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Ligi holds the Bachelor of Arts in [[political science]] from Mansfield University of [[Pennsylvania]] in Mansfield, [[Pennsylvania]]. He holds a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans School of Law.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93733|title=Rep. Tony Ligi|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>
Ligi holds the Bachelor of Arts in [[political science]] from Mansfield University of [[Pennsylvania]] in Mansfield, [[Pennsylvania]]. He holds a [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans School of Law.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93733|title=Rep. Tony Ligi|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>
==Political career==
==Political career==
In 2007, Ligi was elected to the state House to succeed the term-limited Republican, Daniel R. "Danny" Martiny, who in turn was elected as a state senator to succeed another term-limited Republican, [[Art Lentini]]. Ligi led four other Republicans in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] with 5,474 votes (42 percent). He was to have been placed in a runoff contest with George L. Branigan, who trailed in the primary with 2,946 votes (22.6 percent). In third place was Jack Rizzuto, with 2,708 votes (20.8 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 15 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>
In 2007, Ligi was elected to the state House to succeed the term-limited Republican, Daniel R. "Danny" Martiny, who in turn was elected as a state senator to succeed another term-limited Republican, [[Art Lentini]]. Ligi led four other Republicans in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] with 5,474 votes (42 percent). He was to have been placed in a runoff contest with George L. Branigan, who trailed in the primary with 2,946 votes (22.6 percent). In third place was Jack Rizzuto, with 2,708 votes (20.8 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 15 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>
A week after the primary, Branigan withdrew from a second contest, and Ligi won the post by default. Ligi carried the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] and the business interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'' supported Ligi on grounds of his active political and civic leadership. He is a former chairman of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party and a co-founder of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club. Before running in the heavily Republican District 79, Ligi was also active in the Elmwood Park Civic Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LigiAnthonyV.html|title=Rep. Ligi, Anthony V.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>
A week after the primary, Branigan withdrew from a second contest, and Ligi won the post by default. Ligi carried the support of Republican then [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] and the business interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'' supported Ligi on grounds of his active political and civic leadership. He is a former chairman of the Jefferson Parish Republican Party and a co-founder of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club. Before running in the heavily Republican District 79, Ligi was also active in the Elmwood Park Civic Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LigiAnthonyV.html|title=Rep. Ligi, Anthony V.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=August 28, 2011}}</ref>
Representative Ligi served on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs, and (5) Subcommittee on General Government.<ref name=vsmart/> In addition to Metairie, District 79 includes the city of Kenner.
Representative Ligi served on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) House and Governmental Affairs, (4) Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs, and (5) Subcommittee on General Government.<ref name=vsmart/> In addition to Metairie, District 79 includes the city of Kenner.
Ligi was reelected to a second term in the Louisiana House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Ligi resigned in 2012 to assume the directorship of of the Jefferson Business Council.
Ligi was reelected to a second term in the Louisiana House in the primary held on October 22, 2011.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Ligi resigned in 2012 to assume the directorship of of the Jefferson Business Council.
Ligi served as the chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation from 2011 until 2012, making him the majority leader since Republicans held a majority in the body at that time.He was succeeded as majority leader by Republican Representative [[Lance Harris]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], who is running in 2020 in the 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed [[Ralph Abraham]], who declined to seek a fourth term, honoring a previous pledge to restrict his tenure to three terms.
Ligi served as the chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation from 2011 until 2012, making him the majority leader since Republicans held a majority in the body at that time.He was succeeded as majority leader by Republican Representative [[Lance Harris]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], who is running in 2020 in the 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed [[Ralph Abraham]], who declined to seek a fourth term, honoring a previous pledge to restrict his tenure to three terms.
Ligi's House successor was fellow Republican [[Julie Stokes]], a Kenner accountant, who received 55 percent of the vote in the [[special election]] held on March 2, 2013, for the nearly three years remaining in Ligi's term. Stokes defeated three other Republicans for the seat. Jack Rizzuto, a candidate defeated by Ligi in 2007, finished second in the 2013 contest with 33 percent of the ballots cast. No [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] contested the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 2, 2013.</ref> Stokes did not seek a third term in the House in the primary held on October 12, 2019, and the Republican [[Debbie Villio]] won the seat without opposition.
Ligi's House successor was fellow Republican [[Julie Stokes]], a Kenner accountant, who received 55 percent of the vote in the [[special election]] held on March 2, 2013, for the nearly three years remaining in Ligi's term. Stokes defeated three other Republicans for the seat. Jack Rizzuto, a candidate defeated by Ligi in 2007, finished second in the 2013 contest with 33 percent of the ballots cast. No [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] contested the position.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 2, 2013.</ref> Stokes did not seek a third term in the House in the primary held on October 12, 2019, and the Republican [[Debbie Villio]] won the seat without opposition.