Rep. Lopinto, Joseph P (R)
District# 80, Metairie

• District # 80: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Jefferson Parish Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
• Occupation: Attorney
  
• Education: Loyola University School of Law, J.D.
• Spouse: Lauren
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
Joe Lopinto faced Glenn Lee, nephew of the late Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, in the primary election. An attorney and businessman, Lopinto defeated Lee with nearly sixty percent of the vote. Lopinto was endorsed by the Times-Picayune, the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee, the Alliance for Good Government and the Conservative Civic Council.

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• Economic: District 80 is located in central Metairie. Many residents of Metairie, New Orleans and other surrounding cities flock to this district for shopping, dining and business. It is home to and Clearview mall and many major chain retailers, restaurants and corporate offices along Causeway Boulevard and Veterans Boulevard. The effects of Hurricane Katrina on this district were primarily limited to wind damage with electricity, water and sewer being off for a considerable amount of time.
• Social: Over the past couple of decades, Metairie has come to have most of the same social and cultural events as the city of New Orleans; therefore, many residents remain in the district for such events, whereas others still commute to the city. Metairie’s Mardi Gras celebration has become very large and popular providing a huge boost to the economy. There are two distinctly different social groups in this district that are divided by Interstate 10. Upper-middle to upper-income business executives and professionals live north of the interstate. Middle-class, white-collar workers live in modest neighborhoods south of the interstate.
• Political: This district, with almost ninety percent of residents being white, is overwhelmingly conservative. GOP candidates do extremely well in this district and know not to support taxes, but rather to support crime protection and transportation infrastructure.

• Joe Lopinto faced Glenn Lee, nephew of the late Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, in the primary election. An attorney and businessman, Lopinto defeated Lee with nearly sixty percent of the vote. Lopinto was endorsed by the Times-Picayune, the Jefferson Republican Parish Executive Committee, the Alliance for Good Government and the Conservative Civic Council.
• Lopinto is a lifelong resident of District 80. He worked as a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy for eight years while putting himself through law school. A political newcomer, Lopinto serves as a board member and treasurer of the North Bridgedale Civic Improvement Organization and is an active member of the St. Edwards Association of Men.
• Lopinto’s campaign platform included the following: improving coastal protection and restoration, demanding real insurance reform, having better crime protection, increasing government fiscal accountability, repealing the Stelly Plan, promoting quality public education, revamping the health care system and having higher standards for elected officials.
• Lopinto is a trusted voice on the House Criminal Justice Committee and will author legislation in 2010 that makes criminal background checks portable in certain cases involving children and changes how persons with outstanding arrest warrants are released back into the public.
• Lopinto favors a bill that would let parishes and states band together to bargain for more affordable auto and homeowners insurance, similar to a bill by former Senator Art Lentini that passed the Senate but failed in the House in the 2007 session. He supports an increase in the homestead exemption from $75,000 to $125,000. He is likely to introduce legislation to completely repeal the Stelly plan and to create an income tax deduction for elementary and secondary private and parochial school tuition, up to a maximum of $5,000. The latter was vetoed by Governor Blanco in 2007.