Sherman Copelin facts for kids

Sherman Nathaniel Copelin, Jr. was born in August 1943 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is an American politician and businessman.

Early Life and Education

Sherman Copelin grew up in New Orleans. His father worked as a funeral director. Sherman attended St. Augustine High School.

College Years and Student Leadership

After high school, Copelin went to Dillard University. This is a historically black university. While there, he became very active in student politics. He was even elected as the student body president.

Starting a Political Career

In 1968, Sherman Copelin began working in the government. He served as an aide for Mayor Victor Schiro in New Orleans. This was his first step into public service.

Leading a Political Group

In the 1970s, Copelin became a key leader. He and Don Hubbard led a group called SOUL. This stood for Southern Organization for Unified Leadership. SOUL was important for bringing together African American voters.

Supporting Key Candidates

SOUL helped many candidates win elections. They supported people like Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. They also helped New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu. This made Sherman Copelin a powerful person in Louisiana politics.

Public Service in the Legislature

In 1986, Sherman Copelin was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He represented the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. This was an important role in the state government.

Becoming Speaker Pro Tempore

Later, he became the Speaker Pro Tempore. This means he helped lead the House of Representatives. He served in this position from 1992 to 1996.

Re-election Challenge

Copelin was very successful in his business dealings. This led him to move to a different part of New Orleans. This new home was outside the district he represented. Because of this, his right to represent the district was questioned. He lost his re-election campaign in 1999 to Reverend Leonard Lucas.

Other Political Efforts

Sherman Copelin also ran for mayor of New Orleans. He tried to become mayor in the 1994 election. However, he was not successful in that race.

Current Activities

Today, Sherman Copelin is still involved in his community. He is the head of the New Orleans East Business Association. This group works to support businesses in the area.

Community Stance After Hurricane Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans faced many challenges. Sherman Copelin has spoken out against building new apartment complexes in New Orleans East. He believes this is not the best plan for the area's recovery.