Jimmy and I are the parents of Kitty and Josh. Josh is 26 years old and lives independently in the community. He has cerebral palsy. I was involved with the Developmental Disabilities Council when Families Helping Families was established and have supported the organization since its beginning. I feel strongly that parents need that ?connection? that only another parent can give. That is why I am involved with Families Helping Families.

I have been employed by Graphic Packaging (Riverwood International) for the past 32 years. I have also been very involved in the community through the following activities: fomer Ouachita Parish Special Education Advisory Council, former Blind/Deaf State Advisory Council, former Developmental Disabilities Council Vice-Chair and Chair, LaCAN member, State Families Helping Families Advisory Board, ARCO Board of Directors ? President and currently Vice President, teach Sunday school at Cedar Crest Baptist Church (1st ? 3rd grades), and playing with my grandchildren.

I have been a practicing lawyer for over 30 years and am a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist. I am a partner at Brown, Erskine, and Burkett, LLP. Currently I am a member of the 4th Judicial District Bar Association, the Louisiana Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. I also serve as the General Counsel for the Ouachita Parish Council on Aging.

My civic involvements are numerous including the Chairman of the St. Francis Medical Center Institutional Review Board, Director of the Downtown Monroe Lions Club, Past President of the Northeast Louisiana Mental Health Association and the Northeast Louisiana Arthritis Foundation, Past Director of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Ronald McDonald House.

My wife and I have two grown children, Ashley and Matthew. I teach Sunday School and serve as a Lay Director at the Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ

My desire is to use my experiences as a person to better the world for individuals with disabilities. I am employed at CenturyTel and am in charge of Shipping and Receiving.

Helping others is very important to me and I am able to do that through volunteering with the United Way of Northeast Louisiana, Director of Ouachita Enterprise Community (OEC), participation in the CenturyTel Needy Family Assistance Committee, and out reach ministry of the Living Gospel Church.

I started working at the Ouachita Parish Sherriff?s office in 1985. The last 12 years I have primarily been working with the elderly and crime victims. I have over 2000 hours of law enforcement training I am certified as an Advanced Advocated to work the victims of crime. Recently I was recognized statewide for working with crime victims. I was nominated and received Lawman of the Year from the Kiwanis Clubs of Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Tennessee District for my work with the elderly and crime victims.

I teach in our North Delta Police Academy on rape investigations, elderly abuse and working with the disabled and mentally ill population as related to police concerns. I teach the Safe Driving classes to persons 55 and over. I also am responsible for recruiting and overseeing volunteers in Northeast Louisiana to teach the Safe Driving class. I am very dedicated to helping person who by no fault of their own are taken advantage of mentally and financially.