John E. Guinn

John Eddie Guinn, Sr.
Louisiana House of Representatives District 37 (Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes)
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2008
Preceded by	Dan Morrish
Personal details
Born	December 1952
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Rosalie C. Guinn
Children	Ten children
Alma mater	Jennings High School Missouri School of Auction
Occupation	Businessman; Auctioneer

John Eddie Guinn, Sr., also known as Johnny Guinn (born December 1952),^[1] is a businessman from Jennings, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 37 in Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes in the southwestern portion of his state. He was elected in 2007 to succeed fellow Republican Dan Morrish, also a Jennings businessman, who was instead elected to the Louisiana State Senate.

Background

Guinn graduated in 1971 from Jennings High School. Engaged in sales, marketing, and auctioneering, Guinn completed the Missouri Auction School in 1984.^[2]

Guinn and his wife, Rosalie, have ten children.^[3]

Legislative service

To win his house seat, Guinn defeated Democrat Kyle Reed (born 1960 and also from Jennings) in a runoff election held on November 17, 2007. The margin of victory was only twenty-six votes, the closest contest of any legislative race in the state that year. The tabulation was 4,191 (50.16 percent) for Guinn to Reed's 4,165 (49.84 percent).^[4]

District 37 is rich in farm fields and depends on the cash crops of rice, sugar cane, soybeans, cattle, and crawfish. Jennings is the foundation of the Louisiana petroleum industry.^[3] The first oil well in the state was drilled nearby in 1901 by W. Scott Heywood.^[5] Shipbuilding companies are located within the district near the town of Lake Arthur on the south. Just north of the district in Kinder in Allen Parish is the Coushatta Casino Resort, which employs numerous district residents. Though the district is traditionally Cajun, there are farmers of English or German descent. More than 60 percent of the registered voters are Democrats, but district voters frequently back Republicans in contested elections.^[3]

Guinn serves on three House committees: (1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, (2) Natural Resources and Environment, and (3) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.^[2]

Guinn's legislative ratings have ranged from 44 to 73 percent from the business lobby, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012, he was rated 60 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored from 90 and 100 percent, respectively. He is rated 100 percent by Louisiana Right to Life. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated him 58 and 75 percent, respectively.^[6]

In 2014, Guinn supported the requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved by the full House, 88-5. In 2014, he did not vote on the extension of time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He voted against the prohibition of the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on interstate highways. He voted against requiring companies to give notice when they engage in hydraulic fracking. He voted against the repeal of the anti-sodomy laws. He voted for the establishment in 2013 of surrogacy contracts. He voted to reduce penalties for the possession of marijuana. He did not vote on the issue of lifetime concealed carry gun permits but voted for concealed carry in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. He co-sponsored making information about concealed-carry holders a matter of public record. Guinn in 2013 voted for an increase in judicial pay and voted for the removal of the mandatory retirement age for judges.^[7]

In 2012, Guinn did not vote on the prohibition of the use of telephones while driving. He opposed tax incentives for attracting a National Basketball Association team to Louisiana but supported state income tax deductions for individuals who contribute to scholarship funds. He voted for the successful bill to reduce the number of hours that polling locations remain open; Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days. He voted against changes in the state teacher tenure law. He co-sponsored the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients, which passed the House in 2012, 65 to 26.^[7]

In 2011, Guinn voted to establish a commission to repeal state income taxes and opposed a permanent tax on cigarettes, which passed the House, 70-30. He did not vote on the issue of parole eligibility for elderly inmates. He voted for a failed measure which supporters said would curb bullying in public schools. He supported redistricting for both the Louisiana State Senate and the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's six congressional districts.^[7]

Other public service

Prior to his legislative victory, Guinn served two terms on the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, representing District 5 from 2000 to 2008. He is a past chairman of the Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board.^[3] Since 1984, Guinn has also been an appraiser and marketing consultant for lending institutions, leasing companies, government agencies, and contractors in heavy construction industries. He is a member of the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, vice chairman of the Jennings Airport Board of Commissioners and a board member of the Jeff Davis Parish Council on Aging.^[3]

References

1. "John Guinn, December 1952". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
2. "Rep. John E. Guinn". house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
3. "House member=Guin, Rep. John E. (R)". mobilelgs.com. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
4. Louisiana Secretary of State, Legislative general election returns, November 17, 2007
5. "Heywood, Walter Scott". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
6. "John E. Guinn's Ratings and Endorsements". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
7. "John E. Guinn's Voting Records". Project Vote Smart. May 12, 2015.