Changes

|preceded=[[Benny Gay Christian]]

|office2=Louisiana State Senator for <br> Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Ouachita, Richland, and Tensas parishes|term_start2=January 2008

|succeeded2=Katrina Renee Jackson|office3=Louisiana State Representative|term_start3=January 13, 2020|term_end3=|preceded3=Charles "Bubba" Chaney

'''Francis Coleman Thompson''' (born October 29, 1941)[1] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/francis-thompson/e820551711210|title=Francis Thompson|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref> is a wealthy developer from Delhi in Richland Parish, [[Louisiana]]. He srved , who served as a senior [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives state representative from 1975 until 2007. Because Then by virtue of state term limits, Thompson was ineligible to have sought a ninth four-year term in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary ]] held on October 20, 2007. In 2019, Thompson was elected once again to the state House. In the interim between 2008 and 2020, he was a state senator.

Instead==More than 50 years in politics==In March 2023, Thompson was announced that after fifty years as an elected outright over two fellow Democrats Democrat he was switching his party affiliation to [[Republican Party|Republican]] because he disagrees with the District 34 seat leftist tilt of his former party. Thompson's switch gives the GOP a supermajority in the Louisiana State Senate vacated by House with 70 of the also term105 seats. However, twenty-limited Charles Jones (born 1950) three ofthe Republicans often side with the Democrats. The [[radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]] calls the twenty-three the [[Monroe, Louisiana|MonroeRepublican Fraud Squad]]. Thompson received 13,763 votes (51 percent) to 10,937 (42 percent) for African-American State Representative Willie Hunter, Jr<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www., of Monroe and 2,113 (8 percent) for Paxton J. Branchthenewsstar.com/story/news/2023/03/16/republicans-gain-super-majority-in-louisiana-legislature-without-election/70018803007/|title=Thompson party flip gives Republicans super majority in Louisiana Legislature|author=[2[Greg Hilburn]Ten days after he vacated the seat to Thompson, Charles Jones was charged with two counts of making and subscribing a false federal income tax return and one count of tax evasion.]|publisher=''[3[Monroe News Star]]''|date=March 16, 2023|accessdate=March 17, 2023}}</ref>

Instead, Thompson was elected outright over two fellow Democrats to the District 34 seat in the Louisiana State Senate vacated by the also term-limited Charles Jones (born 1950) of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Thompson received 13,763 votes (51 percent) to 10,937 (42 percent) for [[African-American]] State Representative Willie Hunter, Jr., of Monroe and 2,113 (8 percent) for Paxton J. Branch.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Ten days after he vacated the seat to Thompson, Charles Jones was charged with two counts of making and subscribing a false federal income tax return and one count of tax evasion.<ref>''Monroe News Star'' January 25, 2008.</ref> Hunter charged irregularities in the primary election in part on grounds that certain Thompson supporters in heavily black East Carroll Parish distributed food packages to the poor with instructions that they should vote for Francis Thompson to maintain such assistance.[4]<ref>''The Monroe News Star,'' November 10, 2007.</ref>

In addition to his own Richland Parish, Thompson's House district included all or portions of East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, and West Carroll parishes in northeast Louisiana. His Senate district will include included all or parts parts of Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Ouachita, Richland, and Tensas parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.la.gov/senators/senpage.asp?SenID=34|title=Senator Francis C. Thompson|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Background==When he was term-limited in the state Senate, Thompson graduated from Delhi High School ran unopposed in 1959the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 12, 2019, to return to his former District 19 state House seat. He received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from returned to the House in 2020 after twelve years in the Senate. The primary includes the race for [[Louisiana Tech Universitygovernor]] , in which incumbent Democrat [[Ruston, Louisiana|RustonJohn Bel Edwards]] in Lincoln Parish. He also procured an Edfaces a divided Republican field, including [[U.DS. degree Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]], from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). Thompson was a teacher from 1963-1965's own Richland Parish, but he vacated the classroom to become vice president of a manufacturing company from 1965-1972. Laterand [[Eddie Rispone]], he returned to the classroom as a ULM assistant professor of education.[1[Baton Rouge]] businessman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/candidateinquiry|title=Candidate Inquiry (Richland Parish)|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=August 9, 2019}}</ref>

