Frank A. Howard

Frank A. Howard, also known as Frankie Howard (born December 1, 1938), is a former sheriff of Vernon Parish in western Louisiana, who has been since 2008 a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 24, which includes De Soto, Red River, Sabine, and Vernon parishes.^[1][2]

Howard studied in the continuing education program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He is also a graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute.^[1] Howard is a member of the House committees on (1) Administration of Criminal Justice, (2) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development and (3) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works. He is also a member of the Louisiana Rural Caucus.^[3]

Howard succeeded the former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Joe Salter, who was term-limited in the 2007 election. In the November 17, 2007 general election, Howard defeated the Democrat Mary Ann Wiggins, 4,333 (52.6 percent) to 3,898 (47.4 percent).^[4] In the primary on October 20, Howard led three Democrats with 31 percent of the vote. Wiggins trailed with 28 percent and as the second-highest votegetter entered the second round of balloting with Howard.^[5]

Howard, then a Democrat, was unopposed for sheriff of Vernon Parish in 1983. In 1987, he won again as sheriff with 79 percent of the vote over another Vernon Parish Democrat, Scott McCloud.^[6] He won his last term as sheriff of Vernon Parish in 1995, with 77 percent of the vote against another Democrat, Teresa Rushing-Miller.^[7] In 2003, he sought a comeback in the race for sheriff but lost to the Democratic incumbent Sam Craft, who polled 67 percent of the vote that year.^[8]

Howard and his wife, the former Betty Cavanaugh, reside in Hornbeck in Sabine Parish. Howard was unopposed for reelection in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011.

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