J. Rogers Pope

Who is J. Rogers Pope?

James Rogers Pope, known as J. Rogers Pope, is a retired school superintendent from Denham Springs, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 71 in Livingston Parish, one of the Florida Parishes in the southeastern portion of his state.

Pope received a master's degree and further graduate studies in education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. He spent fourteen years as the Livingston Parish school superintendent, having retired in 2001. Previously, he was a teacher, coach, and administrator. He was the 2000 "State Superintendent of the Year" and the 1998 "Educator of the Year". Thereafter, he was the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Executives.

Four Republicans and a Democrat entered the House District 71 race in 2007 to succeed Republican Dale M. Erdey, who was elected without opposition to the Louisiana State Senate seat vacated by the conservative Republican Heulette Fontenot. Pope led with 4,837 votes. In second place was another Republican, John Ware, who polled 2,966. In fourth place was the Republican mayor of Livingston, D. Derral Jones. In the second balloting on November 17, which had a much lower turnout because of the lack of a gubernatorial contest, Pope prevailed, 2,684 to Ware's 2,462.