Dustin Miller (Louisiana politician)
| Dustin Joseph Miller | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 40th district | |
|
Assumed office January 11, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ledricka Thierry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 1987 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nichole Gordon Miller |
| Children | Two children |
| Residence | Lawtell, Louisiana |
| Alma mater |
Opelousas Catholic High School |
| Occupation |
Nurse Businessman |
Dustin Joseph Miller (born August 1987)[1] is the Democrat African-American member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 40 in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. The district encompasses Opelousas and the communities of Lawtell, Malle, Sunset, Grand Coteau, and Washington.[2]
Background
A graduate of Opelousas Catholic High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Miller is an intensive care nurse at Opelousas General Hospital. He is studying for a master's degree to become a nurse practitioner at Southern University in Baton Rouge. He also owns three businesses in his native Lawtell: Miller's Barbecue, Teddy's Uptown, and Miller's Zydeco Hall of Fame, formerly known as Richard's Club.[2]
Miller and his wife, the former Nichole Gordon, have two children and reside in Lawtell.[2]
Political life
In his statement of candidacy for the legislature, Miller said, "Although we are aware that our government plays a very important role in the changes we see in everyday life, it is important to know that money and programs alone will not get us where we need to be. We each have a responsibility to instill achievement in our children to adapt to the growing changes in a competitive economy."[2]
Miller won his seat in the general election held on November 21, 2015. The position was vacated by Ledricka Thierry, another African-American Democrat who instead ran for the Louisiana State Senate for the seat vacated by the Republican Elbert Guillory, an Opelousas lawyer who instead lost a race for lieutenant governor to fellow Republican Billy Nungesser. In a voter turnout of 41 percent, Miller defeated fellow Democrat Donovan K. Hudson, 6,589 votes (56 percent) to 5,131 (44 percent).[3]
In March 2016, Miller joined a bipartisan House to enact a one-cent increase in the state sales tax. State representatives voted 76 to 28 for the tax hike, a part of the revenue-raising measures pushed by new Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards.[4] A House and Senate conference committee subsequently trimmed the five years for the duration of the tax to expire instead after twenty-seven months, effective from April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. Even the sale of Bibles and religious publications and Girl Scout cookies are now subject to the tax.[5]
References
- ↑ "Dustin Miller, August 1987". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Cheryl Devall (April 12, 2015). "Dustin Miller makes it four candidates for District 40". The Opelousas Daily World. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- ↑ "Election Returns". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 21, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- ↑ "State House of Representatives Vote to Increase Sales Tax". KEEL. February 25, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ↑ "See the list: Examples of goods, services that'll now be taxed in Louisiana". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
| Louisiana House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ledricka Thierry |
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 40th district (St. Landry Parish) Dustin Joseph Miller 2016– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |