Samuel Bernard Nunez Jr., (January 27, 1930 – January 15, 2012), was a Louisiana politician and businessman from Chalmette, the seat of St. Bernard Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.
Samuel Bernard Nunez Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Senator for District 1 (now Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard parishes) | |
| In office 1969–1996 | |
| Preceded by | E. W. "Kelly" Gravolet Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Dean |
| President of the Louisiana State Senate | |
| In office 1983–1988 | |
| Preceded by | Michael H. O'Keefe |
| Succeeded by | Allen Bares |
| In office 1990–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Allen Bares |
| Succeeded by | Randy Ewing |
| President pro tempore of the Louisiana State Senate | |
| In office 1980–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Theodore M. Hickey |
| In office 1988–1990 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Hudson |
| Succeeded by | Leonard J. Chabert |
| Louisiana State Representative for St. Bernard Parish | |
| In office 1964–1969 | |
| Preceded by | Elmer R. Tapper |
| Succeeded by | Elmer R. Tapper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 27, 1930 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, U.S.[1] |
| Died | January 15, 2012 (aged 81) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | 1 Chalmette St. Bernard Parish |
| Alma mater | Joseph Maumus High School Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Insurance agent |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
From 1964 to 1969, Nunez was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. From 1969 to 1996, the Democrat Nunez was a state senator. He was the State Senate President from 1983 to 1988 and from 1990 to 1996, when his legislative tenure ended in defeat. He was the State Senate President Pro Tempore from 1980 to 1983 and 1988 to 1990. In 1973, he was a delegate to the Louisiana State Constitutional Convention, where he pushed for inclusion of the homestead exemption on property taxes.[2]
Background
Nunez graduated from Joseph Maumus High School in Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. From 1951 to 1955, he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War era.[2] Following his Air Force service, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
In 1983, Nunez became Senate President by acclamation[4] when Michael H. O'Keefe of New Orleans was indicted, maintained his innocence, but was ultimately convicted of a federal crime and imprisoned.[5][6][7]
Political career
After a month of consideration, Nunez endorsed Breaux over Moore.[8][9][10][11][12][13] [14]
Nunez was one of several pro-gambling legislators who were defeated or forced to retire following the 1995 legislative session. Two of Nunez' most prominent Senate colleagues, Armand Brinkhaus of Sunset in St. Landry Parish and Sixty Rayburn of Bogalusa in Washington Parish, lost re-election bids, while Senators Larry Bankston of Baton Rouge and Gerry Hinton of Slidell stood down. Also failing in his re-election bid was Rep. Raymond Lalonde of Sunset, the author of the 1992 bill which allowed for a land-based casino to operate in New Orleans.
Senator Dean served two terms and was succeeded in 2004 by the Republican, later Democrat, Walter Boasso. As a Democrat, Boasso finished a distant second to Republican Bobby Jindal in the 2007 governor's race, as Jindal easily captured the requisite majority n the primary to avoid a runoff.[15][16][17]
Later years and legacy
Long after his legislative service, Nunez was a member of the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.[18][19]He operated an insurance agency.[20][21][2][22]
