Before his retirement from public office, Jim Brown was one of the longest serving public officials in Louisiana’s history. He was first elected to public office in l971 as one of Louisiana’s youngest State Senators. Many of the laws on the books today were authored by Jim. His efforts created the strongest public records and open meetings laws in the country. And he wrote landmark legislation that offered more public protection for financial privacy, and many of the state’s consumer protection law that still are in effect today.

In 1980, he was elected as Louisiana’s Secretary of State, and wrote major legislation to update the state’s election laws. He built what is considered to be the best state archives building in the country. And he streamlined the state’s corporation laws to make Louisiana more business friendly. The Shreveport Times called Jim the best Secretary of State in Louisiana history, and the Public Affairs Research Council labeled his office the most efficient in state government.

He was elected Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance in 1991, and immediately set out to rebuild this troubled department. Newspapers throughout the country have praised the job done by Jim.

Under his administration, the Louisiana Department of Insurance was granted accreditation by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which helped establish the Louisiana Department of Insurance as one of the top insurance regulatory agencies in the country. Insurance officials all over America credit Brown with making the dramatic turnaround in the Department of Insurance, which included legislative reform, reorganization, and modernization after he took the reins in 1991.

Brown came to the Department of Insurance with a strong background in legislative and administrative matters, having served eight years as Secretary of State and eight years as State Senator.

In addition to his official duties as of Insurance, Brown hosted a weekly public affairs television program, Town Meeting Louisiana Style, which can be seen on approximately 50 cable systems around the State of Louisiana. He frequently teaches classes in Louisiana history at both Louisiana State University and Tulane University.

Education has always played an important role in his life. Brown received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, attended Cambridge University in England, and received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he served as president of the Law School student body. He was a member of the United States Track Team in 1962-63 and maintains an avid interest in physical fitness.

Brown is married to Gladys Solomon, and is the father of three daughters and one son.