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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 135
BY REPRESENTATIVE KLECKLEY
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Sheila McCant upon her retirement as the first Public
Information Officer for the La. House of Representatives
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Sheila McCant upon her retirement after a long career of dedicated public2
service, culminating in her longtime service as the first Public Information Officer3
for the Louisiana House of Representatives.4
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation5
be extended to Sheila McCant for an outstanding career in public service; and6
WHEREAS, Ms. McCant has shared her time and efforts with the Louisiana House7
of Representatives since April of 1976, when she was hired as the committee secretary for8
the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure; and9
WHEREAS, in 1981, Ms. McCant was promoted to the position of administrative10
secretary for the House Legal Division, serving in this position until August of 1982, when11
she transferred to the office of Speaker John Hainkel; and12
WHEREAS, Ms. McCant served as the executive secretary to Speaker Hainkel until13
March of 1984, when she left the House staff to become his legislative assistant; and14
WHEREAS, in March of 1988, Ms. McCant returned to the House staff as an15
administrative secretary in the office of Speaker Jimmy Dimos, serving in this capacity until16
January of 1992, when she became the legislative administrator for the Independent Caucus17
on the House general staff; and18
WHEREAS, in 1997, Ms. McCant created the Public Information Office with the19
blessing of Speaker Hunt Downer, and she has served with great distinction and20
effectiveness as the House's first Public Information Officer since that time; and21 HLS 12RS-4595 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Ms. McCant has provided superb leadership as the director of the Public1
Information Office, which is responsible for assisting House members and staff with public2
information and media relations and provides such services as producing publications that3
increase knowledge of and promote public involvement in the legislative process, acting as4
liaison with schools and community organizations, and developing audio, video, and print5
communication materials for legislator and staff use; and6
WHEREAS, Ms. McCant has been recognized with numerous honors and awards for7
her excellence in her profession, including numerous first place awards in the Louisiana8
Press Women's Margaret McDonald Journalism Contest over multiple years; and9
WHEREAS, in addition to her work at the Louisiana House of Representatives, Ms.10
McCant has been very active with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and11
played an instrumental and formative role in the creation of the NCSL staff section for12
communications professionals, the Legislative Information and Communications Staff13
Section (LINCS), which was created in 1999 and in which she has held a number of14
leadership positions; and15
WHEREAS, Ms. McCant has also shared her time and talents as a member of the16
Louisiana Bicentennial Commission, created to mark the two hundredth anniversary of17
Louisiana's attainment of statehood as the eighteenth state in the Union, and she has played18
an important role in helping the commission to achieve its goal of commemorating the19
Bicentennial in every corner of the state through both education and celebration; and20
WHEREAS, upon her retirement, Ms. McCant will be greatly missed by the21
members and staff of the Louisiana House of Representatives, who will continue to respect22
and admire her and value her friendship; and23
WHEREAS, Sheila McCant will remain an inspiration to her fellow citizens for the24
vital contributions she has made in her career of very effective public service, and she merits25
the highest commendation and sincere congratulations for her exemplary term of service and26
for her singular contributions to the state, whose citizens will long reap the benefits of her27
legacy of excellence and professionalism.28
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the29
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Sheila McCant upon her retirement after a30 HLS 12RS-4595 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 135
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long career of dedicated public service, culminating in her longtime service as the first1
Public Information Officer for the Louisiana House of Representatives, does hereby record2
for posterity her noble accomplishments and the exemplary strides she has taken during3
more than three decades of highly productive public service, does hereby express gratitude4
for her many years of distinguished service and for the able assistance she has given to the5
House, its members, and staff, does hereby pay tribute to her for the generous way in which6
she has dedicated her intelligence and her energy to the service of her state, does hereby7
express to her enduring appreciation for the deep sense of pride and honor she brings to the8
House, to the legislature, and to the state of Louisiana, and does hereby extend to her every9
good wish for success and happiness in all of her future endeavors.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted11
to Sheila McCant.12
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Kleckley HR No. 135
Commends Sheila McCant upon her retirement after a long career of dedicated public
service, culminating in her longtime service as the first Public Information Officer for the
La. House of Representatives.