John Bel Edwards John Bel Edwards ( born 1966 in Amite , Louisiana ) is a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives , representing the 72nd District since 2008 . Edwards grew up in Amite , Louisiana , the son of Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff and Edwin Edwards confidant Frank M . Edwards Jr . John Bel Edwards was graduated from Amite High School as Valedictorian and received a bachelor ' s degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point , New York , in 1988 . After a tour in the U . S . Army Edwards returned to Louisiana to receive a law degree from the Louisiana State University Paul M . Hebert Law Center in 1999 . He is a practicing attorney with the Edwards & Associates Law Firm in Amite . He is the brother of Southeastern Louisiana University mathematician and Independence , Louisiana , chief of police Frank Millard Edwards and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel H . Edwards , and he is brother - in - law to 21st Judicial District Court Juvenile Judge Blair Edwards ( née Downing ) , a Republican . Legislative career . John Bel Edwards faced tough criticism from the local NAACP President Pat Morris , when she thought that , as a district which had been gerrymandered to have an African - American majority , the 72nd district would best be represented by an African American . ( As of 2013 the ethnic demographics of the district have existed since the 1970s , but the district has never been represented by an African American . ) Edwards was the only freshman lawmaker to chair a committee in the legislature . Edwards chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee in the House . Edwards also chairs the Democratic house caucus and did so as a rarity during his freshman term . In the 2008 election Edwards was forced into a general election run - off with fellow trial lawyer George Tucker , Tucker campaigned primarily on the fact that he defended a Jena Six member . Edwards was overwhelmingly elected , winning every parish in the district . Cities / towns that Edwards represents include Amite , Greensburg , and Kentwood as well as parts of Saint Francisville and Hammond , Louisiana . In 2010 Edwards became a critic of governor Bobby Jindal for the governor ' s frequent trips away from Louisiana to raise political funds for Republicans elsewhere while cutting funding for Louisiana ' s public institutions of higher education . In 2011 Edwards was re - elected to the State House of Representatives . Edwards claimed a strong win against opponent Johnny Duncan , taking 83 % to Duncan ' s 17 % . Nonetheless , Edwards indicated disinterest in being a candidate to unseat Jindal in the Louisiana gubernatorial elections during 2011 . Edwards serves as chairman of the Louisiana House Democratic Caucus , making him the Louisiana House Minority Leader . On 21 February 2013 , Edwards announced that he would run for Governor of Louisiana in 2015 . He said that the state needs " a healthy dose of common sense and compassion for ordinary people " . Personal life . Edwards and his wife , Donna Hutto Edwards , have two daughters ( Sarah Edwards and Samantha Edwards ) and one son ( John Miller Edwards ) . He is a faithful parishioner of Saint Helena Roman Catholic Church in Amite .