Changes

Upon Treen's death in 2009, Villere, like Senator Vitter, issued a gracious statement of condolences, having called the former governor "a courageous man who loved our country and our state. He fought the political establishment in the 1970s and 1980s when it was very difficult to elect a Republican in our state, and his career in political office was marked with integrity and fiscal discipline. It is important for younger voters to understand that Louisiana's commitment to high ethical standards and the existence of a viable two-party system in our state are relatively new developments. ... Dave Treen laid the foundation to change all that, and for that, millions of Louisiana citizens owe him a profound debt of gratitude.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lagop.com/2009/10/statement-from-chairman-villere-following-the-death-of-david-treen/|title=Statement from Chairman Roger Villere Following the Death of David Treen|publisher=lagop.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref>​

Upon Treen's death in 2009, Villere, like Senator Vitter, issued a gracious statement of condolences, having called the former governor "a courageous man who loved our country and our state. He fought the political establishment in the 1970s and 1980s when it was very difficult to elect a Republican in our state, and his career in political office was marked with integrity and fiscal discipline. It is important for younger voters to understand that Louisiana's commitment to high ethical standards and the existence of a viable two-party system in our state are relatively new developments. ... Dave Treen laid the foundation to change all that, and for that, millions of Louisiana citizens owe him a profound debt of gratitude.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lagop.com/2009/10/statement-from-chairman-villere-following-the-death-of-david-treen/|title=Statement from Chairman Roger Villere Following the Death of David Treen|publisher=lagop.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref>​

==Events of 2009==​

==Events of 2009==

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In January 2009, Villere joined then [[Oklahoma]] state chairman, Gary Jones, in endorsing Ken Blackwell, the former [[Ohio]] secretary of state, for national party chairman. The position went instead to the [[Moderate Republican]], [[Michael Steele]], an [[African-American]] former lieutenant governor of [[Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kenblackwell.com/2008/12/roger-villere-and-gary-jones-endorse-ken-blackwell/|title=Roger Villere and Gary Jones Endorse Ken Blackwell|publisher=Kenblackwell.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> Steele was subsequently replaced as nonsl chairman in 2011 by [[Reince Priebus]] of [[Wisconsin]].​

In January 2009, Villere joined then [[Oklahoma]] state chairman, Gary Jones, in endorsing Ken Blackwell, the former [[Ohio]] secretary of state, for national party chairman. The position went instead to the [[Moderate Republican]], [[Michael Steele]], an [[African-American]] former lieutenant governor of [[Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kenblackwell.com/2008/12/roger-villere-and-gary-jones-endorse-ken-blackwell/|title=Roger Villere and Gary Jones Endorse Ken Blackwell|publisher=Kenblackwell.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> Steele was subsequently replaced as nonsl chairman in 2011 by [[Reince Priebus]] of [[Wisconsin]].​

After [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] proposed a national health care plan, popularly known as Obamacare, Villere replied by calling the president an "able orator [who is attempting] to convince Americans that more government and more spending is the only way to move our nation forward. Despite the President’s plans, the Democrat plans advancing in Congress increases the role of government in decisions best made by their patients and their doctors, increase taxes, and increase our national debt. The President admitted that there needs to be some significant details to be ironed out, and just as it has always been, the devil will be in those details."<ref name=health>{{cite web|url=​

After [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] proposed a national health care plan, popularly known as Obamacare, Villere replied by calling the president an "able orator [who is attempting] to convince Americans that more government and more spending is the only way to move our nation forward. Despite the President’s plans, the Democrat plans advancing in Congress increases the role of government in decisions best made by their patients and their doctors, increase taxes, and increase our national debt. The President admitted that there needs to be some significant details to be ironed out, and just as it has always been, the devil will be in those details."<ref name=health>{{cite web|url=​

http://lagop.com/2009/09/statement-from-chairman-roger-villere/|title=Villere replies to Obama|publisher=Lagop.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> Instead, Villere called on the [[White House]] to consider the Republican alternative health proposals advanced by Louisiana [[U.S. Representative]] Charles Boustany, Jr., a retired [[physician]] from [[Lafayette]] and a nephew by marriage of Edwin Edwards. Boustany said that "working in a bipartisan way, we can truly lower the cost of health care while improving quality for the American people".<ref name=health/>​

http://lagop.com/2009/09/statement-from-chairman-roger-villere/|title=Villere replies to Obama|publisher=Lagop.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> Instead, Villere called on the [[White House]] to consider the Republican alternative health proposals advanced by Louisiana [[U.S. Representative]] Charles Boustany, Jr., a retired [[physician]] from [[Lafayette]] and a nephew by marriage of Edwin Edwards. Boustany said that "working in a bipartisan way, we can truly lower the cost of health care while improving quality for the American people".<ref name=health/>​

 

Stephen Sabludowsky considers Villere a particularly effective state chairman, noting that the GOP has become a "potent force in shaping the state. While Villere could not win an election in District 81 in 1989, he has since become one of the most influential individuals in Louisiana, helping to set policies and pass legislation.

