Mike Danahay

Michael Edward Danahay, known as Mike Danahay (born December 30, 1957),^[1] is a sales representative from Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, who is the mayor of Sulphur, a small city located near Lake Charles.

He is also a Democratic former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 33 in Calcasieu Parish in the southwestern portion of his state. First elected in 2007, he began his third and final term in office on January 11, 2016.^[2]

Background[]

Danahay graduated c. 1975 from Sulphur High School in Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish and thereafter obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles. He is a salesman for Lake Charles Office Supply.^[2] He has formerly resided in Baton Rouge and Vinton, also in Calcasieu Parish, dates unavailable.^[3]

Political career[]

Danahay won without opposition the District 33 House seat vacated by the Democrat (and later Republican) Ronnie Johns, who was thereafter elected without opposition in 2011 to the Louisiana State Senate.^[4] Danahay won his second term again without opposition in the primary election held on October 22, 2011.^[5]

Representative Danahay served on the Louisiana Rural Caucus, the Acadiana delegation, and the Democratic Caucus. He serves on these committees: (1) Governmental Affairs (Vice chairman), (2) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, (3) Ways and Means, (4) Executive, and (5) Joint Capital Outlay.^[2]

Danahay's legislative ratings ranged from 67 to 88 percent from the conservative . In 2012, he was rated 83 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored him 89 and 80 percent, respectively. From 2008 to 2018, he was rated every year as 100 percent by Louisiana Right to Life.^[6]

In 2014, Danahay co-sponsored the requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the measure passed the House, 88-5. He voted to extend the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He voted to prohibit the transportation of dogs in the bed of a pick-up truck on interstate highways. In 2013, Danahay voted to reduce penalties for possession of marijuana. He supported lifetime concealed carry gun permits and the taking of weapons into restaurants. He opposed making information about permit holders a matter of public record. In 2012, he voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving. He voted to reduce the number of hours that polling locations remain open. Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days. In 2011, he supported the requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients.^[7]

Danahay left the legislature upon his election as mayor of Sulphur. In the election held on March 24, 2018, he unseated the Republican incumbent, Christopher "Chris" Duncan, 2,310 (58 percent) to 1,657 (42 percent).^[8] Danahay was succeeded in the legislature by a Republican, .

References[]