Changes

Wright represented District 22 in the north central section of the state. The district encompasses all of Grant and LaSalle parishes and most of Winn Parish, and a single precinct in Rapides Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Wright represented District 22 in the north central section of the state. The district encompasses all of Grant and LaSalle parishes and most of Winn Parish, and a single precinct in Rapides Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

==Background==​

==Background==

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became state representative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodists|United Methodist Church]].​

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became state representative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodists|United Methodist Church]].​

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 charge==​

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 (born c. 1972) of Deville in Rapides Parish, 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>

==Dismissal from Jena trade school==

==Dismissal from Jena trade school==