Amedee, Magee unseat incumbents in race for House Districts 51, 53

Ernest Bourgeois
November 24, 2015
Ellender fires coach
November 25, 2015
Ernest Bourgeois
November 24, 2015
Ellender fires coach
November 25, 2015

A Terrebonne Parish council-woman and a Houma attorney unseated veteran state legislators Saturday.

In District 51, Beryl Amedee, R-Houma, defeated Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, with a four-point lead, 4,101 votes to 3,783, or 52 percent to 48 percent.

District 51 includes portions of Terrebonne, Assumption and St. Mary parishes.


Tanner Magee bested fellow Republican Lenar Whitney for the District 53 seat by a margin of 22 percent, marshaling 4,978 votes to Whitney’s 3,206, or 61 percent to 39 percent.

District 53 covers much of Terrebonne Parish and portions of Lafourche.

Amedee’s supporters waged an aggressive media campaign that included radio advertisements calling attention to already highly publicized issues that have come up regarding Harrison’s use of campaign funds for fuel and travel-related expenses; Harrison had also received reimbursement for travel from the state. Harrison, who has not been charged with any crimes, has maintained that he acted properly and lawfully.


Harrison’s campaign focused on his record, which included frequent challenges to outgoing Gov. Bobby Jindal. During his tenure, Harrison has rankled the gaming industry. Some of his legislation has also not found favor with powerful members of the state’s business community.

“It has been amazing to come from being a councilwoman, a name nobody knew to beating a very entrenched good-old-boy incumbent,” Amedee said. “It was the grace of God and the very humbling favor of the voters. I hope to do them proud.”

Amedee herself did a lot of door-knocking – as did Harrison.


She credits her success in large part to the personal contact with voters, many in parishes where she had very little of a public profile.

Dissatisfaction with the Common Core federal educational protocols and concerns about the economy, Amedee said, were high on the list of concerns voters expressed to her.

Harrison takes a different view.


“I was overwhelmed with the amount of money they spent in this campaign to get her elected,” Harrison said Sunday. “They have got to change the way people get attacked with false advertising.

Their schemes and tactics were to get me on the offensive. The people spoke, I abide by what they did.”

Magee gave his first statement as a legislator-elect on Houma television station HTV, shortly after the final but unofficial results were complete.


“We sent a clear message that what we wanted to do was put Terrebonne Parish first, that’s what this whole campaign was about and it really resonated,” said Magee, whose primary margin over Whitney amounted to 29 votes, a far cry from the mandate voters expressed Saturday, and in early voting. Magee made several references to the slew of advertisements that Whitney’s camp tossed at him, which included accusations that as a trial attorney he had represented “child molesters” and domestic violence perpetrators. “I always trusted in the intelligence of the voters of Terrebonne Parish and I have nothing but thanks and appreciation for them.”

Whitney’s anti-attorney advertisements drew strong fire during the runoff campaign from members of the local bar.

On the campaign trail Magee enjoyed strong support from state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, who held on to his seat despite strong attacks from businessman Mike Fesi. Chabert did not have to wage a run-off campaign, having won the primary by more than 50 percent.


Magee said that he looks forward to working with the local delegation on behalf of the parishes he will represent.

“I am shocked by it to be honest with you,” Magee said of his victory margin when interviewed by The Times. “I really think the people are tired of negative politics. It is a combination of our message, which is Terrebonne Parish first, and I think a response to the negativity. It has not sunk in yet, the reality of it.”

But Magee said he is putting adjustment to his new role on an express track, preparing for expected legislative sessions that will deal with Louisiana’s budget woes in the early part of next year.


“There will be very little time for a honeymoon,” said Magee, adding that he looks forward to working with Democratic Gov.- elect John Bel Edwards, who beat out Sen. David Vitter.

“It is all about Louisiana, and getting Louisiana on track and finding the common ground that we can agree upon,” Magee said. “If something is good for Louisiana and good for Terrebonne Parish then I am for it, if it is bad for Louisiana and bad for Terrebonne Parish I am against it.”

Beryl Amedee


Beryl Amedee (left) and Tanner Magee, both Republicans, defeated state representatives Joe Harrison and Lenar Whitney, respectively.

COURTESY