Rep. Burns, Henry L.

House Member

Rep. Burns, Henry L. (D)
District# 9, Haughton

Contact Information

District Office
Legislative Assistant : Dodie Horton
Email Burns, Henry L.
Phone: (318)949-2463
Fax: (318)949-5019
Address: 954 Hwy. 80
Suite 400
Haughton, LA 71037
Map
Capitol House Switch Band: (225) 342-6945
Capitol House Fax: (225)342-8336

Profile

- District #: House District 1
- Party: Republican
- Caucus Membership: Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
- Occupation: Owner/operator - Wooden Spoon Bakery of Bossier City; thoroughbred owner/breeder
- Education: Northwestern State University, B.A. Upper Elementary Education;
  Pepperdine University, M.A., School Administration
- Spouse: Lynette
- Year Elected: 2007
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
- 2007 Election
  The 2007 primary was the first contested race for the House District 9 seat since 1991, when incumbent Rep. Billy Montgomery easily turned back a single challenger. Montgomery was re-elected without opposition in his final three races, in 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 2007 race to replace the term-limited incumbent, Henry Burns slipped past opponent “Richey” Jackson by a scant 87 votes.

District Profile

Registered Voters by Parish: Bossier 100.0%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: Benton, Bossier City, Eastwood, Haughton, Plain Dealing, Red Chute
- Louisiana Map
- District Map
- Metro Map
Economic: District 9 is made up of suburban and rural Bossier Parish. Although the area does not boast many major employers, it receives a huge impact from those just outside its borders. The biggest is Barksdale Air Force Base, where base personnel live in residential neighborhoods of south Bossier City, Benton and Haughton. Riverboat casinos in Bossier City provide a booming business along the Red River with hotels and other businesses that serve them. In the rural areas of the district, there is a vibrant and lucrative forestry industry. Another major employer and revenue source is Louisiana Downs, home to horse racing and a casino.

Social: Residents range from comfortably middle class in the suburban areas of Bossier City, Benton and Haughton to the families living in the rural areas of the district.

Political :There is little organized labor in the district and voters here – the majority of which are white and Democratic – tend to favor candidates who espouse social and fiscal conservative views. Residents tend to favor Republican candidates in statewide and federal elections, but vote Democratic in local races. The region’s school system, a major employer in the area as in many rural parishes, is very politically relevant and candidates attempt to cast themselves as pro-education as much as possible.

Biography

- Two men with long ties to education in Bossier Parish were candidates in the October 2007 House District 9 race. “Richey” Jackson spent 33 years as a coach and teacher at Bossier High School and eight years as director of the school district’s truancy program. He lost the race to the “Cookie Man,” Henry Burns, a four-term member of the Bossier school board and owner of the Wooden Spoon bakery.
- Burns has become a leading voice for the oil and gas industry and in 2009 passed a law extending the validity of state drilling permits, allowing producers more time to turn a profit and make a find.
- During his campaign, Burns – appreciating the strong influence of educators on the district’s political landscape – touted his support of raising salaries for teachers and support workers while a member of the Bossier school board. He also pushed for partnerships between high schools, technical schools and community colleges to encourage work force and vocational development.
- Burns advocated the completion of Interstate 49 to the Arkansas border. His campaign included a strong ethics reform package and he endorsed the Blueprint Louisiana reform agenda. “If I get rich going to Baton Rouge,” Burns told a reporter, “send me home.”