Sharon Weston Broome
| Sharon Weston Broome | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 15th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Marvin Alonzo |
| Residence | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Regent University |
| Occupation | Communications |
| Religion | Baptist |
Sharon Weston Broome (born 1956) is a Democratic member of the Louisiana Senate, representing the 15th District ever since she won a special election in December 2004. She was the first African American woman to represent that district. Her predecessor was Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden.[1] She serves as President Pro Tempore of the state senate. In 2011, she was elected to her third Senate term without opposition.
Earlier she was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1991 through 2004, representing District 29. She was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of that House, the first woman to serve in that position. Broome is hence the first woman to serve in the number-two leadership position in both chambers. In 2002, Broome introduced House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 74 which condemned "Darwinism" as justifying racism and Nazism. The bill was amended to remove allusions to Darwin and passed.[2] In 2012, she was the sponsor of a bill requiring doctors to let a woman hear the heartbeat of a fetus (if present) before performing an abortion.[3] The bill was signed into law by the governor on June 8, 2012.[4]
Before being elected to state office she served on the Baton Rouge Metro Council. She has two degrees in communications and worked as a reporter for WBRZ-TV for five years.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Biography at Louisiana State Senate". Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ↑ "Update on Challenges to Teaching Evolution". American Geosciences Institute. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- Original resolution text: "A bizarre and outrageous attack on evolution by a Louisiana legislator". Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ↑ "Abortion bills advance through La. Legislature". NECN.com. May 16, 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ↑ "Jindal signs abortion bills". WWL.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
External links
- Louisiana State Senate – Sharon Weston Broome official government website