Juan LaFonta

Juan Anthony LaFonta (born November 1972) is a New Orleans personal injury attorney and former Democratic State Representative for Louisiana representing Louisiana House District 96. He was elected in 2005 during a special election and was unopposed in his 2007 re-election. He runs Juan Lafonta and Associates, L.L.C.

LaFonta served as Louisiana first Freshmen legislator elected to Chairman of the Black Caucus. LaFonta also served on the Commerce Committee, the Insurance Committee, and the Retirement Committee. After Hurricane Katrina, LaFonta also served on the House Special Committee on Disaster Planning, Crisis Management, Recovery and Long-Term Revitalization.

Early life and education
LaFonta was born November 1972 in New Orleans, the son of a bricklayer and public school teacher. A graduate of Brother Martin High School, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans (1997) and his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center (2000.) LaFonta is also a former adjunct professor at Dillard University in New Orleans. LaFonta is of Creole descent.

Political career
LaFonta was elected to the Louisiana State Legislature in 2005 under a special election several months before Hurricane Katrina. LaFonta, represented District 96 which include the historic neighborhoods of Faubourg, Marigny, Treme and Gentilly. LaFonta was the first ever freshman legislator to be elected to a caucus in U.S. history when he became chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.

According to OurCampaigns.com LaFonta is "committed to economic development in his community, working to ease the tax burden on local businesses to help create jobs. He is a believer in accessible healthcare, championing the effort to rebuild Charity Hospital and pushing legislation to expand healthcare coverage and requirements on insurance companies." LaFonta served on several committees during his run in office including the Commerce Committee, the Retirement Committee, the Insurance Committee.

After Hurricane Katrina, he served the House Special Committee on Disaster Planning, Crisis Management, Recovery and Long-Term Revitalization. LaFonta also negotiated 1.2 billion dollars for the gulf coast region after Hurricane Katrina. After losing the 2010 Democratic nomination in the 2010 U.S. House of Representatives elections, 2nd District, to fellow Democrat legislator Cedric Richmond, LaFonta endorsed the incumbent Republican Joseph Cao, who was subsequently unseated by Richmond. LaFonta did not seek reelection to the state House in the 2011 primary. He was succeeded on January 9, 2012, by a fellow Democrat, Terry Landry, a former superintendent of the Louisiana State Police from Lafayette Parish.

Other notable positions

 * Adjunct Professor of Public Health Law at Dillard University New Orleans
 * First Freshman legislator to be elected Chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
 * Louisiana State Representative District #96
 * Louisiana Latino Commission, Member
 * Phi Beta Sigma fraternity member

Awards

 * Kentucky Colonel, 2007
 * Louisiana State Troopers Association, Legislator of the Year, 2011