Ivy Graham
Ivy Graham (Republican Party) ran for election to the Louisiana House of Representatives to represent District 71. She lost in the primary on October 12, 2019.
Graham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Graham was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University and the Southern University Law Center. Since 2009, she has owned and operated her own law firm. She is an attorney. She is affiliated with the following organizations (as of 2019):
- Livingston Parish Library Board, board member
- TARC, board member
- Rotary Club of Livingston Parish, past president, past assistant governor, and current member
- Baton Rouge Association of Women Attorneys, board member
- Louisiana State Bar Association, House Delegate
- 21st JDC Bar Association, current member
- Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, current member.[1]
Elections
2019
See also: Louisiana House of Representatives elections, 2019
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
General election for Louisiana House of Representatives District 71
Buddy Mincey Jr. defeated Lori Callais in the general election for Louisiana House of Representatives District 71 on November 16, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Buddy Mincey Jr. (R) | 76.7 | 9,559 | |
 | Lori Callais (D)  | 23.3 | 2,903 | |
| Total votes: 12,462 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 71
Buddy Mincey Jr. and Lori Callais defeated Jonathan Davis, Ivy Graham, and Robert Poole in the primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 71 on October 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Buddy Mincey Jr. (R) | 45.5 | 5,230 | |
| ✔ | | Lori Callais (D) | 15.1 | 1,736 |
| Jonathan Davis (R) | 14.8 | 1,705 | ||
| Ivy Graham (R) | 12.6 | 1,448 | ||
| Robert Poole (R) | 12.0 | 1,381 | ||
| Total votes: 11,500 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ivy Graham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Graham's responses.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Many Livingston Parish residents were harmed by unethical contractors after the Great Flood. I believe we need to reform these laws by possibly enforcing stronger penalties for valid residential contractor complaints, restricting or limiting residential liens, make the contractor liable when payments are not made to subcontractors, and/or increase criminal penalties. Accountability for our tax dollars. Much of Louisiana's budget it dedicated to existing funds. These funds have very little oversight on how our tax dollars are spent. This must change! Creating a check and balance system for these dedications should address medicaid fraud, find additional funding for infrastructure, and potentially highlight new places to cut spending.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I admire many people throughout history for their ability to overcome adversities and their accomplishments. But the only true "hero" I have ever had is my grandmother. She came from a large family; not uncommon for those times. A large family of very distinct personalities. This often led to amusing family stories. My grandmother worked in a factory during WWII and was quite proud of her service. After the war she met my grandfather. They married and had babies. She took exceptional care of her family. One of my aunt's contracted Scarlet Fever as a baby as was left forever changed. My grandmother made sure she lived in a loving household and never wanted for anything. My grandmother had a loving heart, but an outsider may not have known this because she was SO feisty. She had a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind. She was a perfectionist and quite bossy. I loved her for these qualities as well. I learned a lot of my faith from her; not because she taught it but because she lived it. My only regret is never sharing with her how much I looked up to her when she was still with us.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
I cannot recall a book, essay or film that explains my political philosophy. I believe we live in the greatest country in the world and the American dream is possible for those willing to work for it.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, Integrity, Transparency
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
The same qualities that have led me to establish a successful law firm will make me a successful State Representative. I am very hard working and task oriented. I ask questions of others to learn from their experiences but I also do my own research and think for myself. I understand the importance of client communication. Client or constituent, the communication is the same. People want to know what is going on, what to expect next, and what are their options. I can bring my knowledge and experience as a communicator to the office of State Representative. The other key element of my law firm is a focus on resolutions. Often Clients have children together. This means they still have to deal with one other after the case is complete. The goal is to reach an agreement in which all parties contributed. This focus on cooperative agreements is directly transferable to the office of State Representative.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To represent the people of their districts; be their voice
What legacy would you like to leave?
It is not a personal legacy I would like to leave but rather a dream for a better Louisiana. The aspiration for improvement in Louisiana. My goal would be to move Louisiana from the bottom of every list to with in the top ten. From education to Job growth, Louisiana will have the components and reforms to be at the top of every list.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Challenger explosion. 5 years old
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Roy's Superette. Summer job
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Never-ending Story. It was the first book I read and learned the movies are truly different than the book. It taught me to acknowledge there are always different perspectives in any situation
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I have read many books and fallen in love with numerous characters. However, there has never been a character that I have wanted to be. I think simply being me, Ivy Graham, is a great adventure and I look forward to continuing the journey as a state legislature.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
(You make me feel like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My dad was a small business owner and now I am a small business owner. I saw my dad struggle with his business because of regulation and I have definitely struggled due to government over reach and over regulation. I would like to make it easier for small business owners to achieve their goals with out our government holding them back.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
The House of Representatives is the idea side. This side has proposed and pushed new solutions to old and new problems. The Senate is the steadfast side. This side has the task of looking at proposed solutions and deciding if they are relevant, practical, and feasible.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
I can see the benefit in having experience. Experience means you have knowledge of how things work and can navigate the system from day one. I can see the benefit of not having experience. It means you may see more creative solutions because you are not indoctrinated to a specific school of thought.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Tax Reform. Growth. Infrastructure
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Both have separate jobs to do but both need each other as well to improve Louisiana. The legislators need the Governor to demand accountability from the departments. The Governor needs the legislators to pass reformative legislation. When communication between these offices breaks down, Louisiana suffers. This is something both offices should constantly work on.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes. One legislator can do almost nothing. You need others to support your ideas and bills to get anything passed. It is fosters discussion which creates better legislation.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Judicial, Appropriations, Transportation
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
My goal is to find where I can contribute the most to improve Livingston Parish and Louisiana
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
no.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Not at this time. I am focused on the position of State Representative to help improve Louisiana
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
A lady came to me and stated she knew why the laws were written against the people. Its because the legislators only listen to special interest groups/lobbyist and the citizens don't have lobbyist at the legislator. This broke my heart because she forgot what her vote met. Her vote is for her Representative. A person she chose to represent her in Baton Rouge. To protect her interests from those very same lobbyist. She should be upset that her representative failed her - not that she does not have a lobbyist
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 2, 2019
