Richard Nelson
ââ
| Richard James Nelsonââ | |
 | |
Louisiana State Representative
for District 89 (St. Tammany Parish) ââ | |
| In office January 13, 2020â â January 8, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Reid Falconerââ |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Kim Carver |
| Born | ââMay 20, 1986 ââMandeville, St. Tammany Parish |
| Political party | Republicanââ |
| Spouse(s) | ââAshley Nelson |
| Children | ââThree sons, Michael, Arthur, and Jack |
| Residence | Mandeville, Louisianaâ |
| Alma mater | Mandeville High School Louisiana State Universityââ |
| Occupation | ââAttorney; Business consultant |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Richard James Nelson (born May 20, 1986)[1] is the departing Republican state representative for District 89 in St. Tammany Parish in suburban New Orleans, Louisiana. He succeeded the one-term representative, Reid Falconer, on January 13, 2020.[2]
Falconer did not seek reelection to the state House but was instead an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the District 11 seat in the state Senate against another Republican, Patrick McMath in the runoff primary held on November 16, 2019. In that same election, Nelson defeated another Republican, Vincent Joseph "Vince" Liuzza (born 1969), a New Orleans native who moved to the Northshore in 1999. Liuzza is a small business owner and real estate agent. Nelson polled 8,465 votes (53 percent) to Liuzza's 7,424 (47 percent) to claim the House seat.[3]
Born, reared, and residing in Mandeville, Nelson graduated from Mandeville High School, Louisiana State University, and the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He was a security engineering officer and diplomat for the United States Department of State, stationed part of the time in Germany and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also managed security projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. He and his wife, Ashley Nelson, have three young sons, Michael, Arthur, and Jack. He is an Episcopalian.[4][5]
Nelson did not seek a second term in the House but instead ran and withdrew as a gubernatorial candidate. He still received 3,604 votes, as he left the race too late to be removed from the ballot. Victory in the gubernatorial primary went to Attorney General Jeff Landry. Governor-elect Landry appointed Nelson to become the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue.[6]
References
- â Richard Nelson (James). Mylife.com. Retrieved on December 19, 2020.
- â Richard Nelson wins Mandeville-area 89th House District post. The New Orleans Times-Picayune (November 16, 2019). Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- â Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12 and November 16, 2019.
- â Richard Nelson's Biography. Justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- â Meet Richard. Nelsonforla.com. Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- â Governor-elect Jeff Landry names tax man, veterans affairs secretary, THC hemp regulator. Monroe News Star (December 6,2023). Retrieved on December 7, 2023.