Sen. Stine officially takes office
Published 9:35 pm Tuesday, February 1, 2022
- State Sen. Jeremy Stine is formally sworn in Tuesday. (Special to the American Press)
Jeremy Stine was formally sworn in as senator of Louisiana’s 27th Senate District in English and French. The ceremony was held in the Louisiana Senate Chambers.
“I wanted to pay homage to my French ancestors and heritage as well as French immersion programs throughout the state,” Stine said.
Stine’s genealogy on his mother’s side includes names such as LeFleur, Fontenot and Carrier. He is a product of the first French immersion program in Calcasieu Parish, according to a news release from his office. He attended the program at Prien Lake Elementary, S.J. Welsh Middle School and A.M. Barbe High School.
“All of my teachers were wonderful,” he said. “But Mr. Luc Champagne and Mrs. Martine Verbesselt were not only great teachers but mentors and advocates for preserving the Cajun-French culture.”
He won the 27th State Senate District seat in the November 2021 special election. The election was necessary after Ronnie Johns was appointed chairman of the Louisiana State Gaming Board. Johns had held that office since 2012.
The Louisiana Legislature first created the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) in 1968 to preserve and to promote the French language. Although the Cajun-French language is on the decline, Stine said he is confident the French language will continue to be preserved through CODFIL programs.
“The French language is an integral part of our cultural identity,” he said.
The senator lived in France for just over a year, studying abroad in the Louisiana State University Institute of Political Science (Institut d’études politiques d’Aix-en-Provence) program.
Canon Jean Marie Moreau swore him in. Moreau is a priest from St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur, which is part of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Moreau was born in Tours, France.
“The Institute’s stated goal is to give glory and honor to God. I was honored to have my priest from Sulphur swear me in,” Stine said.
Yolanda Dixon, secretary of the Louisiana State Senate, swore Stine in, in English.
“Today I took the first steps in carrying out my promise of fighting for our values of faith, family and community,” Stine said, “and remaining steadfast in my commitment to be your humble servant.”
