A. B. Franklin

Albert B. Franklin, known as A. B. Franklin (born September 1948),^[1] is a businessman from Lake Charles, Louisiana, who is an African-American Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 34 in Calcasieu Parish in the far southwestern portion of his state.^[2]

Background

Franklin graduated in 1968 from historically black W. O. Boston High School in Lake Charles. He is the owner of A. B. Auto Sales & Action Plus Communications in Lake Charles.^[3]

Political career

Franklin was first elected to the House in District 34 in the general election held on November 17, 2007. He defeated fellow Democrat Tony Guillory, 3,368 votes (57.5 percent) to 2,489 (42.5 percent).^[4] In the nonpartisan blanket primary held earlier on October 20, five other Democrats were eliminated. Franklin led Guillory in the primary by only thirty-nine votes as both finished with fewer than 23 percent of the ballots cast.^[5]

In the 2011 primary, Franklin easily scored a second term when he defeated another Democrat, Paul "PJ" Geary (born July 1956), also of Lake Charles, 5,683 (78.1 percent) to 1,594 (21.9 percent).^[6]

Representative Franklin is a member of the Louisiana Black Caucus, the Louisiana Rural Caucus, the Acadiana delegation, and the Democratic Caucus. He serves on these committees: (1) Health and Welfare and (2) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.^[3]

Franklin's legislative ratings have ranged from 53 to 67 percent from the conservative Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. He is ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Association of Educators. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored him 67 and 40 percent, respectively. He has been rated from 70 to 100 percent by Louisiana Right to Life^[7]though he did not vote on the 2014 requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the measure nevertheless passed the House, 88-5.^[8]

In 2014, Frnklin voted to extend the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He supported prohibiting the transportation of dogs in the bed of a pick-up truck on interstate highways. In 2013, Franklin voted to increase judicial compensation and to reduce penalties for possession of marijuana. He opposed lifetime concealed carry gun permits and objected as well to the taking of weapons into restaurants. He did not vote on the issue of making information about permit holders a matter of public record. He opposed allowing deductions on state income tax deductions to taxpayers who contribute to scholarship funds. In 2012, he voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving. He opposed the reduction of the number of hours that polling locations remain open. Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days. He opposed offering tax incentives to seek the establishment of a National Basketball Association team in Louisiana. In 2011, Franklin opposed mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients and supported permanent taxes on cigarettes.^[8]

2015 reelection

Franklin ran second in his bid for reelection to the state House in the primary election held on October 24, 2015. He received 3,215 votes (35.2 percent). In the lead was Wilford Dan Carter, Sr., with 3,501 votes (38.4 percent). A third candidate, Republican Thomas "Tom" Quirk, held 1,668 votes (18.3 percent). In fourth place was a Democrat, Alvin Joseph, with 743 ballots (8.1 percent).^[9] In the runoff election, Franklin narrowly prevailed by 121 votes, 5,325 (50.6 percent) to 5,205 (49.4 percent).^[10]

References