Max T. Malone

Max T. Malone

Max Tatum Malone (born March 3, 1953) is the president of Malone Oil and Gas Exploration Company in Shreveport and a former Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, in which he served from 1996 until January 14, 2008. Term-limited in the District 37 seat, which includes portions of Caddo and Bossier parishes in northwestern Louisiana, Malone could not seek a fourth term in the October 20, 2007, jungle primary. Among those who sought to succeed Malone were outgoing District 9 State Representative Billy Montgomery of Bossier City, who was term-limited himself as a state House member, and Montgomery's former House colleague, B.L. "Buddy" Shaw, a retired Shreveport educator and school board member. Shaw defeated Montgomery, 57-43 percent.

Malone's Senate record reflects a conservative bent: 90 to 100 percent support from the pro-business interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, 0 percent from Planned Parenthood of America, 100 percent from the Louisiana Family Forum, 77 percent from the Christian Coalition, and 22 percent from the Louisiana Environmental Action Network. Malone, however, has accumulated a 71 percent rating from the AFL-CIO and 60 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators, the state's largest teachers' organization.

Malone rarely voted to raise taxes and was given the nickname "No Tax Max."

Malone opposed the gaming industry. He rejected a proposed $50 million bailout for Harrah's New Orleans casino. He also opposed permanent dockside gambling in exchange for an increased tax with the proceeds earmarked for teacher pay raises.