movement]], which endorsed his candidacy based on Bishop's stated belief in smaller government and the desire to reduce regulations that hamper business growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402131152/http://www.teapartyoflafayette.com/dotnetnuke/Portals/0/JDwyer/Stuart%20Bishop1%20(2).pdf#||title=The TEA Party of Lafayette endorses Mr. Stuart Bishop for District 43 State Representative|publisher=Teapartyoflafayette.com|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}</ref>

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As he took his legislative seat in the second term of Republican Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], Bishop declared that the state is moving in the right direction: "I believe that business is obviously the backbone of everything, and I'm going to be a pro-business politician by all means." Bishop is a member of the Concrete and Aggregate Association of Louisiana, the National Redi-Mix Concrete Association, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, and the Lafayette Education Foundation.<ref name=indcom/>​

As he took his legislative seat in the second term of Republican Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]], Bishop declared that the state is moving in the right direction: "I believe that business is obviously the backbone of everything, and I'm going to be a pro-business politician by all means." Bishop is a member of the Concrete and Aggregate Association of Louisiana, the National Redi-Mix Concrete Association, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, and the Lafayette Education Foundation.<ref name=indcom/>​

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===Legislative ratings===

===Legislative ratings===

Bishop's legislative ratings have ranged from 97 to 100 percent from LABI. In 2012, he was rated 100 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business]]. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored him 90 percent each year. He is rated 100 percent by Louisiana [[Right to Life]]. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated him 0 percent for both years.<ref name=politicalsummary>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/134602/stuart-bishop#.VVIiO_lViko|title=Stuart Bishop's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 31, 2020}}</ref>​

Bishop's legislative ratings have ranged from 97 to 100 percent from LABI. In 2012, he was rated 100 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business]]. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored him 90 percent each year. [[Right to Life]] rated him 100 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated him 0 percent for both years.<ref name=politicalsummary>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/134602/stuart-bishop#.VVIiO_lViko|title=Stuart Bishop's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=January 31, 2020}}</ref>​

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In 2014, Bishop co-sponsored the requirement that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved by the full House, 88-5. In 2014, he voted to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. He voted to prohibit the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on [[interstate highway]]s. He did not vote on the requirement that companies give notice when they engage in hydraulic [[fracking]]. He voted against the [[repeal]] of the anti-sodomy laws. He co-sponsored the establishment in 2013 of surrogacy contracts. He voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. He supported lifetime concealed carry gun permits and voted for concealed carry in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. He opposed making information about permit holders a matter of public record. Bishop in 2013 voted against an increase in judicial pay and opposed the removal of the mandatory retirement age for judges. In 2012, he voted to prohibit telephone usage while one is driving. Bishop supported the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/134602/stuart-bishop#.VVIj0flVikp|title=Stuart Bishop's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|date=January 31, 2020}}</ref>​

In 2014, Bishop co-sponsored the requirement that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved by the full House, 88-5. In 2014, he voted to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. He voted to prohibit the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on [[interstate highway]]s. He did not vote on the requirement that companies give notice when they engage in hydraulic [[fracking]]. He voted against the [[repeal]] of the anti-sodomy laws. He co-sponsored the establishment in 2013 of surrogacy contracts. He voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. He supported lifetime concealed carry gun permits and voted for concealed carry in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. He opposed making information about permit holders a matter of public record. Bishop in 2013 voted against an increase in judicial pay and opposed the removal of the mandatory retirement age for judges. In 2012, he voted to prohibit telephone usage while one is driving. Bishop supported the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/134602/stuart-bishop#.VVIj0flVikp|title=Stuart Bishop's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|date=January 31, 2020}}</ref>​