Introduction
Mike Cross (8 September 1944—18 November 2013) was an American democratic politician from Baker, Louisiana.
Life and career
Cross was born on September 8, 1944, in Baker, Louisiana, to Margie M. and Aduron B. Cross.
Cross was a member of the Baker City Council from 1972-1976. He served as Mayor of Baker from 1976 until 1981 (preceded by Pete Heine) when he was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. He was the youngest city council member and the elected mayor in the state at that time. At the time, the seat was still occupied by Gaston Gerald, a fellow Democrat from Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, who was serving time in federal prison for attempting to extort $25,000 from a Baton Rouge contractor. Gerald was expelled from the Legislature in 1981 and a special election was held. Cross won the seat and remained there until 1995, when he was ousted by Mike Branch, R-Livingston.
After his political career, Cross was a lobbyist for CLECO Electric and the Louisiana Municipal Association.
Death
Cross died of lung cancer on November 18, 2013, at the age of 69, in Baker, Louisiana.