Governor John Bel Edwards Addresses Arkansas Democrats

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was the keynote speaker for the Inaugural Clinton Dinner held Saturday, July 22nd at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.  This is the event conducted annually by the Arkansas Democratic Party.  Over the years the dinner went by the name Jefferson-Jackson Day.  It was changed this year by Party Chairman Representative Michael Gray.

Some 800 people from all over Arkansas were in attendance.  Party awards were presented and Governor Edwards talked about his history and the campaign that resulted in his election as the 56th Governor of Louisiana.

Governor Edwards grew up in Amite, Louisiana a one of eight children.  He was taught the importance of public service by his family.  There are four Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs in his lineage.

The Governor graduate in 1988 from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served eight years as an Airborne Ranger.  He commanded a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg,  North Carolina.  He graduated from the law school of LSU and set up a practice in Amite.

In 2008 he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 72 where he served for eight years until being elected Governor in 2015.  The Governor is married to Donna Edwards and they have three children.

The Governor talked about leading the state of Louisiana to utilize the Affordable Act that has provided insurance for 427,000 working adults in the state.  He talked about the need to claim the middle ground of American politics and staying true to one's beliefs while caring about all of our citizens.

Prior to the dinner three Arkansas Legislators discussed the political status of Arkansas and talked about issues of concern.  Participating in the panel discussion were State Senator Joyce Elliott, Rep. Vivian Flowers and Rep. Stephen Magie.  During the day the Democratic Party State Committee conducted business.