Tim Temple, Insurance Commissioner
DeRidder insurance industry veteran Tim Temple is running against incumbent Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon in this year’s fall election that features a slate of statewide offices, including governor. Both men are Republicans. Temple says he was inspired to run after hearing repeated complaints from Louisianans about one thing in particular.
“The number one item that people are talking to me about are their auto rates. We are in a crisis mode in this state. People are paying more than twice, or almost twice the national average.”
The Insurance Commissioner is also responsible for a number of insurance industries, including healthcare.
Temple says he plans to address our sky high auto insurance rates by working with the industry that he’s been a part of for nearly two and a half decades…
“Over those 24 years ive been everything from a re-insurance agent, an independent insurance agent, to the CEO of a TPA, so I’ve worn a lot of different hats.”
Temple says the key to lower rates is attracting more insurance companies, which would promote competition.
Statewide races are expensive, and doubly so for political newcomers with a lack of name recognition like Temple. He says he plans on traveling the state, spreading his message, and anticipates he’ll be receiving financial support from Louisiana industries sick of high auto rates.
“I think business is paying attention to how much insurance is impacting their bottom line, so I think I’’ have good support from the business industry.”
We reached out to Commissioner Donelon, who says he’ll be running for for re-election, and we’ll have more on his re-election effort in the future.
