Changes

Villere often called for Republican unity, citing U. S. President [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s  "Eleventh Commandment,"<ref name=reagan>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/16100467.html?showAll=y&c=y|title=Sawyer keeps ad on Jenkins: State GOP ask ad to stop|publisher='The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|date=February 29, 2008|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> which discourages Republicans from speaking against fellow party members in other factions. He urged Paul Sawyer, a primary opponent to [[Woody Jenkins]], a former state representative from Baton Rouge who in 2008 sought a vacant seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], to withdraw a particular advertisement attempting to link Jenkins to past support of David Duke.<ref name=reagan/>

Villere often called for Republican unity, citing U. S. President [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s  "Eleventh Commandment,"<ref name=reagan>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/16100467.html?showAll=y&c=y|title=Sawyer keeps ad on Jenkins: State GOP ask ad to stop|publisher='The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|date=February 29, 2008|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> which discourages Republicans from speaking against fellow party members in other factions. He urged Paul Sawyer, a primary opponent to [[Woody Jenkins]], a former state representative from Baton Rouge who in 2008 sought a vacant seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], to withdraw a particular advertisement attempting to link Jenkins to past support of David Duke.<ref name=reagan/>

In the fall of 2008, Villere threatened to "discipline" Louisiana Republicans who endorsed Senator Landrieu for a third term, rather than the party choice, [state Treasurer [[John Neely Kennedy]], who switched from Democratic affiliation in 2007. Among those supporting Landrieu was former Governor Treen, who died less than a year after that race. Despite his apostasy regarding Landrieu-Kennedy, Treen was eulogized by Senator [[David Vitter]], a former Treen intra-party rival, as the "father of the Republican Party in Louisiana." Others backing Landrieu were the [[sheriff]]s in Jefferson and St Tammany parishes. In addition, U.S. Representative [[Rodney Alexander]] attended a Landrieu fund-raiser at the home of former Louisiana State Senator Randy Ewing, a Democrat from Jackson Parish, who served as the former State Senate President and who in 2003 ran unsuccessfully for governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailykingfish.com/tag/Roger%20Villere|title="LA-Sen: Republicans for Mary Landrieu"; "La-Sen: Hey Villere: You Gonna’ Censure Rodney?"|publisher=Dailykingfish.com|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref>​

In the fall of 2008, Villere threatened to "discipline" Louisiana Republicans who endorsed Senator Landrieu for a third term, rather than the party choice, [state Treasurer [[John Neely Kennedy]], who switched from Democratic affiliation in 2007. Among those supporting Landrieu was former Governor Treen, who died less than a year after that race. Despite his apostasy regarding Landrieu-Kennedy, Treen was eulogized by Senator [[David Vitter]], a former Treen intra-party rival, as the "father of the Republican Party in Louisiana." Others backing Landrieu were the [[sheriff]]s in Jefferson and St Tammany parishes. In addition, U.S. Representative [[Rodney Alexander]] attended a Landrieu fund-raiser at the home of former Louisiana State Senator Randy Ewing, a Democrat from Jackson Parish, who served as the former State Senate President and who in 2003 ran unsuccessfully for governor.<ref>"LA-Sen: Republicans for Mary Landrieu: Hey Villere: You Gonna’ Censure Rodney?", dailykingfish.com, 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>Statement from Chairman Roger Villere Following the Death of David Treen, lagop.com, 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>Statement from Chairman Roger Villere Following the Death of David Treen, lagop.com, November 8, 2009.</ref>​