Robert T. Garrity Jr.

Robert T. Garrity Jr. (born March 23, 1949),^[1] is a lawyer in Harahan, Louisiana,^[2] who is a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for suburban District 78 in Jefferson Parish. He served from 1988 to 1992 during the administration of Governor Buddy Roemer.

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held in October 1987, Garrity was placed into a runoff with the incumbent Republican representative, Eddie Doucet, a former Democrat first elected in 1972.^[3] Garrity led with 6,197 votes (48.2 percent) in a four-candidate field; Doucet, who sought a fifth term, trailed with 5,348 (41.6 percent). Two other candidates, both Democrats, held the remaining 10 percent of the votes in the heavily Republican district. One of those candidates was former state Representative Clyde F. Bel Jr., of Orleans Parish.^[4] In the second round of balloting, called the general election in Louisiana even though both candidates were of the same party, Garrity prevailed, 6,106 (53 percent) to Doucet's 5,407 (47 percent).^[5] In October 1991, Garrity was unseated after one term by fellow Republican Shirley D. Bowler, 8,986 votes (59.3 percent) to 6,167 (40.7 percent).^[6]

In 1999, Garrity ran unsuccessfully for the District 5 seat on the Jefferson Parish Council. He was defeated by fellow Republican John Lavarine, 8,559 (58.6 percent) to 6,053 (41.2 percent).^[7] Lavarine was succeeded in 2004 by Jennifer Sneed Heebe, a former District 81 state House member.

Garrity has also resided Pensacola, Florida, and New Orleans, dates unavailable.^[8] He graduated from the University of New Orleans and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He is Roman Catholic and a member of Ducks Unlimited.^[9]

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