V.J. Bella
| Vincent Joseph "V. J." Bella | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Representative for District 50 (Iberia and St. Mary parishes) |
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In office 1972–1990 |
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| Preceded by |
At-large members: |
| Succeeded by | Jack D. Smith |
| Louisiana State Fire Marshal | |
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In office 1990–1992 |
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In office 1996–2004 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 29, 1927 Patterson, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democrat-turned-Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
(1) Dorthy Parro Bella |
| Children |
From first marriage: |
| Parents | Joseph John and Loreta L. Bella |
| Residence |
(1) Berwick |
| Occupation | Firefighter; Businessman |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
At-large members:
(1) Carl W. Bauer
(2) J. Richard "Dickie" Breaux
(1) Dorthy Parro Bella
From first marriage:
Marsha B. Graham
Chad Gerard Bella
Blaise Joseph Bella
Bridget Poleman
From second marriage:
Megan Bonnie Bella
Bradley Joseph Bella (deceased)
(1) Berwick
St. Mary Parish
Louisiana, USA
Vincent Joseph Bella, known as V. J. Bella (born July 29, 1927), is a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 50 in Iberia and St. Mary parishes, whose service extended from 1972 to 1990. Thereafter, Bella served in Baton Rouge as the appointed state fire marshal from 1990 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2004. As a representative, Bella was a pioneer in fire sprinkler legislation.
In 1942, Bella as a teenager joined the fire department in Berwick in St. Mary Parish. Soon called into World War II, Bella served in the United States Marine Corps from 1945 to 1946. Thereafter, he was long-term member of the American Legion. Bella returned in 1947 to the Berwick Fire Department, at which he was elevated in 1951 to the position of chief. He also served as an alderman in Berwick and attended barber college though it is unclear if he ever worked as a barber.
In 1972, he was elected as a Democrat to the Louisiana House. A dozen years later, he switched to Republican designation. In 1987, Bella only narrowly won his final term in House District 50 as the GOP candidate because his district was still heavily and traditionally Democrat. Bella defeated Jack D. Smith, 7,348 votes (51 percent) to 7,053 (49 percent).
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