Candidate Profile

Marvin Lee Kip Holden Political Party: Democrat Age: 61 Spouse: Lois Stevenson Holden Current Residence: Baton Rouge, LA Children: Melvin II, Monique, Angela, Myron and BrianMichael Holden Occupation: Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish Religious Affiliation: Baptist

Biography
Marvin Kip Holden was born in New Orleans on August 12, 1952. He graduated from Scotlandville Senior High School in Baton Rouge in 1970 and graduated from the LSU Manship School of Mass Communications in 1974. After graduating from LSU, Holden became the news director of WXOK Radio in Baton Rouge. He later served as a news reporter for WWL Radio in New Orleans. Holden then began his career in television broadcasting as a reporter for WBRZ in Baton Rouge in 1978. While working at WBRZ, Holden earned his M.A. in journalism from Southern University in 1982. Holden later worked as a public relations specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, public information officer for the Baton Rouge City Police, and law clerk for the Louisiana Department for Labor Office of Workers Compensation. Holden was elected as the District 2 Councilman of the Baton Rouge Metro Council in 1984. In 1985, he graduated from

Southern University Law Center with a J.D. degree. In 1988, Holden was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 63. Holden became an adjunct professor at the Southern University Law Center in 1991 and later graduated from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in 2001. Holden ran for State Senator in for District 15 in 2001 after Senator Wilson Fields resigned to run for a district judgeship. In 2004, Holden unseated Republican incumbent Bobby Simpson for Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, backed by a black base and local business and industry groups. As Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Holden has maintained an aggressive economic development plan, marked by significant investment in housing and transportation infrastructure, diversification of Baton Rouges economic base, and an increased profile for local higher education (LSU, SU, and BRCC) and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Electoral History EBR Mayor Kip Holden Mike Walker Gordon Mese Steve Myers 2012 Democrat Republican No Party No Party 115, 305 65, 972 6, 585 4, 256 60% 34% 3% 2%

EBR Mayor Kip Holden Dan Kyle Wayne Carter Ron Johnson

2008 Democrat Republican Republican Democrat 75, 450 12, 886 11, 341 6, 320 71% 12% 11% 6%

EBR Mayor Kip Holden Bobby Simpson

2004 (Runoff) Democrat Republican 94, 802 81, 142 54% 46%

EBR Mayor Kip Holden Bobby Simpson

2004 Democrat Republican 39, 470 38, 206 35% 34%

William Daniel Nat Bankston

Democrat Republican

27, 662 4, 892 900 765 703

25% 4% 1% 1% 1%

John B. Fontenot Republican Leroy Davis Stephanie Greco Democrat Other

State Senate Kip Holden Scott Hornsby Tick Cobb Brenda Carter

2001 Democrat Other Democrat Democrat 8, 599 6, 025 1, 993 363 51% 35% 12% 2%

EBR Mayor Bobby Simpson Kip Holden

2000 (Runoff) Republican Democrat 93, 952 71, 087 57% 43%

EBR Mayor Kip Holden Bobby Simpson

2000 Democrat Republican 34, 780 27, 928 21, 820 31% 25% 20%

Rolfe McCollister Republican

Donna Mayeux Roxson Welch Fred Dent, Jr.

Democrat Republican Republican

12, 680 7, 847 6, 339

11% 7% 6%

EBR Mayor Tom Ed McCugh Kip Holden

1996 Republican 75, 413 66%

Democrat

38, 641

34%

State Rep. Kip Holden Doc Greggs

1995 Democrat Democrat 8, 168 2, 485 77% 23%

State Rep. Kip Holden Felton Douglass

1991 Democrat Democrat 9, 417 2, 806 77% 23%

State Rep. Kip Holden

1987 Democrat 6, 391 3, 817 63% 37%

Jewel J. Newman Democrat

State Rep.

1983 (Runoff) 4, 747 3, 816 55% 45%

Jewel J. Newman Democrat Kip Holden Democrat

State Rep.

1983 4, 691 3, 599 2, 485 44% 33% 23%

Jewel J. Newman Democrat Kip Holden Henry Allen Democrat Democrat

Strengths and Weaknesses

Holden has served for 31 years in a variety of offices in both local and state government. During that time, he has developed sizable political clout and name recognition in the Baton Rouge area. Holden was elected Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish in 2004, unseating Republican incumbent Bobby Simpson. Holden is the first African American Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish and was elected with a strong African American base as well as a coalition of business interests, namely Bernhard Shaw of the Shaw Group, the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Baton Rouge, (The Shaw Group has since been bought for $3 billion by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company). Holden has a successful electoral history, winning both of his State Representative reelections by 54 points and Mayoral reelections by 42 and 20 points.

Holden raised $414, 485 in the 20 months leading up to his 2012 election with 32 single donations of $5, 000, showing heavy reliance on large donations. Holdens main competitor in the 2012 election, Republican Mike Walker, raised $332, 000 with only 3 single donations of $5, 000. While a Democrat might be able to attack Holden with populist rhetoric highlighting the number of large donations, it would be difficult for a Republican to make such a claim. Holden has a sound record of economic development and as Mayor-President has focused on courting businesses to invest in Baton Rouge. Holden outlined his plan for development in Baton Rouge in a plan adopted by the city in 2011, which calls for housing revitalization and significant infrastructure investment. Holdens record of economic development can be strong focal point in the campaign. While Holden has steered clear of the contentious social issues in a socially conservative southern state, Holden is a coalition member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group founded by northeastern mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York City and Thomas Menino of Boston. Having ties to support for gun control legislation is dangerous running in a statewide election in Louisiana. For as long as he has been in public office, Holden has remained relatively scandal free. There have been rumors about Holdens involvement in extramarital affairs, but Vitter cannot attack Holden on the issue, given his own promiscuity. Holden was accused of misuse of campaign contributions in his 2012 election by purchasing over $18, 000 in LSU football tickets and parking passes, giving a constituent money for funeral costs, and paying for students to study abroad but little has come about it in the courts and Baton Rouge residents do not seem concerned with such spending.