Simone Champagne

Simone Champagne
Louisiana House Of Representatives District 49
Incumbent
In office
2008-Present
Term ends
January 11, 2016
Years in position	5
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$16,800/year
Per diem	$6,000/year for expenses; $149/day per diem
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 19, 2011
First elected	November 17, 2007
Next election	November 3, 2015
Term limits	3 terms (12 years)
Websites
Office website

Simone Champagne is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. She has represented the 49th District since 2008. Champagne was a Republican candidate in the Louisiana State Senate, District 22, special election. However, she was defeated by Fred Mills, Jr. (R).

Champagne is a member of the Acadiana Delegation, Democratic Caucus, and Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, and is Vice Chair of the Louisiana Rural Caucus.

In 2010, Champagne switched parties from Democrat to Republican. According to Champagne, "I have concluded after much discussion and prayer that I can no longer affiliate myself with a party that does not reflect my core values and beliefs. ... I must align myself with the party that most closely represents my vision for the 49th (House) District and the future of this great state."

Committee assignments

2012-2013

In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Champagne served on the following committees:

• Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development
• Appropriations
• Education
• Joint Legislative Budget Committee
• House Committee on Homeland Security
• Joint Committee on Homeland Security
• Select Committee on Hurricane Recovery

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Champagne served on the following committees:

• Appropriations Committee, Louisiana House of Representatives

• Subcommittee on General Government Committee, Louisiana House of Representatives

• Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Louisiana State Legislature
• Capital Outlay
• Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Louisiana House of Representatives

2009-2010

• Appropriations
• Joint Legislative Budget Committee
• Municipal
• Natural Resources and Environment
• Subcommittee on General Government

Campaign themes

2011

On her campaign site, Champagne emphasizes several key policy positions and campaign themes:

• Rebuilding: "Rebuilding Delcambre, Erath, Henry, Lydia, Rynella and all rural areas of Iberia and Vermilion Parishes affected by Hurricane Rita, to restore their quality of life but also give their communities safer, sustainable futures...Maintain and support our sugar industry."

• Development: "Support expansion projects at the Port of Iberia and Twin Parish Port furnishing job opportunities and coastal protection...The development of Eagle Point Park which will help sustain the economy and spark growth throughout the area."

• Infrastructure: "Support infrastructure needs at Acadiana Regional Airport which will furnish economic growth not only in the District but the entire area...Continue the effort of 4-laning Canal Street in Jeanerette...Widening of LA 675 for safety and aiding in the evacuation efforts of the district."

• Support Local Industry: "Maintain and support our sugar industry...Protect our salt domes and the people who live around them...Support and protect our fisheries, culture, recreation and tourism."

• Legislative Agenda: "On the state level, address roads, insurance, health care, education, and coastal restoration...Support strong statewide Ethics Reform."

Elections

2011

General election

See also: Louisiana House of Representatives elections, 2011

On October 22, 2011, Champagne won re-election to District 61 of the Louisiana House of Representatives. She defeated John Bering (R) and Larry Rader (D) in the October 22 primary. Because Louisiana uses a blanket primary system, a candidate can be declared the overall winner of the seat by garnering 50 percent +1 of the vote in the primary.

Louisiana House of Representatives, District 49 Blanket Primary, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Simone Champagne Incumbent	69.5%	7,028
	Democratic	Larry Rader	21.1%	2,135
	Republican	John Bering	9.4%	956
Total Votes				10,119

Special election

See also: State legislative special elections, 2011

Champagne was defeated by Fred Mills, Jr. in the District 22 special election for the Louisiana State Senate. The special election primary took place on January 22. All candidates, regardless of affiliation, appeared on the ballot. Since Mills received more than 50% of the votes, the election did not proceed to a run-off.

Louisiana State Senate District 22 Special Election (2011)
Candidates		Votes
Fred Mills, Jr. (R)		12,812
Simone B. Champagne (R)		4,040
David Groner (I)		2,534
Armond Schwing (R)		1,644
Ruben LeBlanc (I)		208
Ken Squires (R)		172

2007

Champagne was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2007 as a Democratic candidate. She ran unopposed.

Louisiana House of Representatives General Election, District 49 (2007)
Candidates		Votes
Simone Champange (D)		N/A

Campaign donors

2011

In 2011, Champagne received $123,611 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

Louisiana House of Representatives 2011 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Simone Champagne's campaign in 2011
Republican Legislative Delegation Campaign Cmte Of Louisiana	$10,000
Louisiana Manufacturers Association	$4,000
Grigsby, Todd W	$2,500
St Mary Sugar Co-Operative Inc	$2,500
Graugnard, Milton G	$2,500
Total Raised in 2011	$123,611
Total Votes received in 2011	7,028
Cost of each vote received	$17.59

2007

In 2007, a year in which Champange was up for election, she collected $58,871 in donations.

Her four largest contributors in 2007 were:

Donor	Amount
West PAC	$5,000
Gary & Simone Champagne	$2,500
Royal Engineers & Consultants	$1,500
Stephen Falterman	$1,200

Contact

Address:

Simone Champagne Campaign

P.O. Box 389

Jeanerette, LA 70544

Email: sbchampagne@gmail.com

External links

Suggest a link

• Campaign Site
• Campaign Facebook Profile
• Louisiana House of Representatives - Simone Champagne
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions: 2009, 2007

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Louisiana House of Representatives District 49 2008–present	Succeeded by NA