Sharon Weston Broome

Sharon Weston Broome
Broome, in 2018
Sharon Weston Broome
Born	Sharon Weston 1 10, 1956
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First African-American woman to serve as Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Education	University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (BA) Regent University (MA)
Spouse(s)	Marvin Broome
Children	3

Sharon Weston Broome (born October 1, 1956) is an American politician who served as the Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish from January 2, 2017, to January 2, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Broome made history when she became the first African-American woman elected to serve as mayor-president of Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital city and second-largest metropolitan area. Before entering municipal government, Broome built a lengthy career in state politics, serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2005 and in the Louisiana State Senate from 2005 to 2016, where she rose to the position of President Pro Tempore. Her career in public service spanned more than three decades, encompassing legislative work on education, public health, and social issues at the state level, and executive governance over infrastructure, public safety, and economic development in Baton Rouge. In late 2024, Broome was elected president of the National League of Cities, though she was subsequently defeated in her bid for a third term as mayor-president by Republican Sid Edwards.

Early Life

Sharon Weston was born on October 1, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. Details regarding her parents and upbringing in Chicago remain limited in publicly available records. Broome eventually relocated to Louisiana, where she would build her political career and establish deep roots in the Baton Rouge community. She married Marvin Broome, and the couple raised three children together.

Education

Broome earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. She later pursued graduate studies and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Regent University, a private institution in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her educational background provided the foundation for a career in public policy and governance that would span multiple levels of Louisiana government.

Career

Louisiana House of Representatives (1992–2005)

Sharon Weston Broome began her career in elected office in 1992, when she won a seat representing the 29th district in the Louisiana House of Representatives. She succeeded Clyde Kimball and would go on to serve in the House for thirteen years, spanning multiple legislative terms. During her tenure in the House, Broome engaged with a broad range of policy issues, including education, healthcare, and social welfare. Her legislative work brought her increasing prominence within the state Democratic Party and the broader Louisiana political establishment.

Broome's stature within the House continued to grow over the course of her service. In January 2004, she was elevated to the position of Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives, succeeding Peppi Bruneau in the role. As Speaker Pro Tempore, Broome served as the second-ranking officer of the House, presiding over sessions in the absence of the Speaker and playing a key role in legislative proceedings. She held this position until she departed the House in January 2005 to take her seat in the Louisiana State Senate. Broome was succeeded in her House seat by Regina Barrow, who continued to represent the 29th district.

During her time in the Louisiana House, Broome was involved in legislative debates surrounding a range of social and scientific policy matters. Louisiana's legislature during this period considered bills relating to the teaching of evolution in public schools, a matter that drew national attention and placed Louisiana at the center of broader debates about education policy in the United States. Broome's years in the House also coincided with legislative activity on reproductive health policy, with the Louisiana Legislature advancing various bills relating to abortion regulation, an issue that generated significant public debate and media coverage in the state.

Louisiana State Senate (2005–2016)

In 2005, Broome transitioned from the House to the Louisiana State Senate, winning election to represent the 15th Senate district. She succeeded Kip Holden, who had left the Senate seat to become Mayor-President of Baton Rouge—a position Broome herself would later hold. Broome's move to the upper chamber of the Louisiana Legislature represented a continuation and deepening of her influence on state policy.

Broome quickly rose to prominence within the Senate. On January 14, 2008, she was elected President Pro Tempore of the Louisiana Senate, succeeding Diana Bajoie. The President Pro Tempore is one of the most powerful positions in the Louisiana State Senate, responsible for presiding over sessions in the absence of the Senate President and wielding considerable influence over legislative priorities and committee assignments. Broome held this position for eight years, from 2008 until January 11, 2016, making her one of the longest-serving holders of the office during that era. She was succeeded as President Pro Tempore by Gerald Long.

In 2011, Broome ran unopposed for reelection to her second full term in the State Senate, an indication of her political standing in the 15th district and the strength of her incumbency. Her tenure in the Senate covered a period of significant legislative activity in Louisiana. The state legislature during this period considered and advanced bills on a wide range of issues, from education policy and healthcare to criminal justice and infrastructure spending.

As a senior member of the state Senate and its presiding officer, Broome played a role in shaping the legislative agenda and navigating the political dynamics of a body that frequently saw tension between Democratic and Republican members. Her time as President Pro Tempore placed her at the center of Senate operations and made her one of the highest-ranking women and African-American legislators in Louisiana's history.

Broome was succeeded in the 15th Senate district by Regina Barrow, who had also previously succeeded Broome in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Mayor-President of Baton Rouge (2017–2025)

2016 Election

In 2016, Broome entered the race for Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, seeking to succeed Kip Holden, who had held the office since 2004. The mayor-president position is a consolidated city-parish executive role, giving the officeholder authority over both municipal and parish governance—a structure relatively uncommon in American local government. The 2016 race attracted significant attention, coming in the aftermath of a turbulent period for Baton Rouge that included the shooting of Alton Sterling by police in July 2016 and a subsequent retaliatory attack that killed three law enforcement officers.

Broome advanced to a runoff election, which was held on December 10, 2016. She won the runoff, making history as the first African-American woman to be elected Mayor-President of Baton Rouge. The milestone was noted both locally and nationally, with media outlets highlighting the significance of Broome's election in the context of African-American political representation in the South.

Broome took the oath of office on January 2, 2017, formally beginning her tenure as mayor-president.

First Term (2017–2021)

Broome's first term as mayor-president was defined by efforts to address longstanding challenges in Baton Rouge, including infrastructure deficiencies, public safety concerns, and the aftermath of the August 2016 flooding that had devastated large swaths of the parish. Upon taking office, Broome moved to establish her administration's priorities and assemble a team to manage the city-parish government.

