Changes

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

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

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

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative<br> for District 73 (Tangipahoa Parish)​

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Senator for District 37<br> (Livingston, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa parishes)

|term_start=January 13, 2020​

|term_end=January 2024

|office2=Louisiana State Representative<br> for District 73 (Tangipahoa Parish)​

|term_start2=January 13, 2020​

|term_end2=January 2024

|preceded=[[Stephen Pugh]]

|preceded=[[Stephen Pugh]]

|succeeded=

|succeeded=Kimberly Landry Coates

|spouse=Andrea Hebert Wheat<br>

|spouse=Andrea Hebert Wheat<br>

|relations=[[Dennis Paul Hebert]]<br>(father-in-law)}}​

|relations=[[Dennis Paul Hebert]]<br>(father-in-law)}}​

​

​

'''William Edward Wheat, Jr.''', known as '''Bill Wheat''' (born October 24, 1958),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/william-wheat/drbwheat|title=William Wheat|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 19, 2020}}</ref> is a [[veterinarian]] from his native Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern [[Louisiana]] who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] departing state representative for District 73.

'''William Edward Wheat, Jr.''', known as '''Bill Wheat''' (born October 24, 1958),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/william-wheat/drbwheat|title=William Wheat|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 19, 2020}}</ref> is a [[veterinarian]] from his native Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern [[Louisiana]] who is the [[Republican Party|Republican]] departing state representative for District 73 and the incoming state senator for District 37.

In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 12, 2019, Wheat handily defeated another Republican, Michael Chatellier (born 1960), a veteran of the [[Afghanistan War]]. The two candidates graduated from Ponchatoula High School two years apart. Wheat attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine before he could receive an undergraduate degree. Neither candidate had  previous political experience. Wheat has been a practicing veterinarian in Hammond since 1983.<ref name=wwheat/>  

In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 12, 2019, Wheat handily defeated another Republican, Michael Chatellier (born 1960), a veteran of the [[Afghanistan War]]. The two candidates graduated from Ponchatoula High School two years apart. Wheat attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine before he could receive an undergraduate degree. Neither candidate had  previous political experience. Wheat has been a practicing veterinarian in Hammond since 1983.<ref name=wwheat/>  

The more [[conservative]] Chatellier said that Louisiana seems to have "a government mentality" that "pushes businesses away," instead of encouraging companies to locate in the state.<ref name=wwheat/>

The more [[conservative]] Chatellier said that Louisiana seems to have "a government mentality" that "pushes businesses away," instead of encouraging companies to locate in the state.<ref name=wwheat/>

Wheat did not seek reelection in the primary held on October 14, 2023. Three Republicans, Michael Chatellier, Kimberly Landry Coates, and Braville J. LeBlanc, sought to succeed him. Instead, Wheat ran for the District 37 seat in the state Senate to succeed the retiring [[Barrow Peacock]] of [[Shreveport]]. His senatorial opponents are fellow Republican Randy Bush and [[Independent voter|Independent]] Ivan M. Scioneaux, Jr. The boundaries of District 37 were changed and now include Livingston, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa parishes, the latter including Wheat's residence.

Wheat did not seek reelection in the primary held on October 14, 2023. Three Republicans, Michael Chatellier, Kimberly Landry Coates, and Braville J. LeBlanc, sought to succeed him, with victory going to Kimberly Coates. Instead, Wheat polled 61 percent of the votes cast in a race for the District 37 seat in the state Senate to succeed the retiring [[Barrow Peacock]] of [[Shreveport]]. His senatorial opponents were fellow Republican Randy Bush (26 percent) and [[Independent voter|Independent]] Ivan M. Scioneaux, Jr. (13 percent). The boundaries of District 37 were vastly altered and now include Livingston, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2023.</ref>

==References==

==References==