David Baria

David Baria
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 122nd district
Assumed office
January 2012 (2012-January)
Preceded by J. P. Compretta
Personal details
Born (1962-12-04) December 4, 1962
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Marcie Fyke
Children Three
Residence Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Alma mater University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.)
University of Mississippi (J.D.)
Religion Episcopal

David Baria (born December 4, 1962) is an American politician, attorney, and contractor. Baria is a Democratic member of the Mississippi House of Representatives representing the 122nd district. Baria was a member of the Mississippi Senate before he replaced the retiring J. P. Compretta's seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Baria is the Chairman of the NCSL Gulf and Atlantic States Task Force. He is also a member of the National Conference of Environmental Legislators, Bay St. Louis Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Leadership Hancock County, Mississippi Bar, and a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.[1] The Board of United Policyholders, a renowned national advocacy group for insureds, recently elected Baria to their Board of Directors.

Early life and education

Baria earned his Bachelor's in Criminal Justice at the University of Southern Mississippi and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Mississippi Senate

In 2007, Baria was elected to the Mississippi Senate. He attributes his initial call to public service to seeing and experiencing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. Baria represented the 46th District from 2008-2011. The American Lung Association and the American Federation of Teachers awarded Baria with selective legislative awards for his work in the Senate.[2]

Mississippi House of Representatives

Baria ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives seat in 2011, and defeated his challenger. Baria filled the spot of J. P. Compretta. Baria represents District 122, Hancock. Baria is a member of six different committees: Agriculture, Gaming, Judiciary A, Judiciary En Banc, Marine Resources, and Ports, Harbors, and Airports. Baria was selected as one of three Democratic Floor Leaders for the Mississippi House Democratic Caucus in 2012.[3] After a contentious election in 2015, David Baria was reelected to represent District 122.

Endorsements

Baria has received a variety of endorsements for his candidacy. Some noteworthy endorsements include: J. P. Compretta, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Nurses Association, Mississippi Police Benevolent Association, Inc., Mississippi Association of Educators Fund, and the NRA's Political Victory Fund.

Controversy

During Baria's 2011 Mississippi House of Representatives campaign, the Advance Mississippi PAC, a proponent of the Republican candidate, Dorothy Wilcox, sent out direct-mail campaign material with inaccurate information about his voting record. The PAC falsely accused Baria of voting to raise his pay and raise taxes on food. Baria also contended that the PAC falsely accused him of taking money from his clients. Baria filed a defamation suit against the PAC. Baria stated, "It's not illegal to run a negative campaign, or to make fun of people. I don't like that, but it's not illegal. But we do have laws saying you cannot publish lies about people. These PACs are going to push the envelope as far as they can, and somebody needs to hold them accountable."[4]

However, Baria stated that he was willing to dismiss the case if the PAC published an apology. The executive director of the Advance Mississippi PAC, Steve Simmons, and the PAC's treasurer, Randy Stephens, issued a full-page advertisement to apologize to Representative Baria. The ad read: "On behalf of themselves individually and the PAC offer their sincere apology to Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, for their publication of false and defamatory ads during the 2011 legislative campaign." The ad was placed in two coastal newspapers.[4]

Personal life

David Baria is married to Marcie Baria. They have four children: Darden (deceased 2005), Merritt, Bess, and Max. Baria is an avid sportsman and enjoys fishing and boating with his family. His other hobbies include "sports, music and being around optimistic people." [5]

References

  1. ↑ http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/baria.xml. Retrieved February 7, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ =February 7, 2014 http://bariawilliamson.com/attorney-bios/david-baria/ =February 7, 2014 Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 Geoff Pender (April 12, 2013). "Miss. lawmaker reaches settlement in attack ad lawsuit with PAC". Baria Williamson PLLC.; Megan Wright (April 14, 2013). "PAC takes out ad to apologize to legislator". Mississippi Business Journal.
  5. ↑ =February 7, 2014 http://davidbaria.com/newsroom/78-news/news-articles/175-pac-apologizes-to-baria-of-bay-st-louis-over-2011-political-mailouts.html#.Uv6Ep3mbL0A/ =February 7, 2014 Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)


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