From 1968 to 1975, ==Personal life and early career==Thompson was an elected member of the Richland Parish graduated from Delhi High School Boardin 1959.[1] He won a special election in 1975 to fill the House seat vacated by the resignation received his Bachelor and Master of Democrat Benny Gay Christian (1925-1982),Science degrees from [5[Louisiana Tech University]] who had served in the state House since 1964. Later in the year, Thompson won a full term in the seat, which in time became the single-member District 19. Prior to his legislative years, Thompson worked in [[Baton RougeRuston, Louisiana|Ruston]] for the Louisiana Department of Education under Superintendent Louis Jin Lincoln Parish. He also procured an Ed. Michot D. degree from 1974-1975. He was a member the University of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement from 1973-1974at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). Thompson has also been was a member of teacher from 1963 to 1965, but he vacated the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission classroom to become vice president of the Statesa manufacturing company from 1965 to 1972. He has been active in Later, he returned to the Retarded Children's Association and the Louisiana Mental Health Drug Advisory Council. He is classroom as a member ULM assistant professor of the Masonic lodge and the Lions Internationaleducation.

Thompson is married to the former Marilyn Bryant[1] (born October 6, 1944)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www. mylife.com/marilyn-thompson/e820695603978|title=Marilyn Thompson of Delhi, Louisiana|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref> The couple lives at resides 456 Robin Hood Lane in Delhi. They have There are three Thompson children, including sons : Francis Todd Thompson (born c. 1963April 3, 1964) of Baton Rouge and Brant L. Thompson (born April 1, 1965 ), both of Delhi, and daughter, Melissa T. Blanchfield (born October 21, 1972) of Baton Rouge.[6] <ref>Net Detective, People Search.</ref> Thompson is a [[Presbyterian]].

Interest in agricultureIn 2000From 1968 to 1975, Thompson was named chairman an elected member of the House Agriculture CommitteeRichland Parish School Board.He won a special election in 1975 to fill the House seat vacated by the resignation of Democrat [7[Benny Christian] In 2003] (1925-1982), he authored the <ref>"Master FarmerSocial Security Death Index" program. ssdi.rootsweb.com. Retrieved January 2, which 2010; now under pay wall.</ref> who had served in the legislature approved without dissentstate House since 1964. The program was developed by Later in the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center and sponsored by year, Thompson won a full term in the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federationseat, which in time became the single-member District 19. It is an environmental education program designed to help farmers and ranchers identify and adopt best management practices Prior to improve water quality in lakeshis legislative years, streams and bayousThompson worked in Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Department of Education under Superintendent [[Louis J. It involves classroom instruction, field days and implementation Michot]] from 1974 to 1975. He was a member of farm-specific conservation plans the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement from 1973 to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impacts1974. Thompson's model program has also been proposed for national acceptancea member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission of the States. He has been active in the Retarded Children's Association and the Louisiana Mental Health Drug Advisory Council. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Lions International.[8]

Poverty Point caseDuring Thompson's brother and the oldest of his long legislative careerfive siblings, Clyde Nolan Thompson worked successfully to procure state funding for Poverty Point Reservoir(April 25, a 31937 &mdash; July 31,000-acre (12 km22015) lake north of Delhi that , was completed in 2001a multi-sport athlete at Louisiana Tech who for twenty years held the school record for stolen bases. The reservoir has since been converted to He was also a state parkTech football quarterback. Thompson's brother, Michael L. "Mike" Thompson (born February 1, 1949) of Delhi is With his doctorate in professional education from the former executive director University of the reservoir district. On June 26Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, 2008Mississippi, Mike Clyde Thompson along with District Attorney William R. "Billy" Coenen (born July 1, 1947) of the Fifth Judicial District and was a resident of Rayville[6] teacher and engineer Terry Denmon of Monroe were indicted by a federal grand jury coach in Shreveport for having conspired secretly to purchase land along what would become Poverty Point Reservoir several Louisiana high school and then selling the land at an elevated priceLouisiana Tech.In 1975, he became the drug education coordinator for District 8 for the Louisiana Department of Education. In 1980, Republican Governor [9[David C. Treen] The trio is each charged with one count ] named Clyde Thompson, like his brother a Democrat, as the deputy director of conspiracy and eight counts the Louisiana Department of mail fraudTransportation and Development. Mike Thompson is also under indictment for alleged violations He then became the assistant to the president of the Hobbs Act. Thompson is accused State Board of having used district employees Education before he returned to perform personal work for him at Delhi and became the lakedirector of the Madison Parish Port, a position which he held for more than two decades until retirement in 2014. [10]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150074010/clyde-nolan-thompson|title=Clyde Nolan Thompson|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

