Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 29:
Line 29: − + Line 40:
Line 40: − + − + Line 54:
Line 54: − + − + −
no edit summary
==Political career==
==Political career==
A colorful figure, Sampite' (pronounced SAM PUH TAH) wore white socks, a habit begun during his early days as a coach. He distributed "I Love Natchitoches" stickers by the thousands during his twenty years in municipal office and was instrumental in bringing the filming to Natchitoches of Dolly Parton's ''Steel Magnolias''.<ref name=obit/> Coincidentally, the year that Sampite graduated from [[Northwestern State University]], another picture was filmed in Natchitoches, [[John Wayne]]'s ''The Horse Soldiers''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchitochestour.com/stars.htm|title=Personalities Along the Cane|publisher=natchitochestour.com|accessdate=May 20, ; no longer on-line.}}</ref>
A colorful figure, Sampite' (pronounced SAM PUH TAH) wore white socks, a habit begun during his early days as a coach. He distributed "I Love Natchitoches" stickers by the thousands during his twenty years in municipal office and was instrumental in bringing the filming to Natchitoches of Dolly Parton's ''Steel Magnolias''.<ref name=obit/> Coincidentally, the year that Sampite graduated from [[Northwestern State University]], another picture was filmed in Natchitoches, [[John Wayne]]'s ''The Horse Soldiers''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchitochestour.com/stars.htm|title=Personalities Along the Cane|publisher=natchitochestour.com|accessdate=May 20, ; no longer on-line.}}</ref>
A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sampite' did not seek reelection to a sixth term in the municipal election held in the spring of 2000. Two Democrats competed in ta runoff election held on April 15 for the right to succeed Sampite'. Then city council member at-large and current mayor, Wayne McCullen, narrowly defeated John Winston, 3,votes (50.3 percent) to 2,962 (49.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04152000/04152000_35.html|title=Natchitoches Parish election results, April 15, 2000|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>'
A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sampite' did not seek reelection to a sixth term in the municipal election held in the spring of 2000. Two Democrats competed in ta runoff election held on April 15 for the right to succeed Sampite'. Then city council member at-large and current mayor, Wayne McCullen, narrowly defeated John Winston, 3,votes (50.3 percent) to 2,962 (49.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04152000/04152000_35.html|title=Natchitoches Parish election results, April 15, 2000|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>'
Sampite' sought a political comeback in the fall of 2007, but he was defeated in a competitive campaign by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Nowlin]], a Natchitoches businessman, for the District 23 seat (then Natchitoches Winn parishes) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the [[general election]] to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampite' were thrust into the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/Default.html|title=Primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> After one term, Nowlin was defeated for reelection to the House. He is now the first president of the Natchitoches combined municipal and parish governments.
Sampite' sought a political comeback in the fall of 2007, but he was defeated in a competitive campaign by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Nowlin]], a Natchitoches businessman, for the District 23 seat (then Natchitoches Winn parishes) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the [[general election]] to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampite' were thrust into the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/Default.html|title=Primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> After one term, Nowlin was defeated for reelection to the House. He is now the first president of the Natchitoches combined municipal and parish governments
==Legacy==
==Legacy==
David West, the Northwestern State University news bureau director in 2012, described Sampite' as "a tireless advocate for Natchitoches and NSU. He loved NSU a lot. He was always available to speak to freshmen at our Freshman Connection and was a commencement speaker at one of our graduations. Mayor Sampite' was one of a kind."<ref name=adtt/> A "Joe Sampite' Scholarship Fund was established at the Northwestern State University Foundation.<ref name=obit/>
David West, the Northwestern State University news bureau director in 2012, described Sampite' as "a tireless advocate for Natchitoches and NSU. He loved NSU a lot. He was always available to speak to freshmen at our Freshman Connection and was a commencement speaker at one of our graduations. Mayor Sampite' was one of a kind."<ref name=adtt/> A "Joe Sampite' Scholarship Fund was established at the Northwestern State University Foundation.<ref name=obit/>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampite', Joe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampite', Joe}}