Chris Roy, Jr.
| Christopher Jude "Chris" Roy, Jr. | |
 | |
| In office January 14, 2008 – January 9, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Charles DeWitt |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Lance Harris |
| Born | December 30, 1961 Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Lelia Christine Hopewell Roy |
| Children | Madeleine Clark Roy Christopher Roy, III |
| Alma mater | Holy Savior Menard Central High School (Alexandria) Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Christopher Jude Roy, Jr., known as Chris Roy, Jr. (born December 30, 1961), is an attorney in Alexandria, Louisiana, who is a former state representative[1] for District 25 in Rapides and Vernon parishes.[2] The district includes two four-year institutions of higher education, Southern Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville and Louisiana State University at Alexandria, and Fort Polk, the large United States Army base in western Louisiana.[3]
Contents
Background
Roy's father, Christopher Roy, Sr. (born 1936), is also an Alexandria attorney who was a law partner of Camille Gravel, one of the most well-known attorneys in the state. They maintained the former firm of Gravel, Roy, and Burnes. Roy is the older brother of former Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy, also a Democrat, who was elected in 2006 and again in 2010 and 2014.
In 1980, Roy graduated from the Roman Catholic Holy Savior Menard Central High School in Alexandria. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Science in political science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Roy, who is white, received his Juris Doctorate in 1987 from the historically black Southern University Law Center, also in Baton Rouge. He and his wife, Lelia, have three children: Madeleine Clark Roy, Christopher, III, and John Roy.[3]
Partisan politics
When the 28-year incumbent representative from District 25, Charles DeWitt, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House, was term-limited, Roy became the Democratic candidate in the Louisiana general election held on November 17, 2007. In that contest, he defeated the Republican attorney Lance Maxwell, 7,558 (53.5 percent) to 6,570 (46.5 percent). A third candidate, Democrat Glen Beard, a former police chief in Alexandria, had been eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007.[4] Maxwell carried the support of the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, a political action committee associated with Republican former U.S. Senator David Vitter. That group supported Barett Byrd, rather than Harris, in the 2011 primary.[5] Had he sought a second term in the state House, Roy would have faced two Republicans in the October 22 nonpartisan blanket primary, Lance Harris of Alexandria and Barett Byrd of Woodworth]in south Rapides Parish, a graduate of the University of Arkansas and a retired colonel in the United States Marine Corps.[6] Harris, who owns a chain of convenience stores, defeated Byrd in the primary, 7,577 votes (55.5 percent) to 6,088 (44.6 percent) and succeeded Roy in the state House.[7]
Instead, Roy announced his exit from the legislature so that he could spend more "Little League time" with his youngest son, John Roy, a seventh grader in 2011.[1] Representative Roy also said that he had grown weary of partisan divisions, particularly during recent controversies over congressional redistricting.[5] After a series of party switches by Democratic members from increasingly Republican-leaning areas and several special elections held in 2010 and 2011, Republicans claimed majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since Reconstruction.[8]
Elliott Stonecipher, a conservative political consultant, demographer, and pollster from Shreveport, said that redistricting may have strengthened the slim Republican majorities in the legislature. Senate District 29, then represented by the retiring Democrat Joe McPherson, also of Woodworth, was carved up into a minority district that meanders from south Rapides to Lincoln parishes. Stonecipher said that while the ranks of African-American legislators may increase, the final numbers may not translate into Democrat numerical gains.[5]
Legislative life
In the House, Roy served on the committees of (1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, (2) Commerce, and (3) Insurance.[9]
In 2011, Roy obtained passage of an amendment which requires that a study committee report on methods of replacing revenue that might be lost through possible repeal of the Louisiana state income tax. The amendment was at odds with the intent of the House Ways and Means Committee, which opposed any stipulations that might hinder the repeal of the tax. Roy said that his amendment was desgned to guarantee funding for roads, hospitals, and the elderly should the $5.4 billion in revenues from the income tax ever end. Roy's amendment drew criticism from then Ways and Means chairman Hunter Greene, a Republican from Baton Rouge who is now a family court judge.[10]
Roy said that he had even considered switching to "No Party" or Independent status to seek a second term but decided that option null and void, considering the lack of a structured independent party in the state.[5] Roy still maintains confidence that he could have been reelected had he run. In a statement to the media, Roy said that he is "proud of the work I have done in Baton Rouge fighting for economic development, standing up for consumers, lowering taxes, and holding government officials accountable to the people who pay their salaries – the taxpayers. I plan to stay involved in public life through community work and public service on a local level. ..."[1]
Unsuccessful race for district attorney
Two years after leaving the state House, Roy was an unsuccessful candidate for Rapides Parish district attorney in the primary election held on November 4, 2014. The incumbent DA, Jam Downs of the 9th Judicial District Court in Alexandria, retired. Roy finished a strong third in the race with 13,081 votes (30.2 percent). His two rivals, Republican then state Representative Chris Hazel, now a state court judge, and Pineville City Judge Phillip Terrell, another Democrat, then contested the December 6 runoff election,.[11]in which Terrell was elected.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Representative Chris Roy Jr. Announces Decision Not to Seek Re-election. KALB-TV. Retrieved on August 3, 2011; no longer on-line.
- ↑ Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024. Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved on March 21, 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Christopher J. Roy. mobilelgs.com. Retrieved on August 3, 2011; no longer on-line.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Rep. Roy opts for family time over running for reelection," Alexandria Town Talk,July 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Byrd to seek Louisiana District 25 seat held by Roy," The Alexandria Town Talk, July 14, 2011.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Republican majority in Louisiana House of Representatives increases," The New Orleans Times-Picayune, March 12, 2011.
- ↑ Rep. Christopher J. Roy Jr.. house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved on August 3, 2011; material no longer on-line.
- ↑ Michelle Millhollon (June 21, 2011). Income tax repeal falls flat. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved on March 21, 2020.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 4, 2014.
