Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) appointed Louisiana State University professor Belinda Davis to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education effective January 13, 2020. Davis fills the at-large seat formerly held by Lurie Thomason, who resigned in December 2019 for health-related reasons.

Davis ran unsuccessfully for the 70th District seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2019 and the East Baton Rouge Parish school board in 2014. She holds a master’s and a Ph.D. in political science from Florida State University and specializes in public policy.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has 11 members—eight members elected by district and three appointed at-large. At the time of Davis’ appointment, the partisan split of the elected members was six Republicans and two Democrats. The at-large seats are non-partisan, though Davis ran for the Louisiana House as a Democrat.

Davis’ appointment comes after Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White’s announcement that he plans to resign in March 2020. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with appointing the Superintendent.

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Additional reading:
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Louisiana Superintendent of Education
Lurie Thomason