tara Hollis
Tara Hollis is a Christian wife, mother, and educator. Living on a small farm in rural North Louisiana, she raises cattle with her husband Glenn and three daughters. As substance farmers, Glenn and Tara raise their own food, and work to share what they have with others in their community. They are a certified state foster home, and hope to turn their farm into a youth ranch for troubled teens once their children are grown. Tara and her family are devout in their beliefs, and pursue life choices that honor God the Father, through Jesus Christ. More can be found about her faith under the ABOUT ME tab.
Tara is currently pursuing her second Masters Degree in the field of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and would like to open a private practice within her community to address the need for Mental Health services parish wide.
Tara Hollis is well known as the political radio show host for Our State of Affairs with Tara Hollis, and as a Candidate for Governor of Louisiana 2011. She attended Louisiana Tech University and earned a Master of Arts in Education, after attending Fort Hays State University earning a Bachelor of General Studies.
Prior to moving to Louisiana, Tara lived in a suburb of Memphis, TN, where the rest of her extended family still lives today. Tara has always sought a career that allows her to help others in her community. Prior to finishing her bachelors degree she worked in community emergency response as a 911 dispatcher. Her strong desire to make the world a better and safer place was instilled in her at an early age. Raised an "ARMY brat", Tara was exposed to various cultures, living for several years in both Europe and Asia. During this time her family was actively engaged in mission work and community service, these empowering experiences ultimately set an internal drive to help others through support, advocacy, and education.
The need to be a voice for the voiceless was most apparent in her bid for Governor of Louisiana in 2011, against incumbent Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal. After staggering budget cuts to public education, which resulted in a local reduction of staff, which included a RIF of her own husband, Tara could no longer stand idly by. In May of 2011, Tara launched a statewide campaign, which resulted in winning 18% of the vote in a jungle primary, only second to the former sitting Governor. Details on the election can be found below.
Elections 2011: Louisiana gubernatorial election of 2011 - Tara Hollis received 18% of the vote, garnering 182,925 total votes.
Overview of her 2011 Campaign:
Hollis is a pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Louisiana business candidate "committed to doing what's right for Louisiana." Her campaign centered around her 12 "core pledges to the people of Louisiana":
- Full transparency for the governor's office
- Ban on one-time money for recurring expenses
- Pledge to complete full term in office
- Reverse the sale of the office of group benefits
- Reimburse state for costs of political travel
- Review cuts to K-12 education
- Increase cigarette tax to offset the health costs of smoking
- Re-bid the tarnished $340 DHH Medicaid contract
- Reduce state workforce 15% by attrition
- Reduce state contracts by 10%
- Comprehensive review of all contracts awarded by the administration
- Make the governor's schedule public"
Endorsements In the 2011 race, Hollis has received endorsements from the following organizations and individuals:
- LAE Fund for Children & Public Education
- Monroe Louisiana Federation of Teachers
- Caddo/Bossier Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel
- United Women for Successful Change
- AFL-CIO of Greater New Orleans
- Building and Trades Council of Baton Rouge
- Louis Reine, President of the Louisiana AFL-CIO
- Central Trades and Labor Council of Southwest Louisiana
- Central Trade Council of Lake Charles
- Thibodaux Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
- Orleans Parish Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- East Baton Rouge Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- Jefferson Parish Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- St. Tammany Parish Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- Claiborne Parish Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- Washington Parish Democratic Parish Executive Committee
- Charles Riddle DA, Marksville
- Senator Butch Gautreaux, Morgan City
- Frank "Art" Flynn- DSCC Rep. District "43", Lafayette
- Dr. Mailo V. Mendoza, Ph.D, USAF (Ret), DSCC and Jefferson Parish ECM
- William Hymes, District #5 Police Jury, Natchitoches
- Dan McKay, Attorney at Law, Asst. DA - Bunkie
- Young Democrats of Louisiana
- Young Democrats of East Baton Rouge
- James D. Thomas, Young Democrats of Louisiana H.S. Chairman