Rep. Templet, Ricky J. (R)
District# 85, Gretna

• District # 85: House District 1
• Party: Republican
• Caucus Membership: Jefferson Parish Legislative Delegation
  Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
• Occupation: Food service/Catering
  
• Education: West Jefferson High School
• Spouse: Christine
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
  Ricky Templet handily defeated fellow Republican Billy Arnold by a margin of three to one in the runoff. He was endorsed by his predecessor State Representative Joe Toomy and many other parish and local elected officials.
  

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• Economic: District 85 is located on the west bank of Jefferson parish, and it includes the city of Gretna. This district incurred a lot of damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but most of the residents still live in the district and have repaired their homes. Using the Crescent City Connection, many residents commute to jobs on the east bank of the Mississippi River. Some residents are employed within the district in shopping centers, small businesses and offices that are located along the West Bank Expressway. Others find jobs within the commercial-industrial strips on the Mississippi River in petroleum tank farms and light industrial shops. Government offices, law firms and related businesses employ many residents in Gretna, the parish seat of Jefferson.
• Social: There are several wealthy neighborhoods in the southern portion of this district, which include Timberlane, Bellemeade, Stonebridge and Woodland West. There are also some low-income families that live along the river.
• Political: Voters in this district are concerned with improving flood protection and transportation and reducing crime. Although the district is becoming increasingly conservative, gaming is favored in this district. There are a significant number of African American voters who tend to give a little balance to the district. However, Republican candidates fair better than Democrats.

• Ricky J. Templet owns and operates two food-catering businesses in Gretna. His family is certified for foster care of children in need. Involved in many civic associations, Templet was the founding member and past president of the Gretna Economic Development Association and the Gretna Heritage Festival. A lifelong resident of the west bank of the Mississippi River, Templet never left for Hurricane Katrina, and he worked tirelessly to help law enforcement and citizens with recovery efforts.
• Both LABI and AFL-CIO endorsed Templet along with the Alliance for Good Government and several other associations. Templet supports the Blueprint Louisiana plan. No stranger to government, Rickey Templet was elected unopposed in 2001 and 2005 to serve as a Gretna City Councilman.
• Templet’s top three priorities are law enforcement, flood mitigation and insurance. He will be an advocate for law enforcement agencies by requesting the establishment of budgets that sufficiently provide salaries and resources to effectively fight and reduce crime and incarcerate criminals. Templet plans to examine and institute proactive measures to protect citizens from future floods by ensuring that levees and flood mitigation projects truly protect citizens. With plans to sponsor legislation to create an environment that will encourage insurance providers to offer insurance at competitive rates, Templet hopes to revive business and residential development on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
• As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Templet 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. Criminal procedure is another area of impact, as evidence by his 2009 law that increased penalties for the battery and assault of a school teacher.