Sherman A. Bernard
Sherman Albert Bernard Sr. | |
---|---|
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner | |
In office 1972–1988 | |
Governor | Edwin Edwards Dave Treen |
Preceded by | Dudley A. Guglielmo |
Succeeded by | Douglas D. "Doug" Green |
Personal details | |
Born | Schriever, Louisiana, US | June 10, 1925
Died | May 11, 2012 Marrero, Louisiana, US | (aged 86)
Resting place | Garden of Memories in Marrero |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Julia Speranza Bernard (deceased) |
Children | 6 |
Residence(s) | Marrero, Jefferson Parish |
Occupation | Businessman |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Sherman Albert Bernard Sr. (June 10, 1925 – May 11, 2012) was an American businessman from Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs, who served from 1972 to 1988 as the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance. He is mainly remembered for having served twenty-six months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to extortion in federal court in connection with his job duties.[1][2]
Background
Bernard was born in Schriever in Terrebonne Parish in south Louisiana, and graduated from Terrebonne High School in Houma in Terrebonne Parish. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Early in his career he was an officer of the Louisiana State Police. At the time he entered the race for state insurance commissioner, Bernard was in the house moving, trucking, and construction business in Westwego on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish.[3]
State politics
In 1968, Bernard was elected to the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.
In 1974, Bernard challenged
In 1983, Bernard was forced for his final term as insurance commissioner into a general election, popularly called the runoff in Louisiana, with the Republican candidate, Dave Brennan, an insurance executive.[citation needed] In the primary, Bernard led with 652,060 votes (46.7 percent); Brennan trailed with 362,147 (26 percent).[12] Bernard won his fourth and final term as commissioner in the general election, having polled 553,230 votes (54.9 percent) to Brennan's 453,793 (46.1 percent). Turnout dipped sharply in the second race because there was no gubernatorial contest at the top of the ticket, as[13] Edwin Edwards had unseated David Treen in the primary.
In the September 27, 1986, primary for the U.S. Senate seat finally vacated by Russell Long, Bernard finished in fourth place with 52,075 votes (4.4 percent), three more than the fifth-place candidate, fellow Democrat J. E. Jumonville, Jr.[14] Victory for the seat ultimately went to another Democrat, U.S. Representative John Breaux of Crowley of Louisiana's 7th congressional district, who defeated the Republican choice, U.S. Representative Henson Moore of Baton Rouge of Louisiana's 6th congressional district.
Bernard was ousted from office in the 1987 nonpartisan blanket primary by fellow Democrat Douglas D. "Doug" Green of Baton Rouge, 773,026 (55.3 percent) to 456,539 (32.6 percent).[15]
Although Green had run on a platform to clean up irregularities in the department – he even called himself "Mr. Clean" – Green was subsequently implicated in the Champion insurance scandal and was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, a far longer period than Bernard would later serve. Champion was found to have made more than $2 million in campaign contributions to Green in exchange for regulatory favors.[3]
Arrest and Trial
Bernard was the first of three successive insurance commissioners to be convicted and serve time in federal prison for unrelated crimes (preceding Doug Green and James H. "Jim" Brown). He confessed in 1993 to having extorted $80,000 during the 1980s; the money was disguised as campaign contributions from insurance companies in return for obtaining operating licenses in Louisiana.[3] State Representative Harry Hollins of Calcasieu Parish led a legislative committee in 1978 which began investigating Bernard.[16]
He pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and was later sentenced to twenty-six months in federal prison which he served at FPC Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama.[3]
Bernard recalled that he had a view of the Alabama State Capitol from the prison bus that took him daily to his job changing light bulbs and sweeping a large auditorium.[17] He was released on September 20, 1996.[18]
Comeback
In 1991, Bernard tried to return to the insurance commissioner's office, but he finished the primary with just under 19 percent of the vote.[19]
Victory instead went to
Death
The
References
- ^ "Jim Bradshaw, "Louisiana's seen several jailed state officials", October 2002". capitolwatch.reallouisiana.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ^ "Rick Jervis, "Insurance chief up against Louisiana's past", March 30, 2008". usatoday30.usatoday.com. March 30, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dominic Massa, "Ex-insurance commissioner Sherman Bernard dies at 87," May 11, 2012". WWL-TV. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ^ "Sherman A. Bernard, p. 23" (PDF). parlouisiana.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- ^ Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, February 1, 1972
- ^ Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, October 26, 1974, p. 2962
- ^ Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, November 1, 1975
- ^ Shreveport Journal, October 11, 1979, p. 9D
- ^ Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 27, 1979
- ^ "The Williamsons of Caddo Parish: A Political 'Mini-Dynasty'", North Louisiana History, Winter 2008, p. 38
- ^ Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, December 8, 1979
- ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 1983". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "Louisiana general election returns, November 19, 1983". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 24, 1987". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "Guide to Harry Hollins Papers" (PDF). ereserves.mcneese.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^ "Rate Post (Prison)". bbvforums.org. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ^ "Inmate Locator". bop.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 19, 1991". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "Louisiana general election returns, November 16, 1991". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "In Memory of Sherman Bernard Sr". obits.dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved June 16, 2013.