Biden appoints La. Legislature Black Caucus Chair Ted James to the SBA

By Wes Muller
Contributing Writer

(lailluminator.com) — President Joe Biden has appointed state Rep. Ted James (D-Baton Rouge) to serve as a regional administrator in the U.S. Small Business Administration.

James was among six others appointed to what the White House called “key regional leadership roles.” As the SBA’s Region 6 administrator, James will oversee district offices in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The district offices are the point of delivery for most SBA programs, providing service to the local small business community.

The news release said the appointments are consistent with Biden’s commitment to build a diverse administration and “critical to the President’s efforts to rebuild communities most impacted by the pandemic, the economic recovery, and climate change.”

TED JAMES

James was first elected to the Louisiana House in November 2011 and serves as chairman of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee and chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. Outside of the legislature, James is an attorney and director of operations for the Baton Rouge office of the Urban League of Louisiana.

James said he intends to step down from his legislative position this month. The Legislature meets for its special session on political redistricting in February.

This article originally published in the January 17, 2022 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.