In the early months of her tenure, Broome faced scrutiny over various aspects of her administration's direction and management. Local media outlets, particularly The Advocate (Baton Rouge's principal newspaper), reported extensively on her policy initiatives and governance approach. Her administration navigated ongoing debates over drainage improvements, road maintenance, and economic development strategies for the city-parish.

Broome's first term also saw continued public discussion about crime rates in Baton Rouge, an issue that would persist throughout her time in office. The administration undertook various initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and improving community-police relations, set against the broader national conversation about policing and racial justice that had intensified following the events of 2016.

Infrastructure and drainage remained central concerns during Broome's first term. The catastrophic flooding of August 2016, which occurred just months before she took office, had exposed critical vulnerabilities in the parish's drainage systems and prompted calls for significant investment in flood protection and mitigation measures. Broome's administration worked to secure federal and state funding for drainage and infrastructure projects, though the scale of the challenge often outpaced available resources.

During her first term, Broome also contended with a movement among residents of the southeastern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish to incorporate a new city, known as St. George. The incorporation effort, driven largely by residents of predominantly white and affluent subdivisions, raised concerns about the potential fiscal and demographic impact on the remaining city-parish government. The St. George incorporation movement became one of the most contentious political issues in East Baton Rouge Parish during Broome's tenure and would continue to shape local politics in subsequent years.

2020 Reelection

In 2020, Broome ran for reelection as mayor-president. Early voting results showed Broome leading the field of candidates, and she ultimately secured a second term in office. Her reelection came amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which had placed extraordinary demands on local governments across the country and added new dimensions to the challenges facing Baton Rouge.

Second Term (2021–2025)

Broome's second term as mayor-president continued to be shaped by issues of public safety, infrastructure, and the fallout from the St. George incorporation movement. During this period, Baton Rouge experienced elevated homicide rates, a trend that mirrored increases in violent crime seen in many American cities but that became a significant point of political contention locally.

The incorporation of St. George as a separate municipality within East Baton Rouge Parish advanced during Broome's second term, creating an unprecedented situation in which a new city was carved out of previously unincorporated parish territory. The creation of St. George had significant implications for the city-parish's tax base, service delivery, and governance structure, and it remained a divisive issue throughout Broome's time in office.

Broome's administration also continued efforts to address infrastructure needs and promote economic development. Local media reported on various aspects of the administration's budgeting, planning, and service delivery throughout the second term.

2024 Election and Departure

In 2024, Broome sought a third term as mayor-president but was defeated by Sid Edwards, a Republican who campaigned on concerns about Baton Rouge's rising murder rate and the incorporation of St. George during Broome's tenure. Broome's loss marked the end of her eight-year tenure leading the city-parish government. Edwards succeeded Broome as mayor-president on January 2, 2025.

National League of Cities

In November 2024, shortly before the conclusion of her mayoral tenure, Broome was elected as the 99th president of the National League of Cities, a prominent advocacy organization representing municipalities across the United States. She succeeded David Sander in the role. Broome assumed the presidency of the organization on November 16, 2024, though her tenure in that role was brief, lasting until January 1, 2025, when she was succeeded by Steve Patterson. Her election to the NLC presidency nonetheless represented national recognition of her experience in municipal governance.

Personal Life

Sharon Weston Broome is married to Marvin Broome. The couple has three children. The Broome family has been based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Sharon Broome established her political career and long-standing ties to the community. Details about her personal life beyond her immediate family remain limited in publicly available sources, consistent with Broome's focus on public service and governance throughout her career.

Recognition

Broome's election as the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor-President of Baton Rouge attracted national media attention and was highlighted as a significant milestone in American political history. The Huffington Post covered her 2016 victory as part of broader reporting on the advancement of African-American women in municipal leadership across the United States.

The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University documented Broome's status as part of its tracking of Black women serving in elected office at the state and local levels in the United States. Her combined service as a state legislator, Senate President Pro Tempore, and mayor-president placed her among the most prominent African-American women in Louisiana's political history.

Her election as president of the National League of Cities in 2024 represented further recognition of her role in American municipal governance, placing her at the head of an organization that advocates for cities and towns before the federal government and provides resources and networking for local elected officials across the country.

Legacy

Sharon Weston Broome's career in Louisiana politics spanned more than three decades, from her initial election to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1992 through the conclusion of her service as mayor-president in January 2025. Her trajectory from state legislator to Senate President Pro Tempore to mayor-president represented a sustained ascent through Louisiana's political ranks that few politicians of any background have matched.

As the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, Broome's election in 2016 broke a barrier in the governance of Louisiana's capital city and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Gulf South. Her tenure coincided with a period of significant social and political change in Baton Rouge, including the aftermath of the 2016 police shooting of Alton Sterling, the August 2016 floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the contentious incorporation of St. George as a separate municipality within East Baton Rouge Parish.

Broome's two terms as mayor-president were marked by persistent challenges in public safety and infrastructure, issues that ultimately contributed to her defeat in 2024. The incorporation of St. George during her tenure represented one of the most significant changes to the governance structure of East Baton Rouge Parish in decades, with lasting implications for the fiscal and political landscape of the region.

Her service as President Pro Tempore of the Louisiana Senate from 2008 to 2016 likewise represented a period of significant influence in state politics. In that role, Broome helped shape the legislative agenda and served as one of the highest-ranking Democratic officials in the state government during a period when the Republican Party was consolidating its dominance of Louisiana politics.