Rep. Simon, Scott M. (R)
District# 74, Abita Springs

• District # 74: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
• Occupation: Residential/Commercial designer and planner - self employed
• Education: John Ehret High School; M.A. Architecture, Tulane University, 2005
• Spouse: Connie
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
In the 2007 primary election, Republican Simon faced a field of four other candidates vying to fill the seat left empty by mike Strain to run a successful campaign for Agriculture Commissioner. Simon almost won the election in the primary, as he garnered forty-nine percent of the votes. Making the runoff with Simon was Republican Adam Ackel. Ackel withdrew from the runoff race just under two weeks after the primary election, which allowed Simon to be elected automatically. Simon was endorsed by the Times-Picayune and the Alliance for Good Government along with many of the district’s elected officials including St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain. Simon supports LA 1 Ethics and Blueprint Louisiana.

• Louisiana Map
• District Map
• Metro Map
• Economic: District 74 includes parts of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. It experienced a dramatic increase in population after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. Before Hurricane Katrina, this district was already one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Historically, it has consisted of primarily rural areas with some subdivision developments, but new construction for residential neighborhoods has experienced a significant increase. In the flat lands of Tangipahoa and Washington parishes, there are mostly piney forests and farm lands with a good number of timber industry and dairy farm employees. In the northern portions of St. Tammany parish, horse breeding and training industries provide careers for some citizens. Many of the residents commute to work in the southern part of St. Tammany or in New Orleans. Nearby Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond also employs some of the district’s residents.
• Social: Most of this district’s rural residents are white, and there are only small concentrations of African American voters. Historically a blue-collar district, the number of white-collar residents has increased as more upscale subdivisions are developed.
• Political: Very conservative, this district rarely sees non-GOP candidates get elected. Governor Bobby Jindal did extremely well in this district in both the 2003 and 2007 elections.

• Courage, commitment and common sense are the traits that Scott Simon has always possessed throughout his life so he decided make them the center of his campaign. Twelve years ago, heavy equipment broke loose on a work site and hit Simon, breaking his back and severing his spine, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.
• Simon earned his master’s degree in architecture and opened up his own successful residential and commercial designing and planning business. He is very active in his church and his community, having received awards ranging from being honored by the Archdiocese of New Orleans with the St. Louis Medallion to the Citizen of the Year in Abita Springs.
• Carrying his life’s traits and his campaign slogan into his tenure as the state representative for District 74, Simon plans to serve with courage, commitment and common sense. His three main priorities are ethics reform for politicians, insurance reform for Louisiana citizens and road and infrastructure improvements for his district. Simon wants to cut taxes and spur economic growth; he believes that tax dollars should focus on the core responsibilities of government – crime prevention, high-quality education and road and infrastructure improvements.
• Simon has tackled a number of issues in his short lawmaking career, but cracking down on litterers may be his next headline-grabbing topic. Specifically, he wants to address the bulk of printed materials that are often attached to windshields or windshield wipers. He’s also a believer in the panel process of gathering opinions and believes the state’s Medical Education Commission should be expanded and has requested that the Louisiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects create a universal design advisory group.