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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Nita Rusich Hutter​​

| name=Nita Rusich Hutter​​-Meins

| nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| office=[[Louisiana]]State Representative<br>for District 104 (St. Bernard Parish)]]​

| office=[[Louisiana]]State Representative<br>for District 104 (St. Bernard Parish)​

| term_start=2000​

| term_start=2000​

| term_end=2012​

| term_end=2012​

| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​}}

| religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​}}

'''Nita Rusich Hutter''' (born October 29, 1949) is a community college administrator who served from 2000 to 2012 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 104 in St. Bermard Parish.<ref>"Louisiana: Nita Hutter," ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2007-2008'' (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2007), p. 661.</ref>

'''Nita Rusich Hutter-Meins''', known in her House tenure as '''Mita Hutter''' (born October 29, 1949), is a community college administrator who served from 2000 to 2012 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 104 in St. Bermard Parish.<ref>"Louisiana: Nita Hutter," ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2007-2008'' (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2007), p. 661.</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Hutter graduated in 1974 from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University in her native [[New Orleans]]. In 1978, she received a Master of Education degree from [[Tulane University]], also in New Orleans.<ref name=congress>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/48583|title=Rep. Nita Hutter|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 29, 2011; material no longer on-line.}}</ref> Hutter is a former teacher in St. Bernard Parish and is employed at Delgado Community College.<ref name=hutter/>  

Hutter graduated in 1974 from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University in her native [[New Orleans]]. In 1978, she received a Master of Education degree from [[Tulane University]], also in New Orleans.<ref name=congress>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/48583|title=Rep. Nita Hutter|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=August 29, 2011; material no longer on-line.}}</ref> Hutter is a former teacher in St. Bernard Parish and is the executive director of Delgado Community College in New Orleans.<ref name=hutter/>  

She is divorced<ref name=congress/> and the mother of one son.<ref name=hutter/>​

She is divorced,<ref name=congress/> remarried, and the mother of one son.<ref name=hutter/>​

==Legislative career==

==Legislative career==

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​

With exposure as a St. Bernard Parish council member, Hutter was sufficiently well known that she was unopposed in 1999 for her first term in the state House. To win her second term in the House in 2003, she defeated another Republican, Mike Bayham, 8,839 (61 percent) to 5,667 (39 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In 2007, Hutter prevailed over a Democrat, Stacy Riley, Sr., 4,120 (69.5 percent) to 1,812 (30.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

With previoius exposure as a St. Bernard Parish council member, Hutter was sufficiently well known that she was unopposed in 1999 for her first term in the state House. To win her second term in the House in 2003, she defeated another Republican, Mike Bayham, 8,839 (61 percent) to 5,667 (39 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In 2007, Hutter prevailed over a Democrat, Stacy Riley, Sr., 4,120 (69.5 percent) to 1,812 (30.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

Early in 2011, a [[television]] station, WDSU, disclosed that Hutter was living in Metairie, a large unincorporated area in Jefferson Parish outside the boundaries of House District 104. When confronted, Hutter explained that she has temporarily left St. Bernard Parish temporarily after [[Hurricane Katrina]] struck and was helping to care for her elderly mother at the Metairie address. She still maintains her legal residence in a house on Golden Drive in Chalmette. The structure was damaged by Katrina and has not been restored.<ref name=metairie>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdsu.com/r/26813094/detail.html|title=I-Team: State Rep. Lives Outside District: Nita Hutter, of St. Bernard, now lives in Metairie|date=February 10, 2011|publisher=wdsu.com|accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref> The legislature passed a bill requiring members to be in continuous residence in their districts; Hutter was the lone dissenter on the measure, which was signed into law by Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].​ In 2020, the Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not show that Hutter is a registered voter in either Chalmette or Metairie.  

Early in 2011, a [[television]] station, WDSU, disclosed that Hutter was living in Metairie, a large unincorporated area in Jefferson Parish outside the boundaries of House District 104. When confronted, Hutter explained that she has temporarily left St. Bernard Parish temporarily after [[Hurricane Katrina]] struck and was helping to care for her elderly mother at the Metairie address. She still maintains her legal residence in a house on Golden Drive in Chalmette. The structure was damaged by Katrina and has not been restored.<ref name=metairie>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdsu.com/r/26813094/detail.html|title=I-Team: State Rep. Lives Outside District: Nita Hutter, of St. Bernard, now lives in Metairie|date=February 10, 2011|publisher=wdsu.com|accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref> The legislature passed a bill requiring members to be in continuous residence in their districts; Hutter was the lone dissenter on the measure, which was signed into law by Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].​ In 2020, the Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not show that Hutter-Meins is a registered voter in either Chalmette or Metairie.  

In her last legislative session, Hutter chaired the House Transportation Committee. She served on special committees regarding Coastal Restoration, Flood Control, and Disaster Planning, topics of great important to her district. In 2006, she was named chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus.<ref name=hutter/> In 2010, Hutter received a 38 percent rating by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, low for a Republican lawmaker, 78 percent from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation. In 2011, she voted against an increase in the state [[tobacco]] tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=54284|title=Rep. Nita Rusich Hutter|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref>

In her last legislative session, Hutter chaired the House Transportation Committee. She served on special committees regarding Coastal Restoration, Flood Control, and Disaster Planning, topics of great important to her district. In 2006, she was named chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus.<ref name=hutter/> In 2010, Hutter received a 38 percent rating by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, low for a Republican lawmaker, 78 percent from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation. In 2011, she voted against an increase in the state [[tobacco]] tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=54284|title=Rep. Nita Rusich Hutter|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref>