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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder |name=Randal Leroy Gaines |office=Louisiana State Representative for<br> District 57 (St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes) |term_start=Ja..."
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Randal Leroy Gaines
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 57 (St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes)
|term_start=January 2012
|term_end=January 2024
|preceded=Nickie Monica
|birth_date=November 7, 1955
|birth_place=Place of birth missing
|residence=LaPlace, St. John the Baptist Parish<br>
|spouse=Camalyn Woodard Gaines
|children=Three children
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|occupation=[[Attorney]]
|religion=[[Missionary Baptist]]
|alma_mater=Southern University<br>
Southern University Law Center
|branch=[[United States Army]]<br>
|rank=Lieutenant Colonel in Louisiana National Guard}}
'''Randal Leroy Gaines''' (born November 7, 1955)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/randall-gaines/attyrandal|title=Randal Gaines|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
is an [[African-American]] [[attorney]] from LaPlace]] in St. John the Baptist Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for District 57 (St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.la.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=57|title=Randal L. Gaines|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
==Background==
Gaines's place of birth and names of parents are unavailable. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in [[sociology]] from the historically black Southern University and a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the Southern University Law Center, both in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a former assistant city attorney for New Orleans and has been a tax attorney for the [[Internal Revenue Service]]. A [[lieutenant colonel]] in the Louisiana National Guard, he is a veteran of the [[United States Army]]. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Gaines is an associate professor and director of the Criminal Justice Department at his [[alma mater]], the historically black Southern University, of which he is a former member of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=pvs/>
Gaines and his wife, the former Camalyn Woodard (born October 1961), have three children. He is a [[deacon]] in the Bethlehem [[Missionary Baptist]] Church in LaPlace and treasurer of the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], a group founded by [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]]<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart/candidate/biography/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgczflViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Biography|publisher=[[Project Vote Smart]]|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref> He is a former resident of New Orleans, Kenner in Jefferson Parish, and Gonzales in Ascension Parish, and Lutcher, in St. James Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Randal&qmi=L&qn=Gaines&qcs=LaPlace%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Randal L. Gaines|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 2011, Gaines was elected to the House by defeating a "No Party" candidate, Russ Wise, 5,677 votes (69 percent) to 2,548 (31 percent).
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11192011/11192011_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 19, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held the preceding month, Gaines led with 41 percent, and three other Democratic candidates were eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> The seat was vacated by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent, [[Nickie Monica]], but no [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] candidates sought the position, which was impacted by [[redistricting]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 17, 2007|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> Gaines ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2007 and was eliminated in the primary contest.<ref name=pvs/>
Representative Gaines is a member of the House Democratic Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus. He carries a heavy schedule of House committees: (1) Civil Law and Procedure, (2) Homeland Security, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Judiciary, and (5) Military and Veterans Affairs.<ref name=pvs/>
Gaines' ratings from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry have ranged from 30 to 67 percent over the years he has been a legislator. In 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 33 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored him 43 and 25 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] has rated him 50 to 100 percent since he entered the legislature. He did not vote in 2014 to require that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinic; only five House members voted against the measure. Gaines ranks 100 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/evaluations/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgVqflViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Ratings and Evaluations|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
Gaines voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. He voted against the requirement that companies must give public notice of proposed hydraulic [[fracking]]. He did not vote on the matter of halting the transportation of dogs in open truck beds on interstate highways. He voted for the repeal of anti-sodomy laws; the measure failed in the House, 27-67. He voted against the concealed carry of weapons in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages. In 2013, he voted for permanent concealed-carry permits but favored making information on the permits a matter of the public record. He voted for judicial pay increases and for removing the mandatory retirement age of [[judge]]s. He vote to reduce the penalties for [[marijuana]] possession; the measure passed the House, 54-38.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgW5_lViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
In 2012, Gaines co-sponsored [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent offenders. He voted to establish tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed [[state income tax]] deductions to taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. He voted against the requirement that welfare recipients undergo periodic testing for use of [[narcotics]]. He opposed reducing the number of hours that polling stations remain open. He voted to forbid telephone use while driving. He opposed changes to the teacher tenure law.<ref name=votingrecords/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Randal}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:African Americans]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Baptists]]
|name=Randal Leroy Gaines
|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 57 (St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes)
|term_start=January 2012
|term_end=January 2024
|preceded=Nickie Monica
|birth_date=November 7, 1955
|birth_place=Place of birth missing
|residence=LaPlace, St. John the Baptist Parish<br>
|spouse=Camalyn Woodard Gaines
|children=Three children
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|occupation=[[Attorney]]
|religion=[[Missionary Baptist]]
|alma_mater=Southern University<br>
Southern University Law Center
|branch=[[United States Army]]<br>
|rank=Lieutenant Colonel in Louisiana National Guard}}
'''Randal Leroy Gaines''' (born November 7, 1955)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/randall-gaines/attyrandal|title=Randal Gaines|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
is an [[African-American]] [[attorney]] from LaPlace]] in St. John the Baptist Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for District 57 (St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.la.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=57|title=Randal L. Gaines|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
==Background==
Gaines's place of birth and names of parents are unavailable. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in [[sociology]] from the historically black Southern University and a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the Southern University Law Center, both in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a former assistant city attorney for New Orleans and has been a tax attorney for the [[Internal Revenue Service]]. A [[lieutenant colonel]] in the Louisiana National Guard, he is a veteran of the [[United States Army]]. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Gaines is an associate professor and director of the Criminal Justice Department at his [[alma mater]], the historically black Southern University, of which he is a former member of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=pvs/>
Gaines and his wife, the former Camalyn Woodard (born October 1961), have three children. He is a [[deacon]] in the Bethlehem [[Missionary Baptist]] Church in LaPlace and treasurer of the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], a group founded by [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]]<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart/candidate/biography/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgczflViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Biography|publisher=[[Project Vote Smart]]|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref> He is a former resident of New Orleans, Kenner in Jefferson Parish, and Gonzales in Ascension Parish, and Lutcher, in St. James Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Randal&qmi=L&qn=Gaines&qcs=LaPlace%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Randal L. Gaines|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
==Political life==
In 2011, Gaines was elected to the House by defeating a "No Party" candidate, Russ Wise, 5,677 votes (69 percent) to 2,548 (31 percent).
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11192011/11192011_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 19, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held the preceding month, Gaines led with 41 percent, and three other Democratic candidates were eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=October 22, 2011|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> The seat was vacated by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent, [[Nickie Monica]], but no [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] candidates sought the position, which was impacted by [[redistricting]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 17, 2007|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> Gaines ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2007 and was eliminated in the primary contest.<ref name=pvs/>
Representative Gaines is a member of the House Democratic Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus. He carries a heavy schedule of House committees: (1) Civil Law and Procedure, (2) Homeland Security, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Judiciary, and (5) Military and Veterans Affairs.<ref name=pvs/>
Gaines' ratings from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry have ranged from 30 to 67 percent over the years he has been a legislator. In 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 33 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum scored him 43 and 25 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] has rated him 50 to 100 percent since he entered the legislature. He did not vote in 2014 to require that [[abortion]] providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinic; only five House members voted against the measure. Gaines ranks 100 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/evaluations/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgVqflViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Ratings and Evaluations|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
Gaines voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] State Standards Initiative. He voted against the requirement that companies must give public notice of proposed hydraulic [[fracking]]. He did not vote on the matter of halting the transportation of dogs in open truck beds on interstate highways. He voted for the repeal of anti-sodomy laws; the measure failed in the House, 27-67. He voted against the concealed carry of weapons in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages. In 2013, he voted for permanent concealed-carry permits but favored making information on the permits a matter of the public record. He voted for judicial pay increases and for removing the mandatory retirement age of [[judge]]s. He vote to reduce the penalties for [[marijuana]] possession; the measure passed the House, 54-38.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93966/randal-gaines#.VUgW5_lViko|title=Randal L. Gaines' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
In 2012, Gaines co-sponsored [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent offenders. He voted to establish tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed [[state income tax]] deductions to taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. He voted against the requirement that welfare recipients undergo periodic testing for use of [[narcotics]]. He opposed reducing the number of hours that polling stations remain open. He voted to forbid telephone use while driving. He opposed changes to the teacher tenure law.<ref name=votingrecords/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Randal}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:African Americans]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Baptists]]