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Michael F. Thompson (view source)
Revision as of 17:22, September 13, 2019
, 17:22, September 13, 2019no edit summary
'''Michael Francis Thompson''', known as '''Mike Thompson''' (born November 21, 1942),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=ms_f-2_s&gsfn=Michael+Francis&gsln=Thompson&msbdy=1942&msbpn__ftp=Lafayette%2C+Louisiana&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&uidh=upc&cp=0|title=Michael Francis Thompson|publisher=search.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 22, 2015}}</ref> is a home builder from [[Lafayette]] [[Louisiana]], who served in his state's House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988.For his first six years in office,, Thompson was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], but he switched to the [[Republican Party]] for the balance of his tenure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=April 23, 2014}}</ref>
'''Michael Francis Thompson''', known as '''Mike Thompson''' (born November 21, 1942),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=ms_f-2_s&gsfn=Michael+Francis&gsln=Thompson&msbdy=1942&msbpn__ftp=Lafayette%2C+Louisiana&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&uidh=upc&cp=0|title=Michael Francis Thompson|publisher=search.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 22, 2015}}</ref> is a home builder from [[Lafayette]] [[Louisiana]], who served in his state's House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988.For his first six years in office,, Thompson was a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], but he switched to the [[Republican Party]] for the balance of his tenure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=April 23, 2014}}</ref>
He was defeated in the 1987 [[general election]] by a "No Party" candidate, who served only one term. Thompson is particularly remembered for his strong support of the right-to-life. A [[Roman Catholic]], he graduated from [[Tulane University]] Law School.
He was defeated in the 1987 [[general election]] by a "No Party" candidate, who served only one term. Thompson is particularly remembered for his strong support of the right-to-life. A [[Roman Catholic]], he graduated from [[Tulane University]] Law School.
==Supporting conservative causes==
Thompson, along with House colleague [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday, cast critical votes in the House Civil Law Committee against the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]], which lost 5-9 in the committee and was therefore not referred to the full House for an up-or-down vote. Thompson's right-to-life supporters organized against the ERA on the premise that if implemented it would have federalized family law. Therefore, they convinced the lawmaker to reverse his previously stated support for the ERA. Lafayette has been a center of anti-abortion activism since the [[United States Supreme Court]] issued the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' opinion in January 1973, which legalized access to abortion.
Thompson, along with House colleague [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday, cast critical votes in the House Civil Law Committee against the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]], which lost 5-9 in the committee and was therefore not referred to the full House for an up-or-down vote. Thompson's right-to-life supporters organized against the ERA on the premise that if implemented it would have federalized family law. Therefore, they convinced the lawmaker to reverse his previously stated support for the ERA. Lafayette has been a center of anti-abortion activism since the [[United States Supreme Court]] issued the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' opinion in January 1973, which legalized access to abortion.
In 1978, upon his switch to the Republican Party, Thompson was a candidate in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district]]. He polled 42,247 votes (32.6 percent) to the incumbent Democrat [[John Breaux]]'s 78,297 (60.4 percent). A second Democrat, John W. "Johnny" Myers, held the remaining 7 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Billy Hathorn, ''The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980 ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), pp. 275-276.</ref>
In 1978, upon his switch to the Republican Party, Thompson was a candidate in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district]]. He polled 42,247 votes (32.6 percent) to the incumbent Democrat [[John Breaux]]'s 78,297 (60.4 percent). A second Democrat, John W. "Johnny" Myers, held the remaining 7 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Billy Hathorn, ''The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980 ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), pp. 275-276.</ref>
==Unseated in the 1987 general election==
==Unseated, 1987==
From 1980-1988, Thompson was a colleague of [[Ron Gomez]], a Lafayette Democrat in neighboring District 44 who ultimately switched parties but only after leaving the legislature. In his memoirs entitled ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator'', Gomez describes Thompson as his seat-mate, friend, and "chief mentor" who worked to get Gomez appointed to the Commerce and Ways and Means committees.<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000, pgs. 69, 80l ISBN 0-9700156-0-7</ref> In 1979, when Gomez won his first term in the House, Thompson prevailed by just over 800 votes against Democrat Mike Leblanc.<ref>Gomez, ''Recovering Legislator'', p. 37.</ref>
From 1980-1988, Thompson was a colleague of [[Ron Gomez]], a Lafayette Democrat in neighboring District 44 who ultimately switched parties but only after leaving the legislature. In his memoirs entitled ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator'', Gomez describes Thompson as his seat-mate, friend, and "chief mentor" who worked to get Gomez appointed to the Commerce and Ways and Means committees.<ref>[[Ron Gomez]], ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'' ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000, pgs. 69, 80l ISBN 0-9700156-0-7</ref> In 1979, when Gomez won his first term in the House, Thompson prevailed by just over 800 votes against Democrat Mike Leblanc.<ref>Gomez, ''Recovering Legislator'', p. 37.</ref>
Thompson and his second wife, the former Cheryl Frey (born October 10, 1947), work together in their [http://www.mikethompsonhomes.com/about.html home construction business]. They build homes throughout Acadiana, mostly in the French country. He is a past president of the Acadian Home Builders Association and was designated "Builder of the Year" in 1997. He is the treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Home Builders Association.
Thompson and his second wife, the former Cheryl Frey (born October 10, 1947), work together in their [http://www.mikethompsonhomes.com/about.html home construction business]. They build homes throughout Acadiana, mostly in the French country. He is a past president of the Acadian Home Builders Association and was designated "Builder of the Year" in 1997. He is the treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Home Builders Association.
==References==
==References==
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