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Vance McAllister
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 16, 2013
Preceded by	Rodney Alexander
Personal details
Born	Vance Michael McAllister (1974-01-07) 7 January 1974 (age 51) Oak Grove, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kelly Duncan McAllister (m. 1997); 5 children
Residence	Swartz, Louisiana
Alma mater	University of Louisiana at Monroe
Occupation	Diversified businessman

Vance Michael McAllister, Sr. (born January 7, 1974), is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th congressional district. A resident of Swartz, near Monroe, McAllister has a background in business and the military. He won a special runoff election held on November 16, 2013, for the seat vacated by fellow Republican Rodney Alexander. He defeated State Senator Neil Riser of Columbia, who was the choice of much of the state's Republican leadership.

According to the office of Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler in Baton Rouge, McAllister defeated Riser, 54,449 (59.7 percent) to 36,837 (40.3 percent), with all 981 precincts reporting.

Background

McAllister is a lifelong resident of northeast Louisiana. He was born to Gene and Kathy McAllister in Oak Grove, Louisiana. The senior McAllister worked for forty-two years at the former International Paper Company mill in Bastrop. McAllister grew up on a small community in West Carroll Parish and graduated in 1992 from Forest High School in Forest, Louisiana, south of Oak Grove. Immediately after high school, McAllister entered the United States Army, in which he became a combat medic and served a tour of duty in South Korea. Later, he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He subsequently joined the Louisiana National Guard and attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe but dropped out to accept employment from Mustang Engineering, a company which sent him on foreign assignments. He remained affiliated with Mustang until he resigned to run for Congress.

Business career

McAllister first worked in the oilfield technology business and then branched into oil and natural gas leasing, real estate, convenience stores, pipeline construction, equipment rental, and the promotion of wrestling matches and other sporting events. His most successful company is an oil exploration and production company, Texas Coastal Energy Company, based in Irving. Texas Coastal explores for oil and natural gas domestically, and is run by its CEO, Jeff Gordon. He has a Fox Pizza fast-food restaurant franchises and owns three Subway sandwich shops, two in Monroe and one in Oak Grove.

U.S. House of Representatives

2013 election

McAllister was politically unknown until he entered the contest to choose a successor to Rodney Alexander, who stepped down on September 26, 2013, in the first year of his sixth term in Congress, to join the administration of Governor Bobby Jindal as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. With 18 percent of the vote, McAllister finished second among fourteen candidates in the first round of balloting held on October 19. State Senator Neil Riser finished first with 32 percent of the vote. In the first round of balloting, Riser led McAllister by nearly 15,000 votes and carried thirteen of the twenty-four parishes in the district.

McAllister was the leading votegetter only in West Carroll and Richland parishes but ran a strong second to Riser in Ouachita Parish. As the top two candidates, Riser and McAllister, entered the runoff contest.

The catalyst for McAllister strong showing in the race is believed in part to have been due to the celebrity endorsement of Phil Robertson of the Duck Dynasty television series, which is filmed in West Monroe. Robertson had joked that McAllister has less political experience than Riser as a factor in McAllister's favor.

Riser stressed his own experience acquired since 2008 in passing legislation, working on the Louisiana state budget, and performing constitutent services, but McAllister disagrees. "Look where experience has gotten us. Washington is so disconnected from the 5th District that voters are turning their backs on the establishment," McAllister is quoted in an interview with the Monroe-based journalist Greg Hilburn.

McAllister spent more than $400,000 of his own money in the primary campaign. "A lot of people are seeking me out now asking how I got here, more about my business and background and who I am and what I stand for. They asked why did you put your money in there. It's because there's no strings attached to me. I'm a complete outsider. I've earned everything I've in this race myself," McAllister told Hilburn. McAllister said that since the primary he has received limited funding from supporters in the runoff campaign. He spent an additional $400,000 in the race against Riser.

McAllister and Riser both oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law in 2010 by President Obama, but the two differ on how to approach the legislation known as Obamacare. McAllister opposed the United States federal government shutdown of 2013 as a proper method to force the repeal of the measure: "Obamacare is a nightmare, but it's a reality, and it's here. have to live with it, we have to make it livable. We have to make it work for the people until one day we to repeal it." Riser supported the House Republicans' failed effort to de-fund the Affordable Care Act despite the temporary government shutdown. He supports a balanced budget at the national level, as is required for all the states. McAllister said that he would support a path to citizenship for individuals already in the country illegally. Riser, however, urged that border security be addressed before any other immigration concern. Riser endorsed the House approach of piecemeal immigration reform, rather than the comprehensive route favored by the U.S. Senate.

