Vincent Pierre

Vincent Joseph Pierre, usually known as Vince Pierre (born April 1964),^[1] is a former businessman from Lafayette, Louisiana, who is an African-American Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 44. He has since 2012 represented a portion of Lafayette Parish.^[2]

Background

Pierre's place of birth is Lafayette, Louisiana and both of his parents are from Lafayette; he is also of French speaking-Creole ancestry. The family surname Pierre comes from the Languedoc Region of Southern France, it comes from the Greek personal name Petros and the Biblical name Peter meaning Rock or Stone. Pierre's family are devout Christians of the Roman Catholic Faith. His uncle,former Louisiana State Representative Wilfred T. Pierre, held the District 44 seat prior to 2008, when he did not run again and was succeeded by another Democrat, Rickey Hardy. Pierre graduated from the since defunct Historically Roman Catholic parochial school, The Holy Rosary Institute in Lafayette, and then graduated with a degree in Marketing from Southern University A & M's AACSB Accredited College of Business in the capital city of Baton Rouge. Pierre is a Second generation politician, and was also a Second generation businessman in Lafayette. Pierre is a Man of Letters, a Mason, un Homme de Culture, and is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is affiliated with the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Lafayette program, the Boy Scouts of America, Acadiana Youth, Inc., and the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce.^[3]

Pierre and his wife have three sons, twins Joshua and Kyle and the younger son, Luke. Pierre's youngest son Luke attends the French Immersion Program at Prairie Elementary in Lafayette Parish. French culture is very important to Pierre and his family. Pierre's uncle Wilfred T. Pierre is a member of [the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana]. Le CODOFIL a le pouvior de " Faire tout ce qui necessaire pour encourager le developpement, l'utilisation et la Preservation du Francais tel qu'il existe en Louisiae pour le plus grand bien culture, Economique et touristique pour l'etat".^[4] Pierre's dubious opponents in the 2011 campaign accused him of falling behind on his $1,443-per-month child support payments, fathering a child out of wedlock, and resigning from a job with the Louisiana Lottery Corporation amid sexual harassment allegations. Pierre denied the amiss charges but acknowledged in 2011 that he was separated from his wife. He claimed the two work well together in the rearing of their sons and that he had caught up on the back payments. "We're great friends, and she’s in full support of my running for office," he said.^[3] The Louisiana Lottery merely said that Pierre voluntarily resigned from his position.^[3]

After his election, Pierre sought a reduction in his child support payments so that they would fall into line with his legislative salary. He is no longer a partner in a dry cleaning business, as he claimed during the campaign, and the legislative pay became his principal means of support. His former wife said that he could earn more from his marketing degree and noted that he had voluntarily reduced his pay by running for the legislature.^[5]

Pierre is a former resident of Opelousas in St. Landry Parish, also in Southern Louisiana.^[6]

Political life

In 2011, Pierre unseated the one-term incumbent Rickey Hardy, who had led the balloting in the nonpartisan blanket primary. In the general election between the two Democrats, Pierre polled 3,286 votes (53.4 percent) to Hardy's 2,864 (46.6 percent).^[7] In the nonpartisan blanket primary held the preceding month, Hardy had led, 42-40 percent, with a third Democrat, who was eliminated from the race holding the remaining votes.^[8]

Representative Pierre is a member of the House Democratic Caucus, the Legislative Black Caucus, and the Acadiana delegation. He is a member of these House committees: (1) Commerce, (2) Insurance, and (3) Labor and Industrial Relations.^[4] In a news release, Pierre said that he is dedicated to solving problems, rather than partisanship: "It is critical that our district has a representative to fight for their interests at the state level, whether it is for a home rule petition, for a sewer system or fight for local aid."^[3]

Pierre's ratings from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry have ranged from 32 to 67 percent over the years he has been a legislator. In 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 17 percent. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored him 60 and 33 percent, respectively. Louisiana Right to Life in 2013 and 2014 rated him 100 and 80 percent, respectively. Pierre ranks 100 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators.^[9] Pierre voted in 2014 to require that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinic; only five House members voted against the measure. He voted to extend the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He voted against the requirement that companies must give public notice of proposed hydraulic fracking. He voted to halt the transportation of dogs in open truck beds on interstate highways. He voted for the repeal the anti-sodomy laws; the measure failed in the House, 27-67. He voted against the concealed carry of weapons in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages.^[10]

In 2013, he voted against permanent concealed-carry permits and favored making information on the permits a matter of the public record. He voted for judicial pay increases and for removing the mandatory retirement age of judges. Pierre voted to reduce the penalties for marijuana possession; the measure passed the House, 54-38.^[10]

In 2012, Pierre co-sponsored parole eligibility for non-violent offenders. He voted against tax incentives to recruit a National Basketball Association team to Louisiana and opposed state income tax deductions to taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. He voted against the requirement that welfare recipients undergo periodic testing for use of narcotics. He opposed reducing the number of hours that polling stations remain open; Louisiana traditionally has had 14-hour election days. He voted to forbid telephone use while driving. Pierre opposed changes to the teacher tenure law.In the belief of Dum tempus habemus,operemur bonum .^[10]

References