Melvin L. "Kip" Holden (born August 12, 1952) is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The parish includes the state capitol of Baton Rouge and smaller suburban cities like Baker and Zachary. He was elected the city's mayor on November 3, 2004. He unseated the Republican incumbent, Bobby Simpson, even as President George W. Bush and Congressman Richard Baker were winning in East Baton Rouge Parish. Holden was inaugurated on January 3, 2005. Image File history File links Image of Baton Rouge mayor, Kip Holden. ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city Baton Rouge [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... Capitol Building Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state of the United States of America. ... Baker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana as part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area. ... Zachary is a city located in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Democratic Party. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Richard Baker is the name of several well-known people, including: Richard Baker (chronicler) (1568–1645), English chronicler Richard Baker (broadcaster) (born 1925), BBC broadcaster Richard Baker (composer/conductor) (born 1972), British composer and conductor Richard Baker (politician) (b. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Holden's election is significant in that he is the first African-American Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish. His election was made possible on account of the support of his African-American base in the city's core, but also with substantial support from suburban white voters, many being Republicans. Support from the latter group was buoyed by the support of Jim Bernhard, CEO of The Shaw Group, and other leaders in business and industry in the Baton Rouge area, but largely a result of severe dissatisfaction with the performance of Mayor-President Simpson. This was demonstrated in dramatic fashion by the fact that President Bush received 54 percent of the parish vote in his re-election campaign and Congressman Baker received 69 percent. Holden in the same election secured 54 percent of the parish vote. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Christianity (predominantly Baptist), Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Christianity (predominantly Baptist), Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The Shaw Group is a Fortune 500[1] corporation headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...

Previous to his political career, Holden became known as a journalist and later an attorney.

Holden has been married over 20 years to Lois Stevenson Holden and has five children; Melvin II, Monique, Angela, Myron, and Brian-Micheal.

Professional history

• Louisiana State Senator, District 15

• Southern University School of Law - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Adjunct Professor of Law (1991-Present)

• Louisiana House of Representatives State Representative, District "63", (1988- 2001)

• Councilman, Baton Rouge Metro Council District "2" (1984-1988)

• Louisiana Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

La Clerk The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ...

• Baton Rouge City Police - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Public Information Officer

• United States Census Bureau - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Public Relations Specialist The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

• WBRZ Channel 2 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Reporter, (1978-1979) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

• WWL Radio - New Orleans, Louisiana

Reporter, (1977-1978) WWL is a long-time radio station in New Orleans, Louisiana that began broadcasting in 1922. ...

• WXOK Radio - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

News Director, (1975-1977)

Education

• Southern University School Of Law - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Juris Doctor, (1985)

• Southern University - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Master of Arts, Journalism, (1982)

• Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Bachelors of Arts, Journalism, (1974)