Governor Landry Signs SB 462 Into Law

 

BATON ROUGE, LA— Today, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed into law Senator Valarie Hodges bill—SB 462 . This bill gives the governor the authority to appoint the chairs of boards that he already appoints the majority of the membership. Following the signing of SB 462, Governor Landry appointed Stephen I. Dwyer as the chairman of the Housing Corporation and Mark E. Romero as chairman of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Mark Romero was appointed as chairman under Governor John Bel Edwards as well. 

 

The Louisiana Housing Corporation is responsible for administering federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of affordable housing for working families. The LHC also guides housing policy for Louisiana and oversees the state's Disaster Housing Task Force. The LHC has had a severe lack of stable leadership and issues with fiscal responsibility since its creation, resulting in failure for Louisianans.

 

Stephen I. Dwyer is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law where he was Editor in Chief of the Law Review.  He is admitted to practice in Louisiana and in Texas and he is a licensed title insurance agent.  Mr. Dwyer practices in the areas of business transactions, business litigation and commercial real estate development.  He has served as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Loyola University School of Law teaching real estate development law and he is a certified real estate lecturer.  He has led several community and civic organizations such as the Coquille Recreation and Park District, the Miracle League Northshore and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society.  Mr. Dwyer has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Louisiana State Bar Association and was President of the Louisiana State Bar Association for 2022-2023.  He serves as a member of the Finance Committee of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and is a member of the board of Jefferson Community Foundation.  He resides in Metairie, Louisiana and is married to Jefferson Parish Councilwoman, Jennifer Van Vrancken.  He is the father of five children and grandfather of six grandchildren.

 

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System is the management board of nine public universities: Grambling, Louisiana Tech, McNeese, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern, ULL, ULM, UNO. 

Mark began his business career as an Internal Auditor, when he was appointed as the youngest officer in the history of City Bank & Trust Company. In 1990, Mark moved from City Bank to the Iberia Parish School Board where he assumed the role of Purchasing Agent until February 1995. Mark is an Executive Vice President for Brown & Brown Insurance, beginning his career with them in 1999.  He is responsible for Louisiana and Mississippi operations and is a member of the Leadership Council for Brown & Brown Insurance.  Mark is currently a board member of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, where he previously served as Chairman and Vice Chairman. Mark E. Romero is a native and lifelong resident of New Iberia, LA and an alum of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He and his wife Cindy have two wonderful children, Madison and Ben.  

 

 

“This bill simply aligns key facets of government behind the policy priorities that the people of Louisiana elected our administration to tackle. Appointing both Stephen Dwyer and Mark Romero to these important positions will ensure stable leadership, accountability, and positive reform to both our education and housing systems,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “We came into office ready to put Louisiana on the right path forward, and this is a key part of that puzzle.”