Changes

Wright represented District 22 in the north central section of the state. The district encompasses all of Grant and LaSalle parishes and most of Winn Parish, and a single precinct in Rapides Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Wright represented District 22 in the north central section of the state. The district encompasses all of Grant and LaSalle parishes and most of Winn Parish, and a single precinct in Rapides Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

 

==Background==​

==Background==​

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became state representative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodists|United Methodist Church]].​

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became state representative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodists|United Methodist Church]].​

 

==Legislative years==​

==Legislative years==​

Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

Wright was charged with an obscenity violation at Lake Buhlow in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. He and Charles Locher, II, were arrested in 2004, when a Red River Waterway Commission park ranger said that he walked into a public restroom and found the men engaged in sexual activities. Wright and Locker denied the charges since their arrests and [[grand jury ]][[indictment]]s. The two initially pleaded not guilty. Wright claimed that he had dropped his pants as the ranger entered the restroom and that the ranger misinterpreted the situation. Locker denied impropriety and said that he did not know Wright. The two changed their pleas to guilty on [[misdemeanor]] charges. Wright pleaded guilty to flight from an officer, and Locker pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief, according to Harold A. Van Dyke, III, the first assistant district attorney in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190088/posts|title=Louisiana State Rep. Tommy Wright, D-Jena, Accused of Obscenity|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed through [[Free Republic]]|date=August 12, 2004|author=Mandy M. Goodnight and John Hill|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 30, 2005.</ref>

Wright was charged with an obscenity violation at Lake Buhlow in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. He and Charles Locher, II, were arrested in 2004, when a Red River Waterway Commission park ranger said that he walked into a public restroom and found the men engaged in sexual activities. Wright and Locker denied the charges since their arrests and [[grand jury ]][[indictment]]s. The two initially pleaded not guilty. Wright claimed that he had dropped his pants as the ranger entered the restroom and that the ranger misinterpreted the situation. Locker denied impropriety and said that he did not know Wright. The two changed their pleas to guilty on [[misdemeanor]] charges. Wright pleaded guilty to flight from an officer, and Locker pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief, according to Harold A. Van Dyke, III, the first assistant district attorney in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190088/posts|title=Louisiana State Rep. Tommy Wright, D-Jena, Accused of Obscenity|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed through [[Free Republic]]|date=August 12, 2004|author=Mandy M. Goodnight and John Hill|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 30, 2005.</ref>

==Dismissal from the Jena trade school==​

==Dismissal from Jena trade school==

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Meanwhile, Wright was dismissed from his position at the Jena campus of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]-based Louisiana Technical College after he was found to have used paid sick leave to attend legislative sessions. Wright then sued the state for wrongful termination. He argued that his sick leave requests were approved with bona fide medical excuses. Wright accused his fellow Democrat, Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]], of ordering his firing because he had angered technical college administrators when he questioned some of their practices​.<ref name=tradeschool>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219887847/|title=Central Louisiana legislative seat up for grabs|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'' through newspapers.com|page=12|date=January 4, 2006|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Meanwhile, Wright was dismissed from his position at the Jena campus of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]-based Louisiana Technical College after he was found to have used paid sick leave to attend legislative sessions. Wright then sued the state for wrongful termination. He argued that his sick leave requests were approved with bona fide medical excuses. Wright accused his fellow Democrat, Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]], of ordering his firing because he had angered technical college administrators when he questioned some of their practices​.<ref name=tradeschool>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219887847/|title=Central Louisiana legislative seat up for grabs|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'' through newspapers.com|page=12|date=January 4, 2006|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>