Buddy Leach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theLouisiana Democratic Party | |
| In office January 31, 2010 – April 28, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Whittington |
| Succeeded by | Karen Carter Peterson |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Joe D. Waggonner |
| Succeeded by | Buddy Roemer |
| Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives from the Allen, Beauregard, and Vernon parishes | |
| In office 1968–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Bert A. Adams |
| Succeeded by | William H. West |
| In office 1984–1988 | |
| Preceded by | William H. West |
| Succeeded by | John R. Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Claude Leach Jr. (1934-03-30)March 30, 1934 Leesville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2022(2022-08-06) (aged 88) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Louisiana State University (BA, JD) |
| Occupation | Businessman; attorney |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1959 |
Anthony Claude Leach Jr., known asBuddy Leach (March 30, 1934 – August 6, 2022), was an American businessman, lawyer, military veteran, andDemocratic politician fromLouisiana. From 1979 to 1981, he served one term as aU.S. representative forLouisiana's 4th congressional district. He also served as a member of theLouisiana House of Representatives and as chairman of theLouisiana Democratic Party.
In2003, Leach was an unsuccessful candidate forgovernor of Louisiana in an election won byKathleen Blanco.[1][2]
Leach was born inLeesville inVernon Parish in western Louisiana. He graduated fromLeesville High School in 1951. In that same year, Leach enteredLouisiana State University, from which he earned his Bachelor of Science. In 1954, Leach was diagnosed withpolio. He suffered from temporaryparalysis but eventually recovered from the disease.[3]
After attending college, Leach served in theUnited States Army from 1956 to 1959. He returned to higher education for law school and, in 1963, he obtained hisJuris Doctor from theLouisiana State University Law Center inBaton Rouge. In 1964, he was admitted to theLouisiana State Bar Association and began a law practice in Leesville.[1]
After his father Anthony Leach, Sr. died, "Buddy" Leach began running the familyplumbing business. Leach sold the business after finding new jobs for all of the employees.[citation needed]
He later became president and CEO of Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company and North American Land Company inLake Charles inCalcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana.[3]
Leach joined the Democratic Party, which through the mid-20th century was dominated in Louisiana by conservative white members.
In 1968, Leach was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. In his first term, he served in a two-member district with fellow Democrat E. Holman Jones ofOakdale, Allen Parish. Leach was reelected in 1972 and 1976.
In 1979, he gave up his seat to run for U.S. Representative fromLouisiana's 4th congressional district and was victorious. His election was marred by the disclosure that he purchased hundreds of votes with moon pies and RC Colas but the majority in the House of Representatives(Democrats) certified him as a member anyway. Then in 1980, he was unseated by fellow DemocratBuddy Roemer ofBossier Parish.[4] Roemer later shifted to the Republican Party, a pattern increasingly followed by conservative whites in the state.
In 1983, Leach sought to regain his former state legislative seat.[5] He defeated incumbent Democrat,William H. West. In his last term as a state legislator, Leach served on the House Ways and Means Committee. In this capacity, he recommended that a tax be placed on foreign oil processed within the state.[1][3]
In 2003, Leach launched his gubernatorial campaign, seeking a runoff berth in a crowded field. He campaigned on changing the operations of state government. He suggested that the state use a "brillo pad" to "scrub the budget." Having been diagnosed with polio at a young age, the topic of health care in Louisiana was one of his main priorities. Many young voters were attracted to his campaign's message. He had teams of volunteers set up inShreveport,Baton Rouge, andNew Orleans.[3] Many other candidates were in the race, including DemocratsKathleen Blanco, thelieutenant governor; andRichard Ieyoub, the outgoingstate attorney general.
Republicans ranBobby Jindal as their candidate. Leach came in fourth place in the blanket primary behind Kathleen Blanco, Bobby Jindal, the top two finishers, andRichard Ieyoub. Kathleen Blanco went on to win the general election over Republican Jindal.
In 2010, Leach was elected chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party in a special election.[6] During his tenure as chairman, the party struggled to field candidates for statewide offices. This was a contrast from when Leach first entered politics in what was then an overwhelmingly Democratic state dominated by conservative whites. Before the late 1960s, African Americans were still largelydisenfranchised in the state, totally excluded from politics, as they had been since 1898.[7]
The party was unable to find a well-funded candidate to run in 2011 against Governor Bobby Jindal. For the first time sinceReconstruction, Democrats lost both houses of the state legislature to Republicans. On April 28, 2012, Leach lost his reelection bid as state party chair to State SenatorKaren Carter Peterson of New Orleans.[2]
Leach's younger sister,Carolyn Leach Huntoon, served as director of theJohnson Space Center from 1994 to 1996, and was an assistant secretary in theU.S. Department of Energy from 1999 to 2001. Leach's children include his eldest daughter, Mary Leach Werner (born January 1968), who has followed him into politics. She was an unsuccessful candidate for theLouisiana Public Service Commission in 2016 for the seat held by the lateClyde C. Holloway, a former U.S. representative fromLouisiana's 8th congressional district, since disbanded. She was defeated byMike Francis ofLafayette, a formerLouisiana Republican Party state chairman.[8]
Leach died from heart failure in Baton Rouge on August 6, 2022, aged 88.[9][4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Louisiana State Representative for Allen, Beauregard, and Vernon parishes 1968–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Louisiana State Representative for Beauregard, Vernon, and part of Rapides parishes 1984–1988 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 4th congressional district 1979–1981 | Succeeded by |
