Rep. Smiley, Jr., M.J. "Mert" (R)
District# 88, Port Vincent

• District # 88: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Acadiana Delegation
  Capital Region Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
• Occupation: Independent Automobile Dealer
• Education: East Ascension High School, 1969; Ford Marketing Institute, 1984
• Spouse: Ina
• Year Elected: 2003
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2016
• 2007 Election
  State representative M.J. “Mert” Smiley returns to District 88 after running unopposed.
  

• Louisiana Map
• District Map
• Metro Map
• Economic: District 88 was reapportioned in 2000 to reflect shifts in the state’s population. This district consists of parts if the fast-growing suburban Metro Baton Rouge parishes of Livingston and Ascension. The district includes most of Livingston south of I-12 and the eastern part of Ascension north of I-10. Housing developments in this area are filling up with residents who commute to business, governmental or administrative jobs in Baton Rouge or to jobs in the many refineries and petro-chemical plants. Good schools and a country lifestyle are attracting city dwellers from Baton Rouge to both parishes.
• The area borders Lake Maurepas and is crisscrossed with rivers and canals. It’s popular with boaters, fishermen and hunters and camps of all qualities line the district’s waterways. The eastern side of the district includes the historic village of Springfield and is enjoying some development which is spilling over from the growth in Tangipahoa Parish. The rural areas of the district are heavily wooded, and timber is a large business in the district. There is little industrial or commercial operations in the district, the western part of the district, closest to Baton Rouge, is the scene of most of the development, especially near Sorrento in Ascension and south to Walker in Livingston.
• Social: The district is overwhelmingly white. Most residents are working class, with some rural poor, but the district is attracting more white-collar residents as the suburban development continues.
• Political: The populace is conservative people concerned about the size of government and the tax burden needed to fund that government. Almost two-thirds of the registered voters are registered Democrats, but recent elections have been fairly evenly split.

• Sate representative M.J. “Mert” Smiley returns to District 88 after running unopposed. He indicates he will continue to push for ethics reform and that with new faces in the Legislature changes in financial disclosure will come.
• As vice chairman of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, he’ll have a front row seat for the upcoming redistricting process. Also expect Smiley to continue his mission of eliminating inactive boards and commissions, and in securing all-important transportation dollars for his district.
• He has a financially conservative record, voting to repeal the Stelly plan and tax increases in general. He has won passage of legislation to reduce state government by eliminating more then 50 boards and commissions and promises to continue those efforts in his next term. He has voted to give business and industry tax incentives that will allow them to compete on a national and international level. He is also a strong supporter of education and has voted for pay raises for teachers and support staff.
• In his campaign he reminded voters that Louisiana spends more money per pupil than anyone and still ranks near the bottom in effectiveness. Rep. Smiley also helped enact legislation that will provide $17 million to the River Parishes Community College which will improve its campus and better serve the residents of the surrounding parishes.