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District Office
Legislative Assistant : Tonya Collins
Email Michael Jackson
Phone: (225)342-0774
Fax: (225)922-1060
Address: 660 N. Foster, Ste. A-214
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Map
Capitol House Switch Band: (225) 342-6945
Capitol House Fax: (225)342-8336
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- District #: House District 1
- Party: Independent
- Caucus Membership: Capital Region Legislative Delegation
Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus - Occupation: Attorney
- Education: B.A., Southern University;
J.D., Southern University Law Center - Spouse: Stephanie
- Year Elected: 1999
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2012
- 2007 Election
While Jackson ran unopposed in 2003, Jackson faced only token opposition during this most recent election cycle, besting opponent Byron Sharper, a fellow Democrat, by a 2-to-1 margin.
For this upcoming term, look for Jackson to assume a greater role among the leadership of the Black Caucus as well as the Baton Rouge delegation. He is also poised for a possible House leadership position. As for policy, he will focus on ways around the pending Charity Hospital challenge and seek out solutions to the city’s growing traffic and infrastructure problems.
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Registered Voters by Parish: East Baton Rouge 100.0%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: East Baton Rouge 100%
Economic: District 61 consists of portions of residential and commercial patches of mid-city Baton Rouge. It also encompasses most of north Baton Rouge. It is, however, primarily residential. Most residents are technicians and laborers at nearby petrochemical plants or are employed in state or local government. The district also contains older commercial strips along Plank Road and Airline Highway, primarily catering to north Baton Rouge consumers. The portion that includes Mid City is undergoing a revitalization of sorts that has both driven up home prices and created a new arts community.
Social: District 61 is a majority-black district, but its character is not so much inner city as it is middle- and- working-class. There is some poverty here, but there also is a mixture of blue-collar white neighborhoods undergoing racial transition and older neighborhoods experiencing renovation by young professionals. Black voter registration has grown some over the last four years.
Political: With a solid black majority and older, blue-collar voters, the district is overwhelmingly Democratic. Issues like crime, drugs and economic development dominate the political discussion here.
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- Baton Rouge attorney Michael Jackson, a Democrat, easily handles the demands of the office, especially in the area of solving problems of constituents in this inner-city district. Jackson places a high priority on economic development programs to bring new jobs and businesses to this chronically poor district. For example, he campaigned on a pledge to create enterprise zones and give tax credits for programs like Mid-City Redevelopment, which is giving a facelift to the southern portion of his district along Government Street. He has also pursued so-called Brownfield development incentives for the area in the past.
- As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Jackson will have a hand in addressing in the state’s fledgling revenue stream, especially in the 2011 regular session when lawmakers can file tax bills. He’s also interest in legislation that addresses blighted properties and community development.
- A strong supporter of alternative school programs, he would like to see them pursued to address educational problems of at-risk children. Jackson is also one of the more conservative votes in the Black Caucus. As for taxes and gaming issues, Jackson is mixed but leans toward supporting most efforts.
- Most recently, he served as vice chair of the House Insurance Committee. Look for Jackson to be a natural leader in the 2008-2012 legislative terms as he is among the most senior members of the House now that term limits have set in. He has also had a firm footing on the Appropriations Committee and House Health and Welfare Committee, which is where he gained most of his political experience.
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