According to the indictment==Interest in agriculture==In 2000, Thompson, Coenen, and Denmon bought a 5-acre (20,000 m2) tract of land on what would later form the shores was named chairman of the reservoir for $16,800House Agriculture Committee. They reportedly used a nominee purchaser to hide their interest<ref>"Rep. Subsequently, Thompson used his position as executive director to have trees removed from the propertyHead Agriculture Committee". Thompson and Denmon (born May 15Legis.state.la.us, 1944)accessed January 5,[6] whose engineering firm was contracted to work for the district2009.</ref> In 2003, had he authored the property excavated"Master Farmer" program, which the indictment stateslegislature approved without dissent. The tract program was subdivideddeveloped by the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center and sponsored by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. It is an environmental education program designed to help farmers and ranchers identify and adopt best management practices to improve water quality in lakes, streams and six bayous. It involves classroom instruction, field days and implementation of the eight lots sold farm-specific conservation plans to maximize productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Thompson's model program has been proposed for a total of $250,000national acceptance. Coenen is implicated through his role <ref>"Master Farmer program cited as attorney good example for the Poverty Point District as well as being district attorneynation," Deltafarmpress.com., November 12, 2004, accessed January 2, 2010.[10]</ref>

Other political developments==Poverty Point==In 1996During his long legislative career, Thompson ran worked successfully to procure state funding for the open Fifth District seat in the United States House of Representatives. He polled 50Poverty Point Reservoir,144 votes (28 percent) and went into a general election with the Republican ophthalmologist John Cooksey of Monroe3, who led in the jungle primary with 60,853 ballots 000-acre (34 percent12 km2)lake north of Delhi that was completed in 2001. Former UThe reservoir has since been converted to a state park.SThompson's brother, Michael L. Representative Clyde Cecil Holloway "Mike" Thompson (1943-2016) of Rapides Parish trailed in third place with 48born February 1,226 (27 percent1949)of Delhi is the former executive director of the reservoir district.[11] Holloway then endorsed CookseyOn June 26, who defeated 2008, Mike Thompson by a comfortable marginalong with District Attorney William R. Cooksey received 135,990 votes "Billy" Coenen (58 percent) to the more liberal Thompson's 97born July 1,363 (42 percent1947).of the Fifth Judicial District and a resident of Rayville and engineer Terry Denmon of Monroe were indicted by a federal grand jury in [12[Shreveport] Cooksey served three terms before leaving ] for having conspired secretly to purchase land along what would become Poverty Point Reservoir and then selling the Uland at an elevated price.S<ref>"How Much Better Can Louisiana Politics Get?", Louisianaconservative. House early in 2003com. Cooksey's campaign manager, Lee Fletcheraccessed January 5, was thereafter named as his chief 2009.</ref> The trio is each charged with one count of conspiracy and eight counts of staffmail fraud. Fletcher tried to win Mike Thompson is also under indictment for alleged violations of the House seat himself in 2002 but lost Hobbs Act. Thompson is accused of having used district employees to Democrat (later Republican) [[Rodney Alexande]]rperform personal work for him at the lake.<ref name=coenen/>

