Valarie Hodges to Run for State Representative

Valarie Hodges has formally announced her candidacy for State Representative in District 64, which is comprised of Watson and Pride and parts of Central, Walker, Baker, Zachary, Denham Springs and Brownsfield.

    Valarie Hodges is a proven conservative leader who can be trusted to work for and with the people of District 64. A devoted mother and grandmother, Valarie is married to Leland Hodges, a local pastor and homebuilder. Leland and Valarie attended Central High School and live in Watson where they were married 39 years ago. A successful businesswoman, Valarie is the administrator for a non-profit organization and has helped her husband run two local businesses.

    Valarie serves on the 8-member Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana and has worked tirelessly to elect conservative leaders to public office. She supports efforts to bring out-of-control government spending to sustainable levels.

    Valarie has spent the last ten years volunteering and working in political campaigns and in the community with organizations such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and WOW (a shelter aiding battered women and children) and leading community efforts such as the "Eastover Makeover."

Valarie helped to restart LPRW, the Livingston Parish Republican Women, five years ago so that Livingston Parish Republicans would have a forum in which to meet and share ideas. She is also the past President of LPRW.

    "I have traveled to third world countries and have seen the poverty that accompanies socialistic societies such as Cuba and Mexico. This experience gives me a passionate desire to fight socialism in America by working hard to elect conservatives at every level of government and to implement pro-business and pro-job creation policies. I now want to take a more active role because I believe that one person can make a difference. I have committed my life to helping others have a better quality of life and believe that I can make a positive contribution as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives,” Hodges said.

    “Under the leadership of Governor Jindal, Louisiana has seen dramatic improvement. But we need even more reform,” Hodges said. “We must cut taxes on our families and businesses and continue to transform Louisiana into the best place in America to raise a family, start a business and create quality jobs. We must improve education and give parents additional choices. And we must improve traffic conditions by working together to find new solutions,” she said.

    Valarie is committed to working with other leaders to find innovative ways to improve highways and infrastructure in and around District 64—without raising taxes and without destroying the safety and current climate of our communities.

    The election in District 64 is scheduled for October 22, 2011. Representative Bodi White, who is running for State Senate, is not seeking re-election to this seat.