Malinda White | |
Smallimage: | Malinda White.jpg |
Term Start: | January 11, 2016 |
Term End: | January 8, 2024 |
Preceded: | Harold Ritchie |
Succeeded: | John Wyble |
Occupation: | Businesswoman Real estate agent |
Residence: | Bogalusa, Louisiana, US |
Party: | Republican (2022–present) |
Otherparty: | Independent (2021–2022) Democratic (until 2021) |
Alma Mater: | Southeastern Louisiana University |
State House: | Louisiana |
District: | 75th |
Malinda Grace Brumfield White (born April 1967)[1] is an American businesswoman and a former Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. She previously ran as an independent and as a Democrat.
In the primary election held on October 24, 2015, White defeated fellow Democrat Chuck Nassauer, receiving 5,906 votes (54.8 percent) to Nassauer's 4,868 (45.2 percent), thereby securing the seat vacated by Harold Ritchie.[2]
On June 9, 2021, State Representative Alan Seabaugh of Shreveport accused White of threatening to shoot him during a dispute over a domestic-abuse bill under consideration. White later apologized, stating that she "made comments to him in the heat of the moment that she should not have".[3] [4] [5] White withdrew the bill the next day.[5]
On July 1, 2021, White left the Democratic Party and switched her registration to "no party."[6] [7] On June 14, 2022, she switched her party affiliation again, this time to Republican.[8]
White has been actively involved in her community. In 2002, she became a certified facilitator of the Achieve Global Leadership Curriculum. She is a former member of the Bogalusa City Council and is the founder and chairwoman of the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival. Additionally, White is a founding member of the Bogalusa Gospel Music Festival. Her civic engagements include membership in several organizations such as the Youth Service Bureau of Washington & St. Tammany Parish, Court Appointed Special Advocate, Washington Parish Poole's Bluff Nature Trail Advisory Council, the Bogalusa Parks, Recreational, and Culture Commission, the Bogalusa Civic League, the Washington Parish Fair Board, Cassidy Park Museums Board, Washington Parish Commission on Human Services, and Washington Parish Economic Development Foundation.[9]
White ran for Washington Parish President in 2023.[10] In the October 14, 2023 election, White placed second, advancing to the November runoff election, where she was defeated by Ryan Seal.[11] [12]