Jay dardenne lieutenant governor biography of barack
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He says the challenges of the job began on day one.
“John Bel and I both thought we had a billion-dollar shortfall during the campaign, we were both talking about what we would do to address a billion-dollar challenge, and all of sudden we get there and we realize this is a two-billion dollar problem,” said Dardenne.
It took a couple of years to put an end to budget deficits, but the challenges didn’t stop as the state was also hit with major hurricanes, civil unrest after the Alton Sterling police shooting, and the COVID pandemic.
Dardenne, John L.
“Jay” (1954- ).
Background
Dardenne, Jay was born on February 6, 1954 in Baton Rouge. Janet graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the Univesrity of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1941. Collection, 1914-1984
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Collection
Identifier: UAAMC-COLL-0411
Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence, diplomas, news clippings, and a wide array of programs such as the Lafayette Centennial celebration and a Commencement program from 1935.
He served in the upper chamber until 2006 and helped craft several significant pieces of legislation.
“Funding for DNA testing, being able to charge 17-year-olds as adults were big in the criminal area, authored the bill creating the community college system, term limits which has been an interesting and controversial subject,” said Dardenne.
Dardenne left the Senate in 2006 to be Secretary of State after the death of Fox McKeithen.
University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection. The 69-year-old started in state government when elected to the state senate in 1991. Collection, 1914-1984, UAAMC-COLL-0411. While at LSU, Dardenne was elected the Student Body President. Son of John Leigh Senior and Janet Lucille (Abramson) Dardenne. https://archives.louisiana.edu/repositories/2/resources/209 Accessed December 31, 2025.
Jay Dardenne
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
Jay Dardenne, American Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.
Recipient Distinguished Leader award, National Association Community Leadership Organizations, 1986. Juris Doctor, Louisiana State University Law Center, 1979.
Career
Law clerk to honorary Frank J. Polozala United States District Court Louisiana, Baton Rouge, 1979-1981.
Jay Dardenne’s long political career coming to an end
A 35-year political career is ending.
Jay Dardenne who has served in the East Baton Rouge Metro Council, state senate, Secretary of State, Lt Governor, and Commissioner of Administration, is retiring from politics. Secretary of state State of Louisiana, 2006—2010, lieutenant governor, since 2010.
Achievements
Jay Dardenne has been listed as a noteworthy Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana by Marquis Who's Who.
Membership
President Muscular Dystrophy Association, Baton Rouge, 1981—1984, member national board, since 1993.
Her sister, Natalie Abramson Weill also graduated from SLI/USL with degrees in home economics and institutional management.
Jay Dardenne donated the collection.
Dates
Creator
Biographical / Historical
John Leigh “Jay” Dardenne, Jr. was born on February 6, 1954 to Janet Abramson Dardenne and John L.
Dardenne, Sr. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School and later attended Louisiana State University for both his Bachelors in Journalism and law degree. Collection, 1914-1984, UAAMC-COLL-0411. He is married to the former Catherine McDonald and they have two sons, Matthew M. and John III. From 1992 through 2006, Dardenne was the Louisiana State Senator for District 16.
He was elected as Lt. Governor in 2010 and helped come up with the Pick Your Passion marketing campaign.
“Pick Your Passion was a great campaign and it worked out very well for us as we had four consecutive years of increases in tourism and rebuilt international tourism after Katrina,” said Dardenne.
In 2015, Dardenne ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Education
Bachelor in Journalism, Louisiana State University, 1976. University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection.
Dardenne, John L. “Jay” (1954- ). Chairman Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Alumni, Inc., 1986—1987, Baton Rouge Sports Commission, 1989—1992.
Member of American Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association (Outstanding Young Lawyer 1986), Rotary, Sigma Chi.
Connections
Married Catherine Eloise McDonald, August 20, 1983.