Erich Ponti

Erich Edward Ponti (born April 30, 1965), a general contractor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 69 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

On October 25, 2011, Governor Bobby Jindal endorsed Chuck Kleckley of Lake Charles as his choice to succeed the term-limited Jim Tucker as the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Ponti along with fellow Baton Rouge then Representative Hunter Greene and Republican Representative Joel Robideaux of Lafayette and the Democrat Jeff Arnold of New Orleans were also seeking support for the speakership. By tradition, the House of Representatives, regardless of partisan makeup, confirms the governor's choice as the Speaker.

Background

Ponti was born in New Orleans, a son of Eugene Oliver Ponti and Janice Ponti of Baton Rouge. A 1983 graduate of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Ponti thereafter received a bachelor's degree in Construction Management from Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe). Upon returning to Baton Rouge, Ponti started Accent Construction Services, Inc., a successful general contracting and development firm. Through his profession he first became involved in the political process.