Louisiana Governor. She served as the 54th Governor of Louisiana from January 12, 2004 to January 14, 2008. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After graduating from college, she taught business at Breaux Bridge High School in Louisiana. She later was a stay-at-home mom for her six children. She went on to work for both the United States Department of Commerce during the 1980 Census initiative and Coteau Consultants, a political and marketing research firm co-owned by her and her husband. In 1983, she was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives and served in this legislative body for five years. She became the first woman to serve on the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 1988, when she defeated Republican Kernan "Skip" Hand for a seat on the regulatory agency board. She served on the commission for seven years before being elected, as a Democrat, to the position of Lieutenant Governor in 1995. She went on to serve as lieutenant governor for eight years. In November of 2003, she defeated Republican Bobby Jindal in the state's gubernatorial election and served as governor for four years before deciding not to seek re-election in 2007. Her tenure as governor was marked by the two major hurricanes that struck Louisiana in 2005, Katrina and Rita, and her administration's response to these two natural disasters. In December of 2017, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away two years later after a lengthy battle with the disease.

Louisiana Governor. She served as the 54th Governor of Louisiana from January 12, 2004 to January 14, 2008. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After graduating from college, she taught business at Breaux Bridge High School in Louisiana. She later was a stay-at-home mom for her six children. She went on to work for both the United States Department of Commerce during the 1980 Census initiative and Coteau Consultants, a political and marketing research firm co-owned by her and her husband. In 1983, she was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives and served in this legislative body for five years. She became the first woman to serve on the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 1988, when she defeated Republican Kernan "Skip" Hand for a seat on the regulatory agency board. She served on the commission for seven years before being elected, as a Democrat, to the position of Lieutenant Governor in 1995. She went on to serve as lieutenant governor for eight years. In November of 2003, she defeated Republican Bobby Jindal in the state's gubernatorial election and served as governor for four years before deciding not to seek re-election in 2007. Her tenure as governor was marked by the two major hurricanes that struck Louisiana in 2005, Katrina and Rita, and her administration's response to these two natural disasters. In December of 2017, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away two years later after a lengthy battle with the disease.

Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye