Rep.Johnson, Robert A.

House Member

Rep. Johnson, Robert A. (D)
District# 28, Marksville

Contact Information

District Office
Legislative Assistant : Maria Trichell
Email Robert A.Johnson
Phone: (318)253-8891
Fax: (318)253-6377
Address: P.O. Box 467
Marksville, LA 71351
Map
Capitol House Switch Band: (225) 342-6945
Capitol House Fax: (225)342-8336

Profile

- District #: House District 1
- Party: Democrat
- Caucus Membership: Acadiana Delegation, Democratic Caucus
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
- Occupation: Attorney
- Education: Loyola University, B.A., Political Science, 1997;
  University of Vienna Law School in Austria, International Legal Systems Studies, 1999;
  Loyola University School of Law, J.D., 2000
- Spouse: Single
- Year Elected: 2007
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
- 2007 Election
  Johnson faced three other candidates for the House District 28 seat in the October primary and secured a spot in the runoff with a 53 vote lead over his nearest opponent, Avoyelles Parish Police Juror Kirby Roy III. Like Johnson, Roy also had faced Monica Walker in her successful 2002 bid to replace longtime legislator Charlie Riddle. In the November general election, Johnson won the seat by nearly 800 votes over Roy.

District Profile

Registered Voters by Parish: Avoyelles 100.0%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: Bunkie, Cottonport, Evergreen, Hessmer, Mansura, Marksville, Moreauville, Plaucheville, Simmesport
- Louisiana Map
- District Map
- Metro Map
Economic: District 28 consists entirely of Avoyelles Parish. The prairie-like, alluvial plain of this parish provides ample and fertile farm land. Soybeans, sweet potatoes and some cotton, corn and crawfish are harvested here. But the parish moved away from its traditional agricultural revenue base in the mid-1990s, with the opening of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe’s casino-hotel complex, now known as Paragon Casino and Resort. Located just outside Marksville, the facility underwent an expansion in 2007 and now bills itself as a resort with spas, indoor pools and other luxuries. It draws gamblers from throughout Louisiana and east Texas and employs about 1,200 people. The casino’s location in Marksville marked the beginning of boom times for the central Louisiana town.

Social: Despite shifts away from its agricultural economy, Avoyelles Parish has retained its flavor as a true cultural crossroads. Here, the distinct cultures of south and north merge and it’s not unusual to find households that mix the strong Catholic and French influences of Acadiana with the Protestant and Anglo-Saxon roots of north Louisiana.

Political: With a sizeable black population and traditional south Louisiana sensibilities, this is a district a Democrat can depend on. Its socially conservative Catholic population and fiscally responsible north Louisiana influences make it a place where a moderate Republican could do well also.

Biography

- Robert Johnson twice faced Monica Walker at the polls. The first time was in a special election called to fill the unexpired term of incumbent Rep. Charlie Riddle, who resigned to become district attorney of the 12th Judicial District. Walker and Johnson led a crowded field and moved into the runoff, where Walker eked out a tight victory over the young Marksville attorney.
- In that election, Johnson stressed the need for educational reforms and intensified economic development efforts – two themes he repeated when he ran again for the House District 28 seat in 2007 after Walker announced she wouldn’t seek re-election. During the campaign, Johnson also pledged infrastructure improvements and business-friendly policies.
- Johnson’s contributions to the panels overseeing House Committee on Civil Law are notable and he passed a bill in 2009 changing the way income is determined for support purposes. In the past, he has also advocated for special tax credits for certain service providers during emergency situations and for the state to participate in the Federal Railroad Safety Program.
- Active in the Marksville community, where he practices law, Johnson is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the chamber of commerce, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
- He has been a proponent for the Avoyelles Parish teen court and served as a judge in the program.