Sherri Smith Cheek

Sherri Smith Cheek
Louisiana State Senator from District 38 (Caddo and DeSoto parishes)
Incumbent
Assumed office
2004
Preceded by Ron Bean
Personal details
Born 1966
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Single
Alma mater Southwood High School

Centenary College of Louisiana
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Occupation Businesswoman
Religion Baptist

Sherri Smith Cheek (born 1966) is a businesswoman from Shreveport, Louisiana, who is a second-term Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 38 (south Caddo and DeSoto parishes).[1] Cheek is the first female Republican ever elected to the Louisiana Senate.[2]

Contents

Background

Prior to her election in 2003, she had been since 1992 the legislative aide to her predecessor in office, fellow Republican Ron Bean.[3] Cheek graduated from Southwood High School in Shreveport and attended Centenary College and Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Cheek works in her family's rental business and resides in Keithville in southern Caddo Parish. She is active in the Summer Grove Baptist Church in south Shreveport.[4]

Succeeding Ron Bean

In the primary held on October 4, 2003, Cheek, backed by the outgoing Senator Bean, led a four-candidate race with 10,458 (35.3 percent). In second place was the Democrat, Forrest Davis, who polled 9,403 votes (31.7 percent). Two other Republicans finished behind, Doug Shurling, with 5,387 votes (18.1 percent) and Ted Roberts, 4,410 (14.9 percent).[5]In that 68 percent of primary voters had chosen a Republican candidate, Davis withdrew from the November 15 general election, and Cheek won her seat by default.

In 2007, Cheek won reelection by defeating the more conservative Republican attorney, and subsequent member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 5, Alan T. Seabaught. Cheek prevailed in the nonpartisan blanket primary, 16,665 (53 percent) to Seabaugh's 14,725 (47 percent). De Soto Parish provided most of Cheek's margin of victory. Had the race been restricted to the majority of the precincts in Caddo Parish, Cheek would have won by only 277 votes.[6]Seabaugh told Shreveport Times that he had "met Sheri and she seems nice. But she just doesn't represent me. It begins and ends with her voting record. She runs as a Republican and votes like a Democrat."[7]

Cheek serves on these Senate committees: (1) Environmental Quality, (2) Finance, (3) Health and Welfare (vice chairman), and (4) Labor and Industrial Relations. She is also the vice chairman of the Select Women's and Children's Committee.[8]

In 2010, Cheek received a 61 percent rating from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, lower than most Republican legislators. In 2009, the Louisiana Federation of Independent Business rated her 70 percent. The Louisiana Family Forum rated her 13 percent in 2004, 33 percent in 2006, and 57 percent in 2007. After Cheek defeating Seabaugh, her Family Forum rating moved upward to 78 percent in 2008 and 90 percent in 2010. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life Federation.[9]In 2011, Cheek voted against legislation to amend the Smoke-free Air Act to bar smoking in bars and restaurants.[10]

Reelection in 2011

Cheek won her third term in the primary election held on October 22, 2011, having defeated fellow Republican Troy N. Terrell, 10,570 votes (57.2 percent) to 7,912 (42.8 percent.[11] Terrell (born 1972), a native of Starkville, Mississippi, was reared in Converse, a village in Sabine Parish. He is a city alderman and the co-pastor of The Church in Mansfield, a nondenominational congregation.[12] Terrell carried the support of the TEA Party movement.

Cheek is the second woman to hold the District 38 seat. The Democrat Virginia Shehee of Shreveport served in the slot from 1976 to 1980.

Cheek is a daughter of Caddo Parish Commissioner Jim Smith, also of Keithville.

References

  1. ^ "Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-2012". legis.state.la.us. http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/s1880-2012.pdf. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  2. ^ "Sherri Cheek for Senate". sherricheekforsenate.com. http://www.sherricheekforsenate.com/. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Senator Sherri Smith Cheek - District 38". senate.legis.state.la.us. http://senate.legis.state.la.us/cheek/biography.asp. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  4. ^ "Senator Sherri Smith Cheek". congress.org. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?chamber=S&id=141476&lvl=L. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 4, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_Legislative.html. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  7. ^ "John Andrew Prime, "Incumbent Senator Sherri Smith Cheek Faces Attorney Alan Seabaugh"". Shreveport Times, October 7, 2007. http://www.lanewslink.com/archives.php?id=2319. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Senator Sherri Smith Cheek -- District 38". senate.legis.state.la.us. http://senate.legis.state.la.us/cheek/assignments.asp. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Senator Sherri Smith Cheek". votesmart.org. http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=35537. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Senator Sherri Smith Cheek". votesmart.org. http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=35537. Retrieved August 31, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
  12. ^ ""The race is on officially", September 8, 2011". bossierpress.com. http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4481:the-race-is-on-officially&catid=7:other-opinion&Itemid=144. Retrieved September 9, 2011. 
Louisiana Senate
Preceded by
Ron Bean		 Louisiana State Senator from District 38 (Caddo and DeSoto parishes)

Sherri Smith Cheek
2004–

 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Members of the Louisiana State Senate
President of the Senate: Joel Chaisson (D) • President pro Tempore: Sharon Weston Broome (D) • Secretary of the Senate: Glenn Koepp • Parliamentarian: Robert M. Marionneaux (D)
   
  1.    A. G. Crowe (R)
  2.    Ann Duplessis (D)
  3.    J.P. Morell (D)
  4.    Edwin R. Murray (D)
  5.    Karen Carter Peterson (D)
  6.    Julie Quinn (R)
  7.    David Heitmeier (D)
  8.    John Alario (R)
  9.    Conrad Appel (R)
  10.    Danny Martiny (R)
  1.    Jack Donahue (R)
  2.    Ben Nevers (D)
  3.    Dale M. Erdey (R)
  4.    Yvonne Dorsey (D)
  5.    Sharon Weston Broome (D)
  6.    Dan Claitor (R)
  7.    Robert M. Marionneaux (D)
  8.    Jody Amedee (R)
  9.    Joel Chaisson (D)
  10.    Norby Chabert (R)
  1.    Butch Gautreaux (D)
  2.    Fred H. Mills, Jr. (R)
  3.    Michael J. Michot (R)
  4.    Elbert Guillory (D)
  5.    Dan Morrish (R)
  6.    Jonathan W. Perry (R)
  7.    Willie Mount (D)
  8.    Eric LaFleur (D)
  9.    Joe McPherson (D)
  10.    John R. Smith (R)
  1.    Gerald Long (R)
  2.    Neil Riser (R)
  3.    Mike Walsworth (R)
  4.    Francis C. Thompson (D)
  5.    Robert Kostelka (R)
  6.    Robert Adley (R)
  7.    B. L. Shaw (R)
  8.    Sherri Smith Cheek (R)
  9.    Lydia P. Jackson (D)