Changes

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 22 (Grant, LaSalle, Winn, and Rapides parishes)​

|office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 22 (Grant, LaSalle, Winn, and Rapides parishes)​

|term_start=May 1, 1996 ​

|term_start=May 1, 1996 ​

|term_end=2006​

|term_end=January 2006​

|preceded=[[Stephen Gunn]]​

|preceded=[[Stephen Gunn]]​

|succeeded=[[Billy Chandler]]​

|succeeded=[[Billy Chandler]]​

Wright was succeeded in office by his fellow Democrat, [[Billy Chandler]], a former Grant Parish School Board member from the village of Dry Prong. Chandler said in his victory statement that it was clear that many voters in the district were unhappy with Wright's controversies. As the newest legislator in [[Baton Rouge]], Chandler vowed to look after the interests of the "little man." Chandler, like Wright three years earlier, also defeated Owens to win the position in the April 29 [[special election]] runoff contest.​

Wright was succeeded in office by his fellow Democrat, [[Billy Chandler]], a former Grant Parish School Board member from the village of Dry Prong. Chandler said in his victory statement that it was clear that many voters in the district were unhappy with Wright's controversies. As the newest legislator in [[Baton Rouge]], Chandler vowed to look after the interests of the "little man." Chandler, like Wright three years earlier, also defeated Owens to win the position in the April 29 [[special election]] runoff contest.​

=Misdemeanor obscenity charges==​

==Misdemeanor obscenity charges==​

Wright was charged with an obscenity violation at Lake Buhlow in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. He and Charles Locher, II, were arrested in 2004, when a Red River Waterway Commission park ranger said that he walked into a public restroom and found the men engaged in sexual activities. Wright and Locker denied the charges since their arrests and [[grand jury ]][[indictment]]s. The two initially pleaded not guilty. Wright claimed that he had dropped his pants as the ranger entered the restroom and that the ranger misinterpreted the situation. Locker denied impropriety and said that he did not know Wright. The two changed their pleas to guilty on [[misdemeanor]] charges. Wright pleaded guilty to flight from an officer, and Locker pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief, according to Harold A. Van Dyke, III, the first assistant district attorney in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190088/posts|title=Louisiana State Rep. Tommy Wright, D-Jena, Accused of Obscenity|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed through [[Free Republic]]|date=August 12, 2004|author=Mandy M. Goodnight and John Hill|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 30, 2005.</ref>

Wright was charged with an obscenity violation at Lake Buhlow in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. He and Charles Locher, II, were arrested in 2004, when a Red River Waterway Commission park ranger said that he walked into a public restroom and found the men engaged in sexual activities. Wright and Locker denied the charges since their arrests and [[grand jury ]][[indictment]]s. The two initially pleaded not guilty. Wright claimed that he had dropped his pants as the ranger entered the restroom and that the ranger misinterpreted the situation. Locker denied impropriety and said that he did not know Wright. The two changed their pleas to guilty on [[misdemeanor]] charges. Wright pleaded guilty to flight from an officer, and Locker pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief, according to Harold A. Van Dyke, III, the first assistant district attorney in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190088/posts|title=Louisiana State Rep. Tommy Wright, D-Jena, Accused of Obscenity|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' accessed through [[Free Republic]]|date=August 12, 2004|author=Mandy M. Goodnight and John Hill|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 30, 2005.</ref>

Meanwhile, Wright was dismissed from his position at the Jena campus of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]-based Louisiana Technical College after he was found to have used paid sick leave to attend legislative sessions. Wright then sued the state for wrongful termination. He argued that his sick leave requests were approved with bona fide medical excuses. Wright accused his fellow Democrat, Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]], of ordering his firing because he had angered technical college administrators when he questioned some of their practices​.<ref name=tradeschool>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219887847/|title=Central Louisiana legislative seat up for grabs|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'' through newspapers.com|page=12|date=January 4, 2006|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Meanwhile, Wright was dismissed from his position at the Jena campus of the [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]-based Louisiana Technical College after he was found to have used paid sick leave to attend legislative sessions. Wright then sued the state for wrongful termination. He argued that his sick leave requests were approved with bona fide medical excuses. Wright accused his fellow Democrat, Governor [[Kathleen  Blanco]], of ordering his firing because he had angered technical college administrators when he questioned some of their practices​.<ref name=tradeschool>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219887847/|title=Central Louisiana legislative seat up for grabs|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'' through newspapers.com|page=12|date=January 4, 2006|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

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Wright began his career with the vocational technical system as a business instructor in August 1988. Prior to his dismissal, he was a tech prep coordinator on the Jena campus. The position involved his acting as a mediator between public schools and the vocational-technical schools/community colleges. Early in 2006, Wright failed to obtain legal reinstatement to his job with the technical college.​<ref name=tradeschool/>

Wright began his career with the vocational technical system as a business instructor in August 1988. Prior to his dismissal, he had been a tech prep coordinator on the Jena campus. The position involved his acting as a mediator between public schools and the vocational-technical schools/community colleges. Early in 2006, Wright failed to obtain legal reinstatement to his job with the technical college.​<ref name=tradeschool/>

==References==

==References==