Jonathan Perry: Louisiana Senator.

• Author: Andrade, Jane Carroll
• Position: THE FINAL WORD - Interview

When he speaks, it is clear that Louisiana Senator Jonathan "J.P." Perry is from the heart of "Cajun Country." His warm, easy drawl is integral to his "other" career as a comedian known as "the Cajun Ambassador." Before being elected to the state House in 2007 and winning a special election to the Senate in 2011, he was a police sergeant, city councilman and assistant district attorney. He currently owns his own law firm. Perry is a born-again Christian, and attributes his rich culture, strong morals, modest lifestyle--and humor--to where he grew up.

Have you always been funny? I think so. My wife does not.

How did you get into comedy? I remember it like yesterday. After an event called Cajun Comic Relief in 2003, I entered a contest and I won! I became the 16th International Cajun Joke Telling Contest King. I mean it was really cool, I got my trophy and that was it. Two weeks later I get a call from a contractors association asking how much I would charge to do 20 minutes of comedy at their annual banquet. I literally said, 'I don't understand. What do you mean charge?' I was so naive. I could not believe somebody would pay me to do Cajun comedy. That is how I got started, and I've been doing it ever since. I've done Disneyworld and everywhere from Florida to D.C. to Minnesota J to West Texas and Tennessee. I love it. It's actually a stress reliever for me.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

How has being a comedian affected your legislative career? When I decided to run for the state Legislature, consultants told me, 'Don't do any more comedy--people will use it against you.' Actually, the opposite has happened. It's really been beneficial, from a political standpoint, in that people tend to relate to me more. They realize, 'Look, he's just one of us.' And in comedy, you've got to think quick on your feet. It's very similar in the Legislature. When you're presenting a bill, you need to read your crowd and, if you're losing them, you've got to pull them back. Sometimes humor is the best way to do that.

What is your favorite type of humor and is it influenced by your faith? I'm not a stand-up comedian. I'm not a one-line punch-line type of guy. I'm a storyteller with a lot of humor mixed in and a big punch line at the end. Probably the most important thing is I am 100 percent clean. There is not a joke I tell that I would not tell my 6-year-old. As y a born-again Christian, it's just not my style.

What drew you to public service? When I was 27 my wife...