Richard Alvin Tonry

Richard Alvin Tonry
U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 1st congressional district
In office January 3, 1977 – 4 May 1977
Preceded by	Felix Edward Hebert
Succeeded by	Bob Livingston
Louisiana State Representative from District 103 (Orleans and St. Bernard parishes)
In office January 1976 – December 1976
Preceded by	Elmer R. Tapper
Succeeded by	Edward S. Bopp
Personal details
Born	(1935-06-23)June 23, 1935 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Died	July 3, 2012(2012-07-03) (aged 77) Lumberton, Mississippi
Resting place	St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette, Louisiana
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Spring Hill College Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Occupation	Lawyer

Richard Alvin Tonry (June 25, 1935 – July 3, 2012) was a Louisiana politician affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Birth

Tonry was born in New Orleans on June 23, 1935.

Education

He graduated in 1962 from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. In 1967, he earned a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He practiced law in the New Orleans area for almost a decade before being elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary held at the state level in the fall of 1975.

Politics

He served a year (1976) in Louisiana House District 103 and eight months (1977) from Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Shortly after taking his state House seat, Tonry declared his candidacy for the United States Congress after the 36-year Democratic incumbent, Felix Edward Hébert, announced his retirement. He narrowly defeated Republican Bob Livingston, an assistant state attorney general, in one of the last congressional elections held before Louisiana adopted its nonpartisan blanket primary.

Allegations

Tonry was accused of stealing votes by stuffing ballot boxes in St. Bernard Parish, a suburb of New Orleans. He was also charged with receiving illegal campaign contributions. These allegation ultimately led to his resignation, his guilty pleas of campaign finance irregularities, and a six-months prison sentence.

Resignation

When Tonry resigned from Congress, a special election was called in August 1977, and Republican Livingston was easily elected to replace him. This seat has remained in Republican hands since that time.

Death

Tonry died of natural causes in 2012 at the age of 77.

External links

• Richard Alvin Tonry at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Felix Edward Hebert	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st congressional district 1977	Succeeded by Bob Livingston
Preceded by Elmer R. Tapper	Louisiana State Representative from District 103 (Orleans and St. Bernard parishes) Richard Alvin Tonry 1976	Succeeded by Edward S. Bopp