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Cleo
Fields, was born November 22, 1962 in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a 1980 graduate of McKinley High School and a 1984
graduate of Southern University in the field of Mass Communications.
During his senior year at Southern University, he was elected Student
Government Association President, and was also elected by the Louisiana Council
of Student Body Presidents to serve on the Louisiana Board of Regents.
In 1987, Fields obtained his law degree from Southern
University School of Law after having clerked for both East Baton Rouge Parish
City Prosecutor's office and the Parish Attorney's Office.
Upon completion of law school, that same year, Fields
was elected to the Louisiana State Senate at the age of 24.
He became the youngest person ever elected to the State Senate in
Louisiana's history and at that time, the youngest in the nation.
As State Senator, he authored and passed legislation that established
Drug Free Zones near school campuses, an Inner City Economic Development
Program, and numerous other bills he helped co-authored for the betterment of
the 14th senatorial district.
In 1992, Fields was elected to the U.
S. House of Representatives as Congressman
of Louisiana's 4th Congressional district.
Here again, at the age 30, Fields held the position of
being the youngest member to serve in the 103rd Congress.
As Congressman, he introduced the Delta Initiatives Act, the Stolen Guns
Act, and the Check Cashing Act of 1993. He
secured funds for various projects and held numerous town hall meetings securing
several Presidential Cabinet members to address his constituents concerns
personally. He also created a Congressional Classroom for elementary
through secondary school-age students, noted for being the first of its kind in
the country, to develop leadership and self-esteem while understanding the
governmental process.
In 1995, he made a bid for the Governor
of Louisiana at which time he made a historical mark by being the first African
American to successfully win a run off spot, and became the democratic nominee.
He went on to complete two terms as Congressman.
Then, in the fall of 1996, he decided not to seek reelection due to
redistricting. Fields
then began a general consulting group known as Cleo Fields and Associates
where he serves as President and C.E.O.
On December 13, 1997, Cleo Fields was
elected to the 14th Senatorial District of Louisiana, returning him to his
political origin as State Senator. He
was elected by a landslide in the primary, with 75% of the vote over five other
candidates. He then served in the
Senate simultaneously with his younger brother, until his brother won a
judgeship, marking the first time in Louisiana’s history for two brothers to
serve at the same time. Once he
regained his senatorial seat, Fields also reestablished the Congressional
Classroom as the Louisiana Leadership Institute. It is a nonprofit youth organization that provides services
and programs to urban youth.
Fields not only enjoys creating the law, but also practicing it.
In 1998, he established his own firm, The Fields Law Firm, LLC, which
presently consists of three attorneys practicing a diversity of law.
At the onset of this new millennium, Fields began his own statewide
interactive radio talk show called none other than, Cleo Live.
It airs live weekly and centers around various issues effecting our state
and nation.
Fields served as Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus from 2000 –
2001 and recently served as co-chair of Rainbow/Push Board of Trustees.
He presently serves as their General Council.
Fields is a member of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Debra.
They have two sons, Brandon and Christopher.
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