Though he is a DemocratAccording to the indictment, Thompson broke party ranks in , Coenen, and Denmon bought a 5-acre (20,000 m2) tract of land on what would later form the 2003 gubernatorial primary to support [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate Huntington "Hunt" Downer shores of Houma in Terrebonne Parishthe reservoir for $16, 800. They reportedly used a former state House Speakernominee purchaser to hide their interest. Subsequently, who finished sixth in Thompson used his position as executive director to have trees removed from the balloting though he property. Thompson and Denmon (born May 15, 1944),[6] whose engineering firm was contracted to work for the district, had the support property excavated, the indictment states. The tract was subdivided, and six of the eight lots sold for a cross-section total of state legislators from both parties$250,000.Coenen is implicated through his role as attorney for the Poverty Point District as well as being district attorney.<ref name=coenen>{{cite web|url=https://realreservoirnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/federal-grand-jury-indicts-district.html|title=Federal grand jury indicts district attorney|author=Michael DeVault|publisher=''The Ouachita Citizen''|date=June 26, 2008|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Other political developments==In 20051996, Francis Thompson was inducted into ran for the Louisiana Political Museum open Fifth District seat in the United States House of Representatives. He polled 50,144 votes (28 percent) and Hall went into a general election with the Republican ophthalmologist [[John Cooksey]] of Fame Monroe, who led in Winnfieldthe nonpartisan blanket primary with 60,853 ballots (34 percent).Former U.S. Representative [13[Clyde Holloway]] of Forest Hill in Rapides Parish trailed in third place with 48,226 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana election returns, September 21, 1996," Sos.louisiana.gov., accessed January 2, 2009.</ref> Holloway then endorsed Cooksey, who defeated Thompson by a comfortable margin. Cooksey received 135,990 votes (58 percent) to the more liberal Thompson's 97,363 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana election returns, November 5, 1996, Sos.louisiana.gov, accessed January 2, 2009.</ref> Cooksey served three terms before leaving the U.S. House early in 2003. Cooksey's campaign manager, [[Lee Fletcher]], was thereafter named as his chief of staff. Fletcher tried to win the House seat himself in 2002 but lost to Democrat (later Republican) [[Rodney Alexander]].

As a Democrat, Thompson broke party ranks in the 2003 gubernatorial primary to support the unsuccessful Republican candidate [[Hunt Downer|Huntington Blair "Hunt" Downer, Jr.]] of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, a former United States Army officer and state House Speaker, who finished sixth in the balloting though he had the support of a cross-section of state legislators from both parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/934952/posts|title=References33 State Legislators Announce Support for Hunt Downer (LA Gov)|publisher=[[Free Republic]]|date=June 23, 2003|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

1In 2005, Francis Thompson was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield. a b c d "House District 19<ref>New inductions, Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame,". enlouCityofwinnfield.com. Retrieved January 2, accessed August 22, 2009.</ref> In 2015, he was unopposed for reelection to the Senate.

2. "In 2017, Thompson successfully introduced legislation to name the Louisiana election returnsSchool for Math, October 20Science and the Arts in [[Natchitoches, 2007"Louisiana|Natchitoches]] in honor of the late state Representative Jimmy D. sosLong, who was among those instrumental in establishment of the institution through Long's chairmanship of the House Education Committee.louisiana<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govksla. Retrieved January 2com/story/35592915/house-approves-renaming-louisiana-school-for-math-science-and-the-arts/|title=House approves renaming Louisiana School for Math, 2009.Science and the Arts|publisher=KSLA-TV ([[CBS]] in [[Shreveport]])|date=June 5, 2017|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

3On March 17, 2023, Thompson switched his official party registration to Republican. ''Monroe News<ref>{{cite web|url=https://louisianaradionetwork.com/2023/03/17/lifelong-Stardemocrat-rep-thompson-switches-to-the-republican-party/|title=Lifelong Democrat,'' January 25, 2008Rep.Francis Thompson switches to the Republican Party|publisher=Louisiana Radio Network|author=Brooke Thorington|date= March 17, 2023|accessdate=August 7, 2023}}</ref>

4. ''Monroe News-Star'', November 10, 2007. 5. "Social Security Death Index". ssdi.rootsweb.com. Retrieved January 2, 2010. 6. Thompson won a b c Net Detective, People Search 7. "Rep. Thompson landslide reelection to Head Agriculture Committee". house.legis.the state.la.us. Retrieved January 5House on October 14, 2009. 8. "Master Farmer program cited as good example for nation"2023, November 12against the [[Independent voter|Independent]] candidate, 2004"Norman Davis. deltafarmpressNo Democrat contested the position.com. Retrieved January 2, 2010. 9. ""How Much Better Can Louisiana Politics Get?"". louisianaconservative.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009. 10. a b Coenen, Denmon, Thompson indicted in mail fraudreceived 8, 622 votes (78 percent) to Davis''The News-Star'' 11. "Louisiana election returns, September 21, 1996". sos.louisiana.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2009. 12442 votes (22 percent). "<ref>Louisiana election returnsSecretary of State, November 5Election Returns, 1996". sos.louisiana.gov. Retrieved January 2October 24, 20092023. 13. "Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame". cityofwinnfield.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009.  http:<//www.louisianaconservative.com/?p=33 http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=4610ref>

 [[Category:Former Democrats]][[Category:Republicans]]