Ernest Wooton

Ernest Wooton
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
1999–Unknown

Ernest Durham Wooton (October 28, 1941 – May 29, 2020) was an American politician.

Wooton was born in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. He lived with his wife and family in Belle Chasse, Louisiana and went to Port Sulfur High School. Wooton served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1966. He went to Northwestern State University and Louisiana State University. Wooton was involved in the insurance business and in public relations with oilfield sales.[1]

Wooton defeated Jiff Hingle in the 1983 election for Plaquemines Parish sheriff.[2] Wooton held the office for two terms.[1] He was defeated by Hingle in 1991 and 1995.[3] Wooton was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1999,[1] and served his first terms in the state legislature as a member of the Democratic Party.[4][5] Wooten switched political affiliations to the Republican Party in 2005.[6][7] He faced incumbent Republican David Vitter in the 2010 United States Senate elections in Louisiana as an independent candidate,[8][9] listed as "other" on the ballot.[10] In 2011, Wooton again faced Hingle in an election for Plaquemines Parish sheriff.[11]

  1. ^ a b c "Ernest D. Wooton". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Sledge, Matt (January 10, 2018). "Former Plaquemines Sheriff Jiff Hingle, taken down on bribery charge in 2011, dies at 66". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "Former Plaq. Sheriff, District 105 Rep Ernest Wooton dead at 79". Plaquemines Gazette. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Calhoun, Milburn. Louisiana Almanac 2008-2009. Pelican Publishing. p. 482. ISBN 9781455607709.
  5. ^ Alford, Jeremy J. (May 23, 2003). "House denies passage of governor's tax plan". Houma Today. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Moller, Jan (October 22, 2010). "Lesser-known candidates in U.S. Senate race want voters to have a choice". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  7. ^ Miller, Sean J. (July 15, 2010). "'Gun man' takes aim at Melancon and Vitter". The Hill. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Toeplitz, Shira (July 9, 2010). "Vitter challenger emerges at 11th hour". Politico. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Zullo, Robert (September 9, 2010). "Candidate challenges Vitter to cage fight". Houma Today. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Morris, Robert (July 10, 2010). "Last day of filing brings swath of challengers". Uptown Messenger. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "State Rep. Ernest Wooton announces he will run for Plaquemines Parish sheriff". New Orleans Times-Picayune. August 5, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2020.