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==Political spotlight==

==Political spotlight==

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​Villere is no stranger to political controversy. He has withstood his critics, some in his own party, with a take-no-prisoners approach as chairman. When he asked Democratic state Representative and Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans to submit certain public information about herself to him, at least two Republican lawmakers, [[Joe Harrison]] of Napoleonville and Ernest Wooton of Belle Chasse—Wooton later deserted the [[Republican Party|GOP]] and turned [[Independent]]—defended Peterson and urged Villere to apologize or to step down from the chairmanship. Villere's open records request came after she had criticized Villere's ally, Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]]. Villere neither apologized nor resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/Louisiana_GOP_Legislator_Spat_Continues_Over_Public_Record_Issue___8798.asp|title=Louisiana GOP, Legislator Spat Continues Over Public Record Issue|publisher=bayoubuzz.com, May 6, 2009|accessdate=November 8, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

​Villere is no stranger to political controversy. He has withstood his critics, some in his own party, with a take-no-prisoners approach as chairman. When he asked Democratic state Representative and Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans to submit certain public information about herself to him, at least two Republican lawmakers, [[Joe Harrison]] of Napoleonville and Ernest Wooton of Belle Chasse—Wooton later deserted the [[Republican Party|GOP]] and turned [[Independent]]—defended Peterson and urged Villere to apologize or to step down from the chairmanship. Villere's open records request came after she had criticized Villere's ally, Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]]. Villere neither apologized nor resigned.<ref>"Louisiana GOP, Legislator Spat Continues Over Public Record Issue, bayoubuzz.com, May 6, 2009; no longer on-line.</ref>​

In 1996, Villere joined then state chairman Michael Gordon "Mike" Francis, a Crowley and Lafayette businessman, in supporting [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]] of [[Texas]] for the Republican presidential nomination, but Gramm withdrew from the contest even prior to the [[New Hampshire]] [[primary]]. In 2002, before he had become state chairman, Villere endorsed [[Tony Perkins]], a state representative from Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish and the most [[conservative]] of the leading candidates for the [[U.S. Senate]]. However, the incumbent Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] was reelected in a [[general election]] against Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell, whom Villere and Perkins then supported. Perkins later became president of the [[Family Research Council]].​

In 1996, Villere joined then state chairman Michael Gordon "Mike" Francis, a Crowley and Lafayette businessman, in supporting [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]] of [[Texas]] for the Republican presidential nomination, but Gramm withdrew from the contest even prior to the [[New Hampshire]] [[primary]]. In 2002, before he had become state chairman, Villere endorsed [[Tony Perkins]], a state representative from Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish and the most [[conservative]] of the leading candidates for the [[U.S. Senate]]. However, the incumbent Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] was reelected in a [[general election]] against Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell, whom Villere and Perkins then supported. Perkins later became president of the [[Family Research Council]].​