Melinda Schwegmann

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Melinda Schwegmann
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 98th district
In office
March 30, 1998 – March 29, 2004
Preceded byGarey Forster
Succeeded byCheryl Gray
49th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
In office
January 13, 1992 – January 8, 1996
GovernorEdwin Edwards
Preceded byPaul Hardy
Succeeded byKathleen Blanco
Personal details
Born (1946-10-25) October 25, 1946 (age 76)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (since 2003)
Democratic
SpouseJohn F. Schwegmann
RelationsJohn G. Schwegmann (father-in-law)
Children3
Residence(s)Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

Melinda Burge Schwegmann (born October 25, 1946) is an American politician. She was the first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and was in office from 1992 to 1996.[1] While in office, she was a proponent of the arts and culture in the state.[1]

She ran unsuccessfully in the 1995 Louisiana gubernatorial election. She was, along with her opponent Mary Landrieu, the first woman to have a serious chance of winning the office.[2] She finished in 6th place out of the 15 running in that year's jungle primary.[3]

In 1997, she celebrated her 51st birthday by winning a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives.[3] She filled the unexpired term of Garey Forster.[3] She served until 2003, when she switched her political party from a Democrat to become a Republican and ran again for Lt. Governor.[4] She lost, coming in third place.[5]

She is married to John F. Schwegmann.[3] Through marriage, Schwegmann became a member of the family of grocery retailers that owned Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Wall & Rodrigue 2014, p. 443.
  2. ^ Wall & Rodrigue 2014, p. 436.
  3. ^ a b c d "Schwegmann revives political career". St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune. Franklin, Louisiana. October 27, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved July 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  4. ^ "Lt. governor's race: Landrieu and which Republican". The Daily Review. Morgan City, Louisiana. The Associated Press. September 25, 2003. p. 6. Retrieved July 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  5. ^ "Lt. Governor". The Ville Platte Gazette. Ville Platte, Louisiana. October 12, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  6. ^ "Grocery Pioneer Dies At 83 Schwegmann Built Empire". New Orleans Times-Picayune. March 7, 1995. Retrieved 20 February 2021.

Works cited[edit]