John E. Guinn

John Eddie Guinn, Sr., also known as Johnny Guinn (born 1953), is a businessman from Jennings, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 37 in Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes in the southwestern portion of his state. He was elected in 2007 to succeed fellow Republican Dan Morrish, also a Jennings businessman, who was instead elected to the Louisiana State Senate.

Background

Guinn graduated in 1971 from Jennings High School. Engaged in sales, marketing, and auctioneering, Guinn completed the Missouri Auction School in 1984.^[1]

Guinn and his wife, Rosalie, have ten children.^[2]

Legislative election

To win his house seat, Guinn defeated Democrat Kyle Reed (born 1960 and also from Jennings) in a runoff election held on November 17, 2007. The margin of victory was only 26 votes, the closest contest of any legislative race in the state that year. The tabulation was 4,191 (50.16 percent) for Guinn to Reed's 4,165 (49.84 percent).^[3]

District 37 is rich in farm fields and depends on the cash crops of rice, sugar cane, soybeans, cattle, and crawfish. Jennings is the foundation of the Louisiana petroleum industry.^[2] The first oil well in the state was drilled nearby in 1901 by W. Scott Heywood.^[4] Shipbuilding companies are located within the district near the town of Lake Arthur on the south. Just north of the district in Kinder in Allen Parish is the Coushatta Casino Resort, which employs numerous district residents. Though the district is traditionally Cajun, there are farmers of English or German descent. More than 60 percent of the registered voters are Democrats, but district voters frequently back Republicans in contested elections.^[2]

Guinn serves on three House committees: Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development; Natural Resources and Environment; and Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.^[1]

Other public service

Prior to his legislative victory, Guinn served two terms on the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, representing District 5 from 2000 to 2008. He is a past chairman of the Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board.^[2] Since 1984, Guinn has also been an appraiser and marketing consultant for lending institutions, leasing companies, government agencies, and contractors in heavy construction industries. He is a member of the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, vice chairman of the Jennings Airport Board of Commissioners and a board member of the Jeff Davis Parish Council on Aging.^[2]

References