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Senator Alario, now in his second term as the
State Senator of District 8, is the current Senate President, having been chosen
by his fellow Senators for the leadership post at the beginning of the 2012-2016
legislative term. The Dean of the Louisiana Legislature previously served nine
terms as the State Representative for House District 83, including two terms as
Speaker of the House, from 1984-1988 and from 1992-1996. The second in Louisiana
and fifth in the nation to hold the top leadership post in both the House and
the Senate, Senator Alario is the only Louisiana legislator to serve as House
Speaker twice and as President of the Senate.
As Senate President, Senator Alario serves as a
member of the State Bond Commission, the Revenue Estimating Conference, and the
Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay. He also serves as an ex-officio
member of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and is an ex-officio
non-voting member of all standing Senate Committees. During his first term in
the Senate, Senator Alario chaired the Select Committee on Coastal Restoration
and Flood Control, and was a member of the Senate Finance, Commerce, and
Judiciary B Committees, the State Bond Commission, and the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget.
During his service in the Louisiana House of
Representatives, Senator Alario served as Chairman of the Appropriations, Ways
and Means, and House Executive Committees, as well as Chairman of the Joint
Legislative Committee on the Budget, and Joint Legislative Committee on Capital
Outlay. He also served as a member of the Natural Resources, Retirement, House
and Governmental Affairs, Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, Commerce,
and Judiciary Committees, and the State Bond Commission, Interim Emergency
Board, Revenue Estimating Conference, Legislative Budgetary Control Council,
Joint Committee on Charities, House Legislative Services Council, Special
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Louisiana Recovery District.
Senator Alario has four children and four
grandchildren. He is a 1965 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, and
the West Jefferson High School Class of 1961. He was a teacher with the
Jefferson Parish School System from 1965-1966, and an Accountant from 1966-1972.
Since 1972, he has been a Tax Consultant and owner of John A. Alario, Jr. Income
Tax Service.
In 1994, the Louisiana House of Representatives
unanimously passed a resolution designating a new committee room addition in the
State Capitol as "Alario Hall." This distinction by the membership of the House
of Representatives was in recognition of Speaker Alario's efforts and tremendous
foresight in spearheading construction of additional committee rooms, in order
that the citizens of Louisiana would have a place to offer input and participate
in the legislative process.
Senator Alario served on the Governor's Advisory
Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation, the Louisiana
International Deep Water Gulf Transfer Terminal Authority, and the American
Legislative Exchange Council Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force.
Other activities include membership in the Knights of Columbus, Westwego
Volunteer Fire Department, and the National Society of Public Accountants. He
served on the Democratic Executive Committee in Jefferson Parish, and in 1972,
he attended the Democratic National Convention in Miami. In 1973, he was elected
to the Constitutional Convention, and in 1996 and 2000, he was a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention. Senator Alario also served on the Board of the
Louisiana Epilepsy Association, Task Force for Juvenile Facilities in Jefferson
Parish, Development Advisory Board of Archbishop Shaw High School, West
Jefferson Metroplex Civic Center Committee, and the Louisiana Kidney Foundation.
From 1979 to 1985, he served as Chairman of the Louisiana Exposition Authority.
Senator Alario is the recipient of numerous
honors and distinctions for his many years of service, including: The Jefferson
Parish Public School System Distinguished Citizen Award, Southeastern Louisiana
University Golden Ambassador Award, Chamber of Commerce Business Champion Award,
Professional Firefighters Association Outstanding Legislator Award, Police Jury
Outstanding Legislator Award, Louisiana State Troopers Association Legislator of
the Year Award, Louisiana Federation of Teachers Representative of the Year
Award, ARC Association for Retarded Citizens Outstanding Legislator Award,
Southeastern Louisiana University Business Alumnus Award, Jefferson Parish
Marine Fisheries Loyal Support of Fishing Industry Award, Alliance of Louisiana
Developmental Centers Outstanding Legislator Award, Southeastern Louisiana
University Distinguished Alumnus Award, Michael J. Yenni Lifetime Democratic
Achievement Award, the Hale Boggs Outstanding and Dedicated Service to Community
Award, the Waggaman Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, West Jefferson High
School Outstanding Alumnus Award, Southeastern Louisiana University Support and
Dedication Award, Legislator Champion Award/LATAN, Special Olympics Champion
Award, Mervin L. Trail, MD Founder's Award, the Louisiana Family Forum Family
Advocate Award, the Right to Life Federation 100% Life Advocate Award for the
2008-2011 legislative sessions, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Honorary Membership Award, the Louisiana Truancy Program Champion Award, and the
Extra Mile for Persons with Disabilities Leadership Award. Senator Alario is
also an inductee into the West Jefferson High School Hall of Fame, and the
Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
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