Jim McCrery

Jim McCrery

James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III (born September 18, 1949), is an American lawyer who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1988 to 2009; he represented the 4th District of Louisiana, based in the northwestern quadrant of the state.

McCrery was a ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Republican Main Street Partnership (a group of moderate Republicans). Had the Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House in 2007, he would have been in line to chair the Ways and Means Committee. Instead, the slot went to the veteran Democrat Charles Rangel of Harlem in New York City.

On December 7, 2007 McCrery announced his decision not to seek reelection in 2008. Closed primaries were held by both parties in the fall to begin the process of choosing a successor to McCrery. In a general election scheduled for December 6, Republican physician John C. Fleming of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish, narrowly defeated the outgoing Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul J. Carmouche, a Democrat from Shreveport. McCrery's choice as his successor, Jeff R. Thompson, a Bossier City attorney, was eliminated in the Republican primary. After Fleming won the Republican nomination, McCrery endorsed him in an appearance on Moon Griffon's syndicated radio program. In 2011, Thompson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives.