Nicholas Muscarello: A Life of Service

(BATON ROUGE, La) Representative Nicholas Muscarello of Hammond, Louisiana, was immersed in politics from a young age. His father's role as a city councilman provided him with an early introduction to the political sphere, laying the groundwork for his lifelong involvement.

Coming from a family where service was a way of life, Muscarello's deep-rooted passion for serving others has been a driving force behind his numerous achievements. His successful career as an attorney, his chair position for civil law, and his role as a state representative for District 86 all reflect his commitment to making a difference.

"When you love something, it just comes easy – I love to serve. It's my passion," he said, discussing why he wanted to enter politics. "When I was single and living downtown, I wanted to run for state rep. I lived right there by the old Rexall drugs, and across the street was the house district that I thought I could run in. My district was a Democratic district, so I've always been boxed out until the redistricting."

After the redistricting, an opportunity arose for Muscarello to potentially win a seat as the district representative when Chris Broadwater formally resigned from his current seat. While in the middle of the court, Muscarello was flagged down by friend and State Rep. Sherman Mack, who shared the news about Broadwater, and the decision to run was so instantaneous he did not even call his wife to tell her. "I called Nick Gagliano first and told him I'm running, so let's get out in front of this thing."

Once he officially began the campaign trail (and called his wife), he waited through Wednesday with nobody qualifying against him— Thursday was the same story. Friday, the celebration party was starting to get planned as it seemed he would win unopposed, all until noon when he refreshed the page and saw someone else's name pop up, qualifying against him. With all the blood leaving his face and the nerves of running a campaign against a 30-year politician, the odds were lean.

However, the competition did not stop him, as Muscarello and a couple of close friends began a very aggressive campaign to win the district seat. They set out a strategy to look for high voter areas and get in front of those likely to support him at the ballot box. The plan was sound, the attempt made, and in the end, it paid off. "We won by 200 votes. I got bit by a dog; I lost 15 pounds. If you name it – it happened to me, but we got out there and won."

Muscarello has since been serving the state as the representative for District 86.  He has spearheaded several initiatives during his tenure, including a financial literacy bill for Louisiana high schoolers. His decision to run as a representative again and not a senate seat as he planned was a critical decision and "the greatest decision I could have made." Staying in the house has allowed him the opportunity to work with many representatives he has come to befriend and also guide junior representatives in their new roles as statesmen.

Working in Louisiana's state government, where his party occupies the House, Senate, and Governor's Mansion, has been "phenomenal." 

"It has its benefits and its negatives. I have a lot of faith in our governor, and I like his faith in taking bold and aggressive steps because I know that's what you have to do to make some changes. In life, you take calculated risks and chances, but in the end, there is some luck involved. Knowing that you may fail is a part of life, but if you don't take a chance and pursue your goals, you'll never know," he said.    

Looking ahead, Muscarello is driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference. He is taking each day as it comes, aspiring for bigger goals, and seizing opportunities as they arise. With a long list of tasks to tackle, the opportunities to serve are endless, and Muscarello's determination to make a positive impact shows no signs of waning. His future is filled with promise and potential, and his unwavering commitment to his constituents is a testament to his dedication.