Dorothy Sue Hill

Dorothy Sue Hill (born April 23, 1939) is a rancher and a retired educator from her native Dry Creek in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, who is a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 32 in Allen, Beauregard, and Calcasieu parishes in the southwestern portion of her state.^[1]

Hill won her third House term in the general election held on November 21, 2015, by defeating the Republican candidate, Llewellyn Euiell "Biscuit" Smith (born March 1975)^[2] of DeRidder in Beauregard Parish. Hill polled 5,840 votes (55.2 percent) to Smith's 4,737 (44.8 percent).^[3]

Background

Hill (maiden name missing) graduated in 1957 from Fairview High School in the Grant community in Allen Parish and in 1960 from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hill taught home economics from 1960 to 1969 for the Allen Parish School Board and from 1969 to 1992 for the Beauregard Parish School Board. She is the owner and operator of T&H Hereford Farms.^[1][4]

Hill and her husband, Herman Ray Hill (born October 1937), her predecessor in the legislature, have one son, Craig Ray Hill^[4] (born July 1968),^[5] an attorney in Allen Parish.

Political career

In 2007, Hill was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in District 32 to succeed her husband who after his first contested election in 1991 had run unopposed from 1995 until his term expired in 2008. She led in the primary with 6,254 votes (46.4 percent), followed by Republican James David Cain, also of Dry Creek, who received 5,528 votes (41 percent). Two other candidates, Democrat Benjamin Jack (born May 1951) of Oakdale and No Party hopeful Richard O. "Dickey" Crider (born May 1954) of DeRidder, held the remaining but critical 1,712 votes.^[6] Hill then defeated Cain in the general election, 6,070 votes (51.3 percent) to 5,759 (48.7 percent).^[7] A year earlier, Cain had been defeated in a special election for Louisiana insurance commissioner by James Donelon. Cain is a former member of both houses of the legislature. He was defeated in all three of his last political campaigns since 2006.

A Baptist, Hill was from 1972 to 2007 the clerk of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Dry Creek.^[4] Hill said that she is guided by three principles in her legislative work: Christian values, continuity, and compassion.

On October 22, 2011, Hill won re-election to her District 61 seat. She defeated an Independent opponent, John Arthur Williams, 9,257 (78.3 percent) to 2,563 (21.7 percent).^[8] In her second term, Hill serves on these legislative committees: (1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development, (2) Health and Welfare, and (3) Transportation, Highways and Public Works.^[4]

Hill's legislative ratings have ranged from 34 to 78 percent from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2011 and 2012, she was rated 63 and 20 percent, respectively, by the National Federation of Independent Business. She is ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Association of Educators. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored Hill 78 and 89 percent, respectively. She is rated 100 percent by Louisiana Right to Life^[9] and co-sponsored the 2014 requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the measure passed the House, 88-5.^[10]

In 2014, Hill voted to extend the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. She voted against the prohibition of the transportation of dogs in the bed of a pick-up truck on interstate highways; the prohibition passed the House, 53-34. She voted against the repeal anti-sodomy laws; the repeal attempt failed in the House, 27-67, in the House. In 2013, Hill did not vote on the bill to reduce penalties for possession of marijuana; two years earlier, she had co-sponsored drug testing for welfare recipients. She supported an increased in judicial pay and voted to repeal the mandatory retirement age for state court judges, but the measure failed, 63-33. She did not vote on the proposal for lifetime concealed carry gun permits but voted to allow the carrying of weapons into restaurants. She opposed making information about concealed carry permit holders a matter of public record.^[10]

Hill opposed allowing state income tax deductions to taxpayers who contribute to scholarship funds. She voted against tax incentives to attract a National Basketball Association team to Louisiana. In 2012, Hill voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving. She opposed the reduction of the number of hours that polling locations remain open. Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days. In 2011, she voted for a permanent tax on cigarettes and for the congressional redistricting bill in which the state lost another seat in the United States House of Representatives.^[10]

Hill fell just short of winning reelection outright in the primary election held on October 24, 2015. She led a three-candidate field with 5,226 votes (49.4 percent). Llewellyn Smith received 3,957 votes (37.4 percent). A second Democrat, Zollie "Ty" Pearce, polled the remaining but critical 1,395 votes (13.2 percent).^[11]

References

1. 1 2 "Dorothy Sue Hill". house.Louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2015. 
2. ↑ "Llewellyn Smith, March 1975". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved November 29, 2015. 
3. ↑ "Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved November 29, 2015. 
4. 1 2 3 4 "Dorothy Hill's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 22, 2015. 
5. ↑ "Craig Hill, July 1968". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved April 22, 2015. 
6. ↑ "Election Results". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved April 21, 2015. 
7. ↑ "Election Result". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 17, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2015. 
8. ↑ "Election Returns". Louisiana Secretary of State. October 22, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2015. 
9. ↑ "Dorothy Sue Hill's Ratings and Endorsements". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 22, 2015. 
10. 1 2 3 "Dorothy Hill's Voting Records". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 22, 2015. 
11. ↑ "Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved October 25, 2015.