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'''Anthony V. Ligi, Jr.,''' known as '''Tony Ligi''' (born August 7, 1955), is an [[attorney]] and [[real estate]] title [[insurance]] agent from Metairie in suburban Jefferson Parish, outside [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. He is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for House District 79, located on the populous south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.  

'''Anthony V. Ligi Jr.,''' known as '''Tony Ligi''' (born August 7, 1955), is an [[attorney]] and [[real estate]] title [[insurance]] agent from Metairie in suburban Jefferson Parish, outside [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. He is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for House District 79, located on the populous south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.  

He resigned as representative, effective January 1, 2013, to become director of the Jefferson Business Council.​

He resigned as representative, effective January 1, 2013, to become director of the Jefferson Business Council.​

==Background==

==Background==

 

Ligi holds the  Bachelor of Arts in [[political science]] from Mansfield University of [[Pennsylvania]] in Mansfield, [[Pennsylvania]]. He holds a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans School of Law.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93733|title=Rep. Tony Ligi|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>

Ligi holds the  Bachelor of Arts in [[political science]] from Mansfield University of [[Pennsylvania]] in Mansfield, [[Pennsylvania]]. He holds a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans School of Law.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93733|title=Rep. Tony Ligi|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>

==Political career==

==Political career==

 

​In 2007, Ligi was elected to the state House to succeed the term-limited Republican, Danny Martiny (born 1951), who in turn was elected as a state senator to succeed another term-limited Republican, [[Art Lentini]]. Ligi led four other Republicans in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] with 5,474 votes (42 percent). He was to have been placed in a runoff contest with George L. Branigan, who trailed in the primary with 2,946 votes (22.6 percent). In third place was Jack Rizzuto, with 2,708 votes (20.8 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 15 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

In 2007, Ligi was elected to the state House to succeed the term-limited Republican, Danny Martiny (born 1951), who in turn was elected as a state senator to succeed another term-limited Republican, [[Art Lentini]]. Ligi led four other Republicans in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] with 5,474 votes (42 percent). He was to have been placed in a runoff contest with George L. Branigan, who trailed in the primary with 2,946 votes (22.6 percent). In third place was Jack Rizzuto, with 2,708 votes (20.8 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 15 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

A week after the primary, Branigan withdrew from a second contest, and Ligi won the post by default. Ligi carried the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] and the business interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'' supported Ligi on grounds of his active political and civic leadership. He is a former chairman of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party and a co-founder of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club. Before running in the heavily Republican District 79, Ligi was also active in the Elmwood Park Civic Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LigiAnthonyV.html|title=Rep. Ligi, Anthony V.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=August 28, 2011; material no longer on-line}}</ref>

A week after the primary, Branigan withdrew from a second contest, and Ligi won the post by default. Ligi carried the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] and the business interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'' supported Ligi on grounds of his active political and civic leadership. He is a former chairman of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party and a co-founder of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club. Before running in the heavily Republican District 79, Ligi was also active in the Elmwood Park Civic Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LigiAnthonyV.html|title=Rep. Ligi, Anthony V.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=August 28, 2011; material no longer on-line}}</ref>

Representative Ligi served on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs, and (5) Subcommittee on General Government.<ref name=vsmart/> In addition to Metairie, District 79 includes the city of Kenner.

Representative Ligi served on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs, and (5) Subcommittee on General Government.<ref name=vsmart/> In addition to Metairie, District 79 includes the city of Kenner.

Ligi was reelected to a second term in the Louisiana House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Ligi resigned in 2012 to assume the directorship of of the Jefferson Business Council.​

Ligi was reelected to a second term in the Louisiana House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Ligi resigned in 2012 to assume the directorship of the Jefferson Business Council.​

Ligi served as the chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation from 2011 until 2012, making him the majority leader since Republicans held a majority in the body at that time.He was succeeded as majority leader by Republican Representative [[Lance Harris]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]​, who is running in 2020 in the 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed [[Ralph Abraham]], who declined to seek a fourth term, honoring a previous pledge to restrict his tenure to three terms.

Ligi served as the chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation from 2011 until 2012, making him the majority leader since Republicans held a majority in the body at that time.He was succeeded as majority leader by Republican Representative [[Lance Harris]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]​, who is running in 2020 in the 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed [[Ralph Abraham]], who declined to seek a fourth term, honoring a previous pledge to restrict his tenure to three terms.