Changes

"My earliest ambition was to be a radio announcer, specifically, a play-by-play sportscaster. I was fortunate enough to fulfill that ambition at an early age. In my [then fifty-seven] years in the broadcasting industry, I worked in almost every position, commercial announcer, disc jockey, copywriter, news and sports reporter, sales representative, manager, and finally, owner of three South Louisiana radio stations, KPEL and KTDY in Lafayette and KTQQ in Sulphur near [[Lake Charles]].[9]  

"My earliest ambition was to be a radio announcer, specifically, a play-by-play sportscaster. I was fortunate enough to fulfill that ambition at an early age. In my [then fifty-seven] years in the broadcasting industry, I worked in almost every position, commercial announcer, disc jockey, copywriter, news and sports reporter, sales representative, manager, and finally, owner of three South Louisiana radio stations, KPEL and KTDY in Lafayette and KTQQ in Sulphur near [[Lake Charles]].[9]  

In 1979, Gomez was named "Louisiana Broadcaster of the Year."[10 He sold the stations in 1988.[2]

In 1979, Gomez was named "Louisiana Broadcaster of the Year."[10] He sold the stations in 1988.[2] In 2008, Gomez became operating partner and publisher of a free, weekly, [[conservative]] newspaper ''The Acadiana Gazette,'' which is distributed primarily in Broussard, Youngsville, and south Lafayette. In addition to his memoir and the novel Neat, Gomez has published two other books, ''Pelican Games,'' a novel based on a Louisiana gubernatorial campaign, and ''Slam Dunked,'' based on the behind-the-scenes story of the basketball suspension of USL by the NCAA in 1973.[2]

In 2008, Gomez became operating partner and publisher of a free, weekly, [[conservative]] newspaper ''The Acadiana Gazette,'' which is distributed primarily in Broussard, Youngsville, and south Lafayette. In addition to his memoir and the novel Neat, Gomez has published two other books, ''Pelican Games,'' a novel based on a Louisiana gubernatorial campaign, and ''Slam Dunked,'' based on the behind-the-scenes story of the basketball suspension of USL by the NCAA in 1973.[2]

==Lafayette legislator==

==Lafayette legislator==

The open seat in District 44 developed when Representative Allen Bares (pronounced BAH REZ)  ran successfully that year for the state Senate seat vacated by failed gubernatorial candidate Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., of Lafayette. In the 1979 [[general election]], when David Treen was elected governor, Gomez defeated a Republican woman, Mary Regan, the wife of a prominent Lafayette psychiatrist. She had been a volunteer nurse at the state Capitol and had developed an interest in politics through that experience. Gomez led in the nonpartisan blanket primary with 42 percent of the vote, and Regan trailed with 20 percent. Gomez recalled Regan as having "a very sweet demeanor, and I really didn't look forward to having to debate her" throughout a second election. Gomez ultimately defeated Regan, 76-24 percent. [11] He prevailed again in 1983 with 82 percent of the vote against a single Democratic opponent with the unlikely name of Cleophile "Bobby" Babineaux, who carried the backing of  [[organized labor]].[12]

The open seat in District 44 developed when Representative Allen Bares (pronounced BAH REZ)  ran successfully that year for the state Senate seat vacated by failed gubernatorial candidate Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., of Lafayette. In the 1979 [[general election]], when David Treen was elected governor, Gomez defeated a Republican woman, Mary Regan, the wife of a prominent Lafayette psychiatrist. She had been a volunteer nurse at the state Capitol and had developed an interest in politics through that experience. Gomez led in the nonpartisan blanket primary with 42 percent of the vote, and Regan trailed with 20 percent. Gomez recalled Regan as having "a very sweet demeanor, and I really didn't look forward to having to debate her" throughout a second election. Gomez ultimately defeated Regan, 76-24 percent. [11] He prevailed again in 1983 with 82 percent of the vote against a single Democratic opponent with the unlikely name of Cleophile "Bobby" Babineaux, who carried the backing of  [[organized labor]].[12]

Though a Democrat in the legislature, Gomez opposed most [[Populism|populist]] and [[liberal]] measures pushed by his party. He worked closely with fellow Lafayette representative,Michael F. "Mike" Thompson, a Democrat-turned-Republican who was unseated in 1987 in a bitter campaign by an [[Independent]], Don Bacque.[13]

Though a Democrat in the legislature, Gomez opposed most [[Populism|populist]] and [[liberal]] measures pushed by his party. He worked closely with fellow Lafayette representative, [[Michael F. Thompson]], a Democrat-turned-Republican who was unseated in 1987 in a bitter campaign by an [[Independent]], Don Bacque.[13]