Though Louisiana's congressional delegation supported Riser, McAllister won the support of the third-place special election candidate, Jamie Mayo, the Democratic mayor of Monroe. Mayo said he found McAllister "more approachable" than Riser. Days later, McAllister garnered the endorsement of Republican Clyde C. Holloway, who ran fourth in the primary, just behind Mayo.

On November 16, 2013, McAllister carried 14 of the 24 parishes in the district, including large margins in his home parishes of West Carroll and Ouachita as well as in Rapides, the largest parish in Central Louisiana, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Richland, and the African-American majority parishes, East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas. Riser fared best within his state Senate district, including his home parish of Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, and La Salle and several of the Florida Parishes in the southeastern corner of the state.

Tenure

Upon taking office, McAllister retained Alexander's congressional staff, headed by Gregory Adam Terry (born 1980), formerly of Harrisonburg and Ruston, Louisiana. McAllister's swearing-in marked his first ever trip to Washington, D.C. He predicted that he will take conservative positions most of the time, but on occasion he will vote liberal on roll call votes. "Every incumbent ought to be a little nervous. ... The 5th District spoke and they spoke loud and clear. They see that if one of the poorest districts in the country can do it , why wouldn't one of the most powerful districts in the country do it?", McAllister said, after he was sworn into office by Speaker John Boehner.

After two months in office, McAllister told a Monroe Chamber of Commerce gathering that the job of U.S. representative "sucks. It ain't no fun. But, the day I start enjoying it in Washington, D.C., is the day that I should come home." McAllister said he will focus on cutting spending and will serve in a 'bipartisan' capacity: "People are sick and tired of government not working. Bipartisanship is necessary for government to work. All this talk about government shutdown is unnecessary."

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
• Committee on Natural Resources

Personal life

McAllister and his wife, the former Kelly Duncan, whom he married in 1997, have five children and reside in rural Swartz, Louisiana. He is a member of the North Monroe Baptist Church. He describes his decision to run for Congress as a "prayerful one. Many people make light of my spiritual faith, but that is okay with me. I know the blessing that I have received from the good Lord and the inner peace that comes from being a believer. ... I knew there were a number of qualified people in the district to be congressman, but also I realized that I had the time and the financial capability ... that maybe didn't." According to members of McAllister's staff, Mrs. McAllister was aware of her husband having another relationship outside their marriage.

Video of McAllister kissing female staffer

On April 7, 2014, The Ouachita Citizen newspaper of West Monroe posted online a copy of a surveillance video from an anonymous source which shows McAllister kissing a woman in his Monroe district office. According to the news source, the video was recorded in McAllister's Monroe congressional office on December 23, 2013, five weeks after his election to Congress. McAllister is shown turning off the lights and then kissing a woman for approximately thirty seconds.

McAllister made a statement concerning the video: "There's no doubt I've fallen short and I'm asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve". McAllister's chief of staff, Adam Terry, said that the staff member shown kissing McCallister was fired by the congressman within twenty-four hours of the video going public. Former opponent Republican State Senator Neil Riser said, "I think right now we should be mindful and sensitive to the families who are involved.” The woman featured in the video published by the The Ouachita Citizen was subsequently identified as Melissa Anne Hixon Peacock, a long-time, married employee of McAllister. The woman's husband, himself a high school classmate of McCallister, said he was seeking divorce from his wife as a result of the affair.

According to members of McAllister's staff, Mrs. McAllister was aware of the affair prior to release of the video. According to the woman's husband, his wife told him about the relationship prior to the video being released.

