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Nevers graduated in 1964 from Bogalusa High School. In 1969, he completed his studies at the Sullivan Campus of Louisiana Technical College. Between 1965 and 1971, he served in the [[United States Army]]. Nevers served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee and was a member of various statewide educational committees, including the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority, the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission, and the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence. He is a member of the [[Hurricane Katrina]] Memorial Commission and also claimed a special legislative interest in [[agriculture]], economic development, and health care.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/nevers/biography.asp|title=Senator Ben Nevers - District 12|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref>
Nevers graduated in 1964 from Bogalusa High School. In 1969, he completed his studies at the Sullivan Campus of Louisiana Technical College. Between 1965 and 1971, he served in the [[United States Army]]. Nevers served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee and was a member of various statewide educational committees, including the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority, the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission, and the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence. He is a member of the [[Hurricane Katrina]] Memorial Commission and also claimed a special legislative interest in [[agriculture]], economic development, and health care.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/nevers/biography.asp|title=Senator Ben Nevers - District 12|publisher=senate.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref>
Nevers and his wife, the former Barbara Ann Williams, an educator, have three children. He is a deacon in his [[Christian]] church.<ref name=bio/>
Nevers and his wife, the former Barbara Ann Williams, an educator, have three children. He is a deacon in his [[Christian]] church.<ref name=bio/>
==Senate service==
==Senate service==
In the 2003 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for senator, which attracted seven candidates, including former State Representative Weldon Russell of Amite City in Tangipahoa Parish, Nevers was forced into a second round of balloting with the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/BenNevers.html|title=Senator Ben Nevers|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref> Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
In the 2003 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for senator, which attracted seven candidates, including former State Representative Weldon Russell of Amite City in Tangipahoa Parish, Nevers was forced into a second round of balloting with the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Richard E. Tanner, a retired teacher from St. Tammany Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Tanner withdrew from the race on the grounds that the candidates held similar views.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/BenNevers.html|title=Senator Ben Nevers|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref> Subsequently Nevers was unopposed in the 2007 primary.
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, [[Jerry Thomas (Louisiana Politician)|Jerry Thomas]], a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>
In 1995, Nevers ran unsuccessfully for the House, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat, later Republican, [[Jerry Thomas (Louisiana Politician)|Jerry Thomas]], a former Washington Parish coroner. Nevers polled 6,546 votes (42.9 percent) to Thomas's 8,713 votes (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>
==2011 reelection==
===2011 reelection===
Nevers was narrowly reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2011. He received 15,116 votes (50.6 percent) to 14,764 (49.4 percent) for his Republican opponent and later successor Beth Mizell.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
Nevers was narrowly reelected in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2011. He received 15,116 votes (50.6 percent) to 14,764 (49.4 percent) for his Republican opponent and later successor Beth Mizell.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref>
Nevers is listed among the state and local officials who in 2014 endorsed the reelection in 2014 of [[liberal]] Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2014/09/landrieus-gop-endorsements-pale-in-comparison-to-2008-election/|title=Landrieu’s GOP Endorsements Pale In Comparison To 2008 Election|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref>
Nevers is listed among the state and local officials who in 2014 endorsed the reelection in 2014 of [[liberal]] Democrat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2014/09/landrieus-gop-endorsements-pale-in-comparison-to-2008-election/|title=Landrieu’s GOP Endorsements Pale In Comparison To 2008 Election|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref>
Term-limited in the state Senate, Nevers was succeeded by Beth Mizell, who won the seat in the general election held on November 21, 2015. Mizell easily defeated the Democrat, Mickey Murphy, 19,404 votes (58 percent) to 14,033 (42 percent). She was the only Republican to have won a formerly Democratic Senate seat in the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=
Term-limited in the state Senate, Nevers was succeeded by Beth Mizell, who won the seat in the general election held on November 21, 2015. Mizell easily defeated the Democrat, Mickey Murphy, 19,404 votes (58 percent) to 14,033 (42 percent). She was the only Republican to have won a formerly Democratic Senate seat in the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=
Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref> Murphy is a former teacher, counselor, welding instructor, and college dean. He formerly chaired a workforce development board. He is a former president of his local [[Chamber of Commerce]]. The operator of a preschool, Mizell opposes Nevers' long-term proposal to build a reservoir in the Senate district, a project Murphy supported in the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=
Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref> Murphy is a former teacher, counselor, welding instructor, and college dean. He formerly chaired a workforce development board. He is a former president of his local [[Chamber of Commerce]]. The operator of a preschool, Mizell opposes Nevers' long-term proposal to build a reservoir in the Senate district, a project Murphy supported in the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=
http://larants.thedeadpelican.com/2015/10/29/mizell-vs-lifelong-bureaucrat-in-12th-district/|title=Mizell v. Lifelong Bureaucrat in 12th District|publisher=''The Dead Pelican''|author=Chad Rogers|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref>
http://larants.thedeadpelican.com/2015/10/29/mizell-vs-lifelong-bureaucrat-in-12th-district/|title=Mizell v. Lifelong Bureaucrat in 12th District|publisher=''The Dead Pelican''|author=Chad Rogers|accessdate=November 25, 2015}}</ref>