Stephen Sabludowsky considers Villere a particularly effective state chairman, noting that the GOP has become a "potent force in shaping the state. While Villere could not win an election in District 81 in 1989, he has since become one of the most influential individuals in Louisiana, helping to set policies and pass legislation.

... When Roger Villere and the Louisiana Republican Party speak, the Louisiana Republican legislators and conservatives listen and vote almost in lockstep. ... Rarely do the Louisiana Republican legislators veer from the words and warnings of Roger Villere. ... Governor Bobby Jindal rarely speaks out publicly giving a stern warning or rebuke. In a sense, Jindal is often playing the 'good cop' and Villere the 'bad cop'. ... the formula appears to be working quite well.”<ref name=sabludowsky/>​

... When Roger Villere and the Louisiana Republican Party speak, the Louisiana Republican legislators and conservatives listen and vote almost in lockstep. ... Rarely do the Louisiana Republican legislators veer from the words and warnings of Roger Villere. ... Governor Bobby Jindal rarely speaks out publicly giving a stern warning or rebuke. In a sense, Jindal is often playing the 'good cop' and Villere the 'bad cop'. ... the formula appears to be working quite well.”<ref name=sabludowsky/>​

 

==Campaign for lieutenant governor==​

==Campaign for lieutenant governor==​

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In March 2010, Villere announced that he would seek the position of lieutenant governor, which was vacated on May 3 by [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mitch Landrieu]], who in 2010 became the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], a post that he held for two terms. Several other Republicans also entered the October 2 [[special election]] for the fifteen months remaining in Landrieu's term: Country music Sammy Kershaw, who lost to Landrieu in 2007; Louisiana Secretary of State John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne of [[Baton Rouge, and Kevin Davis, the parish president of St. Tammany Parish in the New Orleans [[suburb]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/roger_villere_gop_chairman_ann.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=Roger Villere, GOP chairman, announces for lieutenant governor|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=March 30, 2010|accessdate=April 24, 2010}}</ref> Meanwhile, state Representative [[Cameron Henry]], also of Metairie, tried earlier in the year to abolish the office of lieutenant governor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/plan_to_abolish_lieutenant_gov.html|author=Ed Anderson|title=Plan to abolish lieutenant governor's position may run into legislative opposition|date=February 12, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref>​ the principal function of which is to promote tourism and recreation.

In March 2010, Villere announced that he would seek the position of lieutenant governor, which was vacated on May 3 by [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mitch Landrieu]], who in 2010 became the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], a post that he held for two terms. Several other Republicans also entered the October 2 [[special election]] for the fifteen months remaining in Landrieu's term: Country music Sammy Kershaw, who lost to Landrieu in 2007; Louisiana Secretary of State John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne of [[Baton Rouge]], and Kevin Davis, the parish president of St. Tammany Parish in the New Orleans [[suburb]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/roger_villere_gop_chairman_ann.html|author=Bill Barrow|title=Roger Villere, GOP chairman, announces for lieutenant governor|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=March 30, 2010|accessdate=April 24, 2010}}</ref> Meanwhile, state Representative [[Cameron Henry]], also of Metairie, tried earlier in the year to abolish the office of lieutenant governor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/plan_to_abolish_lieutenant_gov.html|author=Ed Anderson|title=Plan to abolish lieutenant governor's position may run into legislative opposition|date=February 12, 2010|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref>​ the principal function of which is to promote tourism and recreation.

Several of Villere's opponents claimed that his continuing role as party chairman represented a conflict of interest in that he should remain neutral when several Republicans are running for an office. There is no rule, however, that a party chairman must step down when himself running for office. [[Ken Coon]] and [[Lynn Lowe]], former [[Arkansas]] state Republican chairmen, for instance, remained as party chairman while running unsuccessfully for governor in 1974 and 1978, against [[David Pryor]] and [[Bill Clinton]], respectively.

Several of Villere's opponents claimed that his continuing role as party chairman represented a conflict of interest in that he should remain neutral when several Republicans are running for an office. There is no rule, however, that a party chairman must step down when himself running for office. [[Ken Coon]] and [[Lynn Lowe]], former [[Arkansas]] state Republican chairmen, for instance, remained as party chairman while running unsuccessfully for governor in 1974 and 1978, against [[David Pryor]] and [[Bill Clinton]], respectively.