Russell Autry
Russell Autry (Republican Party) ran for election to the Louisiana House of Representatives to represent District 84. He lost in the primary on October 12, 2019.
Autry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Autry was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Christian. He obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of New Orleans. He has been a self-employed business owner since he was 21 years old. He is affiliated with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Young Life, and the Community Center for Life.[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.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 84
Timothy Kerner Sr. won election outright against Chris Breaux, Russell Autry, and Don Carmardelle in the primary for Louisiana House of Representatives District 84 on October 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Timothy Kerner Sr. (R) | 51.3 | 5,607 | |
 | Chris Breaux (R)  | 24.4 | 2,669 | |
| Russell Autry (R) | 18.9 | 2,062 | ||
 | Don Carmardelle (R) | 5.3 | 582 | |
| Total votes: 10,920 | |||
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Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Russell Autry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Autry's responses.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Keeping and attracting a young workforce. Vocational and job training in High Schools. Lowering Tax burden on working class folks. Rebuilding our coast through sediment diversion and dredging. Lowering Insurance costs to bring businesses back to Louisiana,
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to my dad Pastor James Autry. He has been not only a great father and pastor, but also a true friend. He inspires me be more kind, patient, understanding, and forgiving. He taught me how to be a hard worker and put others first.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Matthew 5. The Beatitudes.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Compassion and Integrity.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
The ability to: listen to others; convince others that my ideas are better; get others to adopt my own ideas and goals as their own; and build a team of followers that will passionately work to achieve those goals. I have the ability to: organize volunteers, lead professionals, and guide leaders.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Put The Folks First.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Lower insurance costs in Louisiana. Increase wages in Louisiana. Lower Sales Tax in Louisiana. Rebuild Louisiana Coastline.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I remember when President Reagan got shot. I was about 6.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I sold Watkins Products door to door starting at age 11. I continued that until I started a lawn care business at age 14.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Cat in the Hat - Because it reminds me of reading to my kids when they were very little. We read that book hundreds of times.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Simba - he finally chose to be who he was.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Destiny's Child, "Survivor" - forever stuck
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
2008-2012 I struggled with a failing business location. I finally closed it with over $300,000 in debt. In 2012 I filed Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. I paid back over $200,000. I struggled for 8 years before my businesses turned a corner. Today both restaurants are stronger than ever.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Our State Senate is more tightly controlled by lobbyists and special interests. Our State House of Representatives is mostly new and less politically controllable because of term limits.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
No. It is best to have less political experience. Legislators should be more like citizens. Leaders in the community but not tied to political machines.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Coastal Restoration. Keeping young workers. Reducing government waste.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Ideally you want have respect. It can not become a game of winning and losing where one side is ONLY looking to score points or WIN. Compromise has become a LOSS.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes. Legislators need to have a reputation that they will keep their word. All legislators should be seen as equals. Legislators should be open minded and not swayed by special interests or lobbyists unless they know its what constituents want.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I would like to be on the Insurance Committee.
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?
NO
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Patrick Connick has done a great job for our district.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
NO
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?
As I was canvassing one day, a constituent told me the story of her mentally ill son. She said - 13 years ago he was a customer in my restaurant one day and I was kind to him and prayed with him. Her son told her that I had inspired him because he was having a bad day. Only a few months after that he was struck by a car and killed. His mother still carried the scripture verse card that I had given her son. He had it in his pocket when he was killed. She said that her and her husband would vote for me because I cared about EVERYONE. I will never forget that.
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
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook page
- Campaign Twitter page
- Campaign Instagram page
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 3, 2019
