Charlie Melançon
Charles Joseph Melançon (; born October 3, 1947) is an American politician and the former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. From 2005 to 2011, he was the U.S. representative for . He earlier served as a state representative, from 1987 to 1993. In 2010, he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by the Republican David Vitter. Early life, education and career Melançon was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, the son of Nicee L. "Brownie" (née Talbot) and Joe Melançon. The grandson and great-grandson of sugar cane farmers, Melançon has spent most of his life in Napoleonville, 50 miles south of Baton Rouge. He owned and operated several small businesses, including two Baskin-Robbins outlets. He also served as head of the American Sugar Cane League. Louisiana House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Melançon ran in 2004 for the House of Representatives seat in Louisiana's 3rd congressional district and won. Committee assignments Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Very soon after being sworn in January 2005, Melançon joined the Blue Dog Coalition. Like most Southern Democrats, he is more conservative than most