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Created page with "'''James David Caldwell, Sr.''', known as '''Buddy Caldwell''' (born May 20, 1946), is an American politician and attorney based in Tallulah in Madis..."
'''James David Caldwell, Sr.''', known as '''Buddy Caldwell''' (born May 20, 1946), is an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] and [[attorney]] based in Tallulah in Madison Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Caldwell switched in 2011 to the [[Republican Party]] while serving two four-year terms as state attorney general from 2008 to 2016. In 2019, he returned to the Democrats to seek the position of [[sheriff]] of Madison Parish.
Prior to his tenure as attorney general, Caldwell was the district attorney for the 6th Judicial District, which encompasses the heavily [[African-American]] parishes of Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes, with service from 1979 to 2008. Caldwell is also an entertainer, [[guitar]]ist and songwriter known for his impersonation of [[Elvis Presley]].[1]
Prior to his tenure as attorney general, Caldwell was the long-term district attorney for the 6th Judicial District, which encompasses Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes, with service from 1979 to 2008. Caldwell is also an entertainer, a [[guitar]]ist and songwriter known for his impersonation of [[Elvis Presley]].[1]
Early in 2011, Louisiana political commentator Jeff Crouere speculated that Caldwell, then a Democrat, was "considering a switch to the GOP to prevent a challenge this fall" as Democrats faced increased difficulty statewide.[2] Caldwell ended up officially switching parties on February 2, 2011.[3] Caldwell was unopposed for a second term as attorney general in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. With his switch of parties, Attorney-General Caldwell became the first Republican to hold the office of Louisiana Attorney General since the end of [[Reconstruction]].
==Background==
Caldwell is the fourth of seven children born to J. D. Caldwell (1910–1987), and the former Genevieve Minsky (1916–2001)[4] in tiny Columbia in Caldwell Parish. He was raised [[Jewish]]. This was also the home of former [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] and McKeithen's son, the late Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005)
In 1949, the Caldwell family moved permanently to [[rural]]Madison Parish and settled in Tallulah. J. D. Caldwell obtained a master's degree in music from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and had sung with the Metropolitan Opera in [[New York City]]. After he moved his family to Tallulah, the senior Caldwell became a farmer and clothing merchant. Genevieve Caldwell, a registered nurse, held a degree from Touro Infirmary in [[New Orleans]]. She was a public health nurse and later worked as a Madison Parish school health nurse for thirty years.[5]
Buddy Caldwell is not related to the late Louisiana 2nd Judicial District Court Judge [[David T. Caldwell]] of Jonesboro in Jackson Parish or Judge
Caldwell's son, James David "Jimmy" Caldwell (born c. 1949), a practicing attorney in [[Shreveport]]
Caldwell graduated from Tallulah High School in 1964. He lettered in basketball, football, and track. His mother's Minsky family had a drug store in Tallulah, where he worked part-time during his teen years.[5] Caldwell also played semi-professional baseball in North Louisiana while he was still in high school, as did several other Louisiana politicians, including the late Education Superintendent Bill Dodd and former State Representatives Lantz Womack of Winnsboro, and L.D. "Buddy" Napper of Ruston.[6]
Caldwell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, with a minor in history, from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he played football and ran track. In 1973, he received his law degree from the Tulane University Law School. He established his solo law practice in Tallulah, which he maintained until being elected as district attorney six years later.[5]
District attorney
Caldwell was first elected district attorney of the small Sixth Judicial District on September 16, 1978, when he was thirty-two. On January 1, 1979, Caldwell assumed the DA office. The 6th District encompasses Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes. The office is located in Tallulah. While district attorney, he personally tried felonycases. Suspects rarely won acquittal when Caldwell was the prosecutor. Critics, however, note that Caldwell maintained a high conviction rate by not prosecuting the "hard" cases, those for which conviction would have been difficult to obtain. Caldwell claimed the highest per capita collection rate for back child support in the state.[5]
From 1983 to 1996, Caldwell served on the board of directors of the Louisiana District Attorney's Association.
The three-parish district, the most northeastern in the state, is heavily Democratic and includes a high concentration of African-American voters. On his website, Caldwell contended that he established "positive working relationships throughout Louisiana with Sheriffs, other District Attorneys, Mayors, Parish and Town Councils, School Boards, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and other local officials. I also have experience working with federal agencies like the United States Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms."[7]
Caldwell won his third ter
Prior to his tenure as attorney general, Caldwell was the district attorney for the 6th Judicial District, which encompasses the heavily [[African-American]] parishes of Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes, with service from 1979 to 2008. Caldwell is also an entertainer, [[guitar]]ist and songwriter known for his impersonation of [[Elvis Presley]].[1]
Prior to his tenure as attorney general, Caldwell was the long-term district attorney for the 6th Judicial District, which encompasses Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes, with service from 1979 to 2008. Caldwell is also an entertainer, a [[guitar]]ist and songwriter known for his impersonation of [[Elvis Presley]].[1]
Early in 2011, Louisiana political commentator Jeff Crouere speculated that Caldwell, then a Democrat, was "considering a switch to the GOP to prevent a challenge this fall" as Democrats faced increased difficulty statewide.[2] Caldwell ended up officially switching parties on February 2, 2011.[3] Caldwell was unopposed for a second term as attorney general in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. With his switch of parties, Attorney-General Caldwell became the first Republican to hold the office of Louisiana Attorney General since the end of [[Reconstruction]].
==Background==
Caldwell is the fourth of seven children born to J. D. Caldwell (1910–1987), and the former Genevieve Minsky (1916–2001)[4] in tiny Columbia in Caldwell Parish. He was raised [[Jewish]]. This was also the home of former [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] and McKeithen's son, the late Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005)
In 1949, the Caldwell family moved permanently to [[rural]]Madison Parish and settled in Tallulah. J. D. Caldwell obtained a master's degree in music from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] and had sung with the Metropolitan Opera in [[New York City]]. After he moved his family to Tallulah, the senior Caldwell became a farmer and clothing merchant. Genevieve Caldwell, a registered nurse, held a degree from Touro Infirmary in [[New Orleans]]. She was a public health nurse and later worked as a Madison Parish school health nurse for thirty years.[5]
Buddy Caldwell is not related to the late Louisiana 2nd Judicial District Court Judge [[David T. Caldwell]] of Jonesboro in Jackson Parish or Judge
Caldwell's son, James David "Jimmy" Caldwell (born c. 1949), a practicing attorney in [[Shreveport]]
Caldwell graduated from Tallulah High School in 1964. He lettered in basketball, football, and track. His mother's Minsky family had a drug store in Tallulah, where he worked part-time during his teen years.[5] Caldwell also played semi-professional baseball in North Louisiana while he was still in high school, as did several other Louisiana politicians, including the late Education Superintendent Bill Dodd and former State Representatives Lantz Womack of Winnsboro, and L.D. "Buddy" Napper of Ruston.[6]
Caldwell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, with a minor in history, from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he played football and ran track. In 1973, he received his law degree from the Tulane University Law School. He established his solo law practice in Tallulah, which he maintained until being elected as district attorney six years later.[5]
District attorney
Caldwell was first elected district attorney of the small Sixth Judicial District on September 16, 1978, when he was thirty-two. On January 1, 1979, Caldwell assumed the DA office. The 6th District encompasses Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes. The office is located in Tallulah. While district attorney, he personally tried felonycases. Suspects rarely won acquittal when Caldwell was the prosecutor. Critics, however, note that Caldwell maintained a high conviction rate by not prosecuting the "hard" cases, those for which conviction would have been difficult to obtain. Caldwell claimed the highest per capita collection rate for back child support in the state.[5]
From 1983 to 1996, Caldwell served on the board of directors of the Louisiana District Attorney's Association.
The three-parish district, the most northeastern in the state, is heavily Democratic and includes a high concentration of African-American voters. On his website, Caldwell contended that he established "positive working relationships throughout Louisiana with Sheriffs, other District Attorneys, Mayors, Parish and Town Councils, School Boards, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and other local officials. I also have experience working with federal agencies like the United States Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms."[7]
Caldwell won his third ter