Charles W. DeWitt Jr.

Charles W. DeWitt Jr. (born February 4, 1947), known as Charlie DeWitt, is a Democratic former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having served from District 25 (Rapides and Vernon parishes) from 1980 to 2008. He was the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2000 to 2004 during the second term of Republican Governor Murphy James "Mike" Foster Jr. In Louisiana, the governor plays a major role in selecting the House speaker despite the separation of powers.

DeWitt was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. DeWitt Sr. He graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria in 1965. One of his classmates was another future Louisiana state legislator, Jock Scott, of District 27. The two were also House colleagues from 1980 to 1988, but Scott switched to the GOP in 1985.

DeWitt is married to the former Patricia "Dale" Riddick. A farm-ranch operative, DeWitt is a member of the Cattleman's Association and the coproducer of a rodeo company. Their mailing address is in Lecompte (pronounced LE COUNT) in southern Rapides Parish.

Prior to his legislative service, DeWitt was a member of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the parish's governing board, akin to the county commission in other states, from 1972 to 1980. He was the jury vice president from 1976 to 1978, having served under the president, L. B. Henry of Pineville. He is a member of the Amicus Club and serves on the advisory board of the Alexandria Area Child Protection Agency. He is on the board of directors of the Farm Bureau. He was chairman of the Heart Fund and a former member of the Rapides Parish Stormwater Management and Drainage District.

Early in 2007, DeWitt was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent treatment. The disease was found in an examination conducted by his son, the Alexandria physician Dr. Chance DeWitt. Both of his parents were cancer victims. The recovery rate based on early detection of the cancer is considered very good.

DeWitt was term-limited from seeking a seventh term in the state House in the October 20, 2007 nonpartisan blanket primary. His successor was fellow Democrat Christopher Roy Jr., brother of Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy. Roy defeated Republican Lance Maxwell in the November 17 general election. Maxwell had led in the primary with 6,226 votes (41 percent) to Roy's 5,282 ballots (35 percent). A third candidate, former Alexandria Police Chief Glen Beard, a Democrat, trailed with 3,538 votes (24 percent).

DeWitt stunned the Louisiana political scene in October when he endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal, the outright winner of the primary election. DeWitt is Roman Catholic.

In 2004, DeWitt was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.

In 2014, DeWitt came out of political retirement to run for Alexandria city marshal, a position in Wards 1, 2, and 8 of Rapides Parish. He entered into a runoff election with incumbent Terence Grines, a fellow Democrat. Other primary candidates were Edward Butler Jr., Steve Edwards, and Beau Meynard, the only Republican in the five-man field. DeWitt narrowly lost the marshal's race to Grimes, 8,566 votes (48.3 percent) to 9,172 (51.7 percent). The radio commentator Moon Griffon referred to DeWitt's attempted comeback as another defeat for the "Old Guard" of Louisiana politics.

On October 21, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards appointed DeWitt to the Louisiana Public Service Commission for District 4, filling the vacancy left by the death of Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway, a Republican. DeWitt was not a candidate in the November 8 general election for the next six-year term on the PSC; the candidates for the seat were Republicans Mike Francis and Reldon Owens of Alexandria and Democrat Mary Leach Werner (born January 1968) of Lake Charles, the older daughter of former U.S. Representative Buddy Leach of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. DeWitt completed Holloway's term, which expired on December 31, 2016. Holloway had been elected without opposition in 2010. District 4 covers the following parishes: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Vermilion, and Vernon. Francis, who won an outright majority over his two rivals in the November 8 primary election, will hence succeed DeWitt on January 1, 2017.

In 2004, DeWitt was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.