Gomez worked in 1986 to repeal the state's blue laws, among the last [[Sunday]]-closing requirements in the nation. Gomez determined that retailers along the borders of Louisiana were operating at a disadvantages because the surrounding states had already ended their restrictions on Sunday shopping. After debate centering upon issues of business and religion, the legislature ended the blue laws, effective December 1, 1986. Gomez commented: "When I drive past large shopping centers and malls now on Sundays and see their parking lots overflowing with shoppers' vehicles, it's hard to believe that could not be seen in Louisiana just over [twenty] years ago.[14] Gomez also obtained passage of a regional banking bill despite opposition from then U.S. Representative Buddy Roemer, a former banker originally from Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana.[15]

Gomez worked in 1986 to repeal the state's blue laws, among the last [[Sunday]]-closing requirements in the nation. Gomez determined that retailers along the borders of Louisiana were operating at a disadvantages because the surrounding states had already ended their restrictions on Sunday shopping. After debate centering upon issues of business and religion, the legislature ended the blue laws, effective December 1, 1986. Gomez commented: "When I drive past large shopping centers and malls now on Sundays and see their parking lots overflowing with shoppers' vehicles, it's hard to believe that could not be seen in Louisiana just over [twenty] years ago.[14] Gomez also obtained passage of a regional banking bill despite opposition from then U.S. Representative Buddy Roemer, a former banker originally from Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana.[15]

Gomez failed in attempts to obtain tort reform. The House Committee on Civil Law consisted mostly of plaintiff trial attorneys, and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association mobilized its membership against the reform. The association invited consumer advocate [[Ralph Nader]] to appear at a committee hearing and to hold a press conference opposing Gomez's bills. Gomez also noted the lack of grass roots support for his reform proposals: "Most people had no idea what we were trying to do. Only individuals who had been sued or business owners who were fighting the liberal tort laws for survival could relate."[16]In 1992, Gomez became executive director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, an interest group which worked to educate the public on the abuse of the civil justice system through what Gomez termed "decades of liberal legislators, governors, judges, and a small put politically powerful group of plaintiff trial attorneys."[17] Several of the reforms that Gomez had sought were later enacted in the administration of Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]][18]

Gomez failed in attempts to obtain tort reform. The House Committee on Civil Law consisted mostly of plaintiff trial attorneys, and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association mobilized its membership against the reform. The association invited consumer advocate [[Ralph Nader]] to appear at a committee hearing and to hold a press conference opposing Gomez's bills. Gomez also noted the lack of grass roots support for his reform proposals: "Most people had no idea what we were trying to do. Only individuals who had been sued or business owners who were fighting the liberal tort laws for survival could relate."[16] In 1992, Gomez became executive director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, an interest group which worked to educate the public on the abuse of the civil justice system through what Gomez termed "decades of liberal legislators, governors, judges, and a small put politically powerful group of plaintiff trial attorneys."[17] Several of the reforms that Gomez had sought were later enacted in the administration of Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] [18]

==Relations with Governors Edwards and Treen==

==Relations with Governors Edwards and Treen==

As Governor Roemer's human resources secretary from 1990 to 1992, Gomez concentrated much of his efforts on preservation of the shrinking Louisiana coast lands, managed through the Office of Coastal Restoration. He also chaired an Oil Spill Task Force which made recommendation enacted by the legislature in 1991 to reduce the impact of future oil-spillage accidents.[25]

As Governor Roemer's human resources secretary from 1990 to 1992, Gomez concentrated much of his efforts on preservation of the shrinking Louisiana coast lands, managed through the Office of Coastal Restoration. He also chaired an Oil Spill Task Force which made recommendation enacted by the legislature in 1991 to reduce the impact of future oil-spillage accidents.[25]

As his tenure as natural resources secretary ended, Gomez entered the Lafayette mayor's race held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana. The incumbent Republican Dud Lastrapes, a former journalist and an [[insurance]] agent who later became his party's state chairman, did not seek a fourth term. Gomez led the primary field with 12,127 votes (40 percent) and went into a second race with former Mayor Kenneth "Kenny" Bowen. a Republican-turned-Democrat, who had previously held the position of mayor from 1972 to 1980. Bowen trailed in the first primary with 10,301 (34 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent), and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent).[26] In the all-Democratic general election allowed under the Louisiana primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez by 166 votes, 14,677 to 14,511.[27] Gomez described his opponent, Mayor Bowen as "acrimonious" [with a] usual confrontational, self-serving, and cynical mode."[28]

As his tenure as natural resources secretary ended, Gomez entered the Lafayette mayor's race held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana. The incumbent Republican Dud Lastrapes, a former journalist and an [[insurance]] agent who later became his party's state chairman, did not seek a fourth term. Gomez led the primary field with 12,127 votes (40 percent) and went into a second race with former Mayor Kenneth "Kenny" Bowen. a Republican-turned-Democrat, who had previously held the position of mayor from 1972 to 1980. Bowen trailed in the first primary with 10,301 (34 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent), and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent). [26] In the all-Democratic general election allowed under the Louisiana primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez by 166 votes, 14,677 to 14,511.[27] Gomez described his opponent, Mayor Bowen as "acrimonious" [with a] usual confrontational, self-serving, and cynical mode." [28]

==Personal life==

==Personal life==