Charles W. DeWitt Jr.

Charles W. DeWitt Jr.
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner
Incumbent
Assumed office October 21, 2016
Preceded by	Clyde C. Holloway
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 25 (Rapides and Vernon parishes)
In office March 1980 – January 2008
Preceded by	Wilbur Dyer
Succeeded by	Chris Roy Jr.
Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office 2000–2004
Preceded by	Hunt Downer
Succeeded by	Joe Salter
Personal details
Born	February 4, 1947 Alexandria, Rapides Parish Louisiana, USA
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Patricia "Dale" Riddick DeWitt
Children	Dr. Chance DeWitt Renée DeWitt Verma
Alma mater	Bolton High School
Occupation	Farmer; Rancher
Religion	Roman Catholic

Charles W. DeWitt Jr. (born February 4, 1947), known as Charlie DeWitt, is a Democratic former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having served from District 25 (Rapides and Vernon parishes) from 1980 to 2008. He was the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2000 to 2004 during the second term of Republican Governor Murphy James "Mike" Foster Jr. In Louisiana, the governor plays a major role in selecting the House speaker despite the separation of powers.

DeWitt was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. DeWitt Sr. He graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria in 1965. One of his classmates was another future Louisiana state legislator, Jock Scott, of District 27. The two were also House colleagues from 1980 to 1988, but Scott switched to the GOP in 1985.

DeWitt is married to the former Patricia "Dale" Riddick. A farm-ranch operative, DeWitt is a member of the Cattleman's Association and the coproducer of a rodeo company. Their mailing address is in Lecompte (pronounced LE COUNT) in southern Rapides Parish.

Prior to his legislative service, DeWitt was a member of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the parish's governing board, akin to the county commission in other states, from 1972 to 1980. He was the jury vice president from 1976 to 1978, having served under the president, L. B. Henry of Pineville. He is a member of the Amicus Club and serves on the advisory board of the Alexandria Area Child Protection Agency. He is on the board of directors of the Farm Bureau. He was chairman of the Heart Fund and a former member of the Rapides Parish Stormwater Management and Drainage District.

Early in 2007, DeWitt was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent treatment. The disease was found in an examination conducted by his son, the Alexandria physician Dr. Chance DeWitt. Both of his parents were cancer victims. The recovery rate based on early detection of the cancer is considered very good.

DeWitt was term-limited from seeking a seventh term in the state House in the October 20, 2007 nonpartisan blanket primary. His successor was fellow Democrat Christopher Roy Jr., brother of Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy. Roy defeated Republican Lance Maxwell in the November 17 general election. Maxwell had led in the primary with 6,226 votes (41 percent) to Roy's 5,282 ballots (35 percent). A third candidate, former Alexandria Police Chief Glen Beard, a Democrat, trailed with 3,538 votes (24 percent).

DeWitt stunned the Louisiana political scene in October when he endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal, the outright winner of the primary election. DeWitt is Roman Catholic.

In 2004, DeWitt was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.^[1]

In 2014, DeWitt came out of political retirement to run for Alexandria city marshal, a position in Wards 1, 2, and 8 of Rapides Parish. He entered into a runoff election with incumbent Terence Grines, a fellow Democrat. Other primary candidates were Edward Butler Jr., Steve Edwards, and Beau Meynard, the only Republican in the five-man field.^[2][3] DeWitt narrowly lost the marshal's race to Grimes, 8,566 votes (48.3 percent) to 9,172 (51.7 percent). ^[4] The radio commentator Moon Griffon referred to DeWitt's attempted comeback as another defeat for the "Old Guard" of Louisiana politics.^[5]

On October 21, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards appointed DeWitt to the Louisiana Public Service Commission for District 4, filling the vacancy left by the death of Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway, a Republican. DeWitt is not a candidate in the November 8 general election for the next six-year term on the PSC; the candidates for the seat are Republicans Mike Francis and Reldon Owens and Democrat Mary Werner. DeWitt will complete the term ending on December 31, 2016 which Holloway was elected to in 2010. District 4 covers the following parishes: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Vermilion, and Vernon.^[6]

In 2004, DeWitt was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.

References

1. "Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame". cityofwinnfield.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
2. Richard P. Sharkey. "Late qualifiers spice up races in Rapides Paris". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
3. "Louisiana primary election returns, November 4, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
4. "Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
5. The Moon Griffon Show, December 8, 2014
6. Mark Ballard (October 21, 2016). "Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards names Charlie DeWitt as interim PSC commissioner". The Advocate. Retrieved October 23, 2016.