| | Pinac was first elected to the District 42 seat in the state legislature in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 21, 1995, when he defeated a fellow Democrat, Isabella L. DelaHoussaye (born April 24, 1939) of Crowley, 6,512 (55.9 percent) to 5,148 ballots (44.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Pinac succeeded Representative Christopher Charles John of Crowley, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1995. In 1996, John was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for the since disbanded 7th congressional district. | | Pinac was first elected to the District 42 seat in the state legislature in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 21, 1995, when he defeated a fellow Democrat, Isabella L. DelaHoussaye (born April 24, 1939) of Crowley, 6,512 (55.9 percent) to 5,148 ballots (44.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Pinac succeeded Representative Christopher Charles John of Crowley, who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1995. In 1996, John was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for the since disbanded 7th congressional district. |
| − | In the Louisiana House, Pinac was the chairman of the Commerce Committee. He maintained a [[pro-life]] voting record<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brownpelicanla.com/index.php/all?cat=2|title=Lay Catholics Dedicated to Proclaiming the Truth|publisher=Brown Pelican Society|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> but was otherwise not [[conservative]]. In other legislative votes, Pinac opposed (1) [[human cloning]], (2) the restoration of mortgage interest deductions for Louisiana state income taxes, and (3) placing constitutional limits on state spending. He supported (1) more [[slot machine]]s at [[horse racing]] tracks, (2) permitting public officials to be employed by casinos, (3) allowing bars to be located near churches, and (4) tuition tax deductions for private schools.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://louisianavoterguide.com/races.asp?RaceID=x&OfficeSought=Senate&District=25|title=Louisiana Voter Guide, 2007|publisher=louisianavoterguide.com|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> | + | In the Louisiana House, Pinac was the chairman of the Commerce Committee. He maintained a [[pro-life]] voting record<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brownpelicanla.com/index.php/all?cat=2|title=Lay Catholics Dedicated to Proclaiming the Truth|publisher=Brown Pelican Society|accessdate=December 24, 2008; no longer on-line}}</ref> but was otherwise not [[conservative]]. In other legislative votes, Pinac opposed (1) [[human cloning]], (2) the restoration of mortgage interest deductions for Louisiana state income taxes, and (3) placing constitutional limits on state spending. He supported (1) more [[slot machine]]s at [[horse racing]] tracks, (2) permitting public officials to be employed by casinos, (3) allowing bars to be located near churches, and (4) tuition tax deductions for private schools.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://louisianavoterguide.com/races.asp?RaceID=x&OfficeSought=Senate&District=25|title=Louisiana Voter Guide, 2007|publisher=louisianavoterguide.com|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> |