Changes

'''Polly J. Thomas''' is an education professor at the University of New Orleans and a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 80 in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]].

'''Polly J. Thomas''' (born c. 1947) is an education professor at the University of New Orleans and a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 80 in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]].

When Republican former Representatie Joe Lopinto resigned the seat to join the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department, Thomas filed without opposition for the special election to choose Lopinto's successor for the remainder of the term through January 13, 2020. A resident of Metairie, Thomas said that she would "be a leader in strengthening education, protecting our coastline, and securing higher paying jobs to keep our children working here at home."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/polly_thomas_elected_to_state.html|title=Polly Thomas elected to state 80th House District|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 22, 2016|

When Republican former Representatie Joe Lopinto resigned the seat to join the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department, Thomas filed without opposition for the special election to choose Lopinto's successor for the remainder of the term through January 13, 2020. A resident of Metairie, Thomas said that she would "be a leader in strengthening education, protecting our coastline, and securing higher paying jobs to keep our children working here at home."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/polly_thomas_elected_to_state.html|title=Polly Thomas elected to state 80th House District|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 22, 2016|

accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref>

accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref>

Earlier, on November 4, 2008, Thomas was an intra-party candidate in a special election against Republican Conrad Appel for a Jefferson Parish seat in the Louisiana State Senate. Thomas' defeat for the Senate seat was her fourth election loss since 1999. Appel said that he was pleased to have Thomas as his opponent: "Polly and I have been friends for a long time, and this has been a hard race for me. I'm really proud of Polly."<ref name=nola>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/appel_bests_thomas_for_state_s.html|title=Richard Rainey, "Conrad Appel bests Polly Thomas for state Senate seat," November 4, 2008|publisher=nola.com|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> Appel in 2008 received 21,853 votes (52.1 percent) to Thomas's 20,065 votes (47.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11042008/11042008_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 4, 2008|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

Earlier, on November 4, 2008, Thomas was an intra-party candidate in a special election against Republican Conrad Appel for the District 9 seat in the Louisiana State Senate. Thomas' defeat for the Senate seat was her fourth election loss since 1999. Appel said that he was pleased to have Thomas as his opponent: "Polly and I have been friends for a long time, and this has been a hard race for me. I'm really proud of Polly."<ref name=nola>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/appel_bests_thomas_for_state_s.html|title=Richard Rainey, "Conrad Appel bests Polly Thomas for state Senate seat," November 4, 2008|publisher=nola.com|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> Appel in 2008 received 21,853 votes (52.1 percent) to Thomas's 20,065 votes (47.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11042008/11042008_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 4, 2008|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

In 2007, before her race against Appel, Thomas ran in 2007 for the state Senate against [[Steve Scalise]] and finished with 29 percent of the vote in the regular legislative election. Scalise was, however, soon the winner of still another special election to fill Louisiana's 1st congressional district, a position which he still holds as the House Majority Whip. The congressional seat opened when [[Bobby Jindal]] was elected governor of Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>   

In 2007, before her race against Appel, Thomas ran in 2007 for the state Senate against [[Steve Scalise]] and finished with 29 percent of the vote in the regular legislative election. Scalise was, however, soon the winner of still another special election to fill Louisiana's 1st congressional district, a position which he still holds as the House Majority Whip. The congressional seat opened when [[Bobby Jindal]] was elected governor of Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>