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PETS & POLITICS
Written by Betsy O'Leary Photos by Johnny Chauvin
If you are a pet owner in Tangipahoa or Livingston Parish, you may already know Dr. Bill Wheat, DVM. As an area veterinarian for over 40 years, he has provided a high level of commitment and compassion when treating his animal patients. As the State Representative for District 73 in Southern Tangipahoa Parish, he has shown those same values when representing his constituents in Baton Rouge.
Representative Wheat has now set his sights on the newly created Senate District 37, the result of a burgeoning population shift to three parishes — Livingston, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany. Wheat notes that District 37 is large and fully-encompasses the entire House District 73, so once elected, he will still serve all his current constituents.
GIVING A VOICE TO THE NORTHSHORE IN BATON ROUGE As the new district has no incumbent, Wheat looks forward to becoming the voice in the Baton Rouge Senate to those living in the region, sharing their unique concerns. For instance, many residents of Livingston Parish and southern Tangipahoa expressed their unease with the carbon dioxide capture and sequestration beneath Lake Maurepas. Representative Wheat urged caution to slow the process until more can be learned about the long-term effects. Infrastructure improvements for roads and bridges, drainage, traffic congestion, along with the rising crime rates are some of the other concerns that Dr. Wheat is committed to work on within the new Senate District.
ROOTS RUN DEEP IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA Dr. Wheat is a lifelong resident and native son of Ponchatoula. He was born and raised on a small farm on the east side of Ponchatoula where the core values of community involvement, helping neighbors and human kindness were instilled in his character. He built his thriving veterinarian practice on the west side of the city. Before becoming a public servant, Representative Wheat was always active in identifying a need in the community and working on a solution for it. He was involved with establishing the Ponchatoula Area Recreational District (PARD)
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