Breaux Bridge Native Takes Seat in the State Legislature

Paula Davis, a 1991 graduate of Breaux Bridge High School, was sworn in as state representative for House District 69 on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Davis, a former deputy commissioner of insurance, took her oath of office a month early to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Erich Ponti, who resigned at the end of the last legislative session. She will be sworn in again in January with the rest of the new and returning House members, having defeated Baton Rouge Metro Council Member Ryan Heck by a 55-45 margin in the Nov. 21 general election.
“I am proud of my hometown roots and the tremendous support I received during my campaign from family and friends throughout Acadiana,” Davis said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better support system and hope to make the Breaux Bridge and Teche areas proud.”
Davis is the first Republican woman elected to the Legislature from East Baton Rouge Parish. She has been a resident of Baton Rouge for over 24 years.
During her tenure as deputy commissioner in the state Department of Insurance, Davis oversaw the regulation of commercial and personal lines of property and casualty insurance and was a senior policy advisor to the commissioner on property and casualty issues.
While at the Department of Insurance, she was also responsible for coordinating the department’s legislative initiatives, including revisions to the state insurance code.
Prior to her appointment as deputy commissioner, she was director of the Louisiana Property and Casualty Insurance Commission, which educated the public on automobile, homeowners and workers compensation insurance, as well as highway safety measures designed to stabilize automobile insurance rates.
Davis received a bachelor degree in political science from LSU.
She is married to John Davis, a partner at law firm of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell and Berkowitz.
Davis is the daughter of Ray and Susan Pellerin of Breaux Bridge.