References

1. ^ "5th congressional district special election returns, November 16, 2013". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
2. ^ James Ronald Skains, "Riser, McAllister placed in runoff for Congress seat", The Piney Woods Journal, November 2013, pp. 1-4
3. "About Vance McAllister". Facebook. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
4. "Results for Election Date: 10/19/2013". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
5. "Scott Kaufman, Duck Dynasty' patron Phil Robertson endorses Vance McAllister because he 'has the least experience', October 20, 2013". rawstory.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
6. ^ "Greg Hilburn, Neil Riser: No time for amateur hour in Congress". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved November 3, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
7. ^ "Vance McAllister: 'Look where experience has gotten us', November 3, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved November 3, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
8. ^ "McAllister: Election sends message to incumbents, November 24, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved November 24, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
9. "Mayo supports more approachable McAllister". The News-Star. Monroe, LA. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
10. McGaughy, Lauren (November 5, 2013). "Holloway endorses McAllister ahead of 5th Congressional District election". Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
11. "Greg Hilburn, McAllister makes first trip to D.C., November 20, 2013". The News-Star. Retrieved November 24, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
12. ^ "Barbara Leader, U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister: Congressional job 'sucks'". Shreveport Times. January 23, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
13. http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20131204/NEWS01/312040029/McAllister-secures-spots-on-ag-natural-resources-committees
14. "Despite video scandal, McAllister says he does not intend to resign". Washington Post. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
15. "UPDATED: McAllister caught in extramarital encounter, issues apology (video)". The Ouachita Citizen. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
16. ^ "Rep. McAllister asks forgiveness following video of him kissing woman". The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved April 8, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
17. Mustian, Jim (2014-04-09). "Voters let down by 'kissing congressman'". Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved 2014=04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
18. "McAllister district manager leaked kissing video, staffer's husband says it 'has wrecked my life'". New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. April 8, 2014. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |title= (help)
19. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/08/husband-on-kissing-congressman-he-has-wrecked-my-life/
20. "Despite video scandal, McAllister says he does not intend to resign". Washington Post. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
21. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/08/husband-on-kissing-congressman-he-has-wrecked-my-life/

External links

• Congressman Vance McAllister official U.S. House site
• Vance McAllister for Congress
• Template:Dmoz
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart

v t e Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana
1st district	E. Livingston White H. Johnson White Slidell La Sére St. Martin Dunbar Eustis Bouligny Sypher Lawrence Gibson Hunt St. Martin Wilkinson Meyer Estopinal O'Connor Fernández Hébert Tonry B. Livingston Vitter Jindal Scalise
2nd district	Gurley Thomas Ripley Chinn Dawson la Branche Thibodeaux Conrad Bullard J. A. Landry Hunt Taylor Mann Sheldon Ellis Hahn Wallace Lagan Coleman Lagan Davey Buck Davey Gilmore Dupré Spearing Maloney H. Boggs Maloney H. Boggs L. Boggs Jefferson Cao Richmond Carter
3rd district	Brent Overton Bullard Garland J. Moore Dawson Harmanson Penn Perkins Davidson Newsham Darrall Acklen Darrall Kellogg Gay Price Broussard Martin Montet Mouton Domengeaux Willis Caffery Treen Tauzin Melançon J. M. Landry Boustany Higgins
4th district	Bossier Morse J. Moore Jones Sandidge Landrum Vidal Newsham McCleery Boarman Smith Levy Elam Blanchard Ogden Breazeale Watkins Sandlin Brooks Waggonner Leach Roemer McCrery Fields McCrery Fleming M. Johnson
5th district	Blackburn Morey Spencer Leonard Young King Newton Boatner Baird Ransdell Elder Wilson Mills McKenzie Passman Huckaby McCrery Cooksey Alexander McAllister Abraham Letlow
6th district	Nash E. Robertson Lewis Irion E. Robertson S. Robertson Favrot Wickliffe Morgan Sanders Sr. Favrot Kemp Sanders Jr. Griffith Sanders Jr. Morrison Rarick H. Moore Baker Cazayoux Cassidy Graves Fields
7th district	Pujo Lazaro De Rouen Plauché Larcade Thompson Edwards Breaux Hayes John Boustany
8th district	Aswell Overton Dear Allen G. S. "Doc" Long McSween G. W. Long S. Long G. W. Long C. Long Holloway
At-large	Robertson Butler Johnston Sheridan
Territory	Clark Poydras

Template:Persondata

• 1974 births
• Living people
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana
• Louisiana Republicans
• Businesspeople from Louisiana
• People from West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
• People from Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
• Southern Baptists
• United States Army soldiers
• University of Louisiana at Monroe alumni