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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.​

|name=William Dudley<br> "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.​

|office=[[Mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

|office=[[Mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

|term_start= 1980 ​

|term_start= 1980 ​

Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.​

Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.​

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Lastrapes was originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], but he switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.​

Originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lastrapes switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.​

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==Background==​

==Background==​

In 1957, Lastrapes married the former Rhonda Rougelot (born 1936); she was also born in New Orleans but reared in [[Chattanooga]], [[Tennessee]], and thereafter Lafayette, where she finished high school. The Lastrapeses, who divorced in 1989, have two sons. William Dean Lastrapes (born 1958) is the head of the Department of Economics at the [[University of Georgia]] at Athens,  where he lives with his wife and two children. Bryan James Lastrapes (born 1959)<ref name=genealogy/> is senior vice president at QRI; he lives with his wife, twin daughters, and son in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]].​

In 1957, Lastrapes married the former Rhonda Rougelot (born 1936); she was also born in New Orleans but reared in [[Chattanooga]], [[Tennessee]], and thereafter Lafayette, where she finished high school. The Lastrapeses, who divorced in 1989, have two sons. William Dean Lastrapes (born 1958) is the head of the Department of Economics at the [[University of Georgia]] at Athens,  where he lives with his wife and two children. Bryan James Lastrapes (born 1959)<ref name=genealogy/> is senior vice president at QRI; he lives with his wife, twin daughters, and son in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]].​

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In 1970, Lastrapes became a public relations officer of the former Guaranty Bank and Trust Company in Lafayette, later [[Chase Bank]]. In 1973, he went into the health and life [[insurance]] business. He worked in that capacity until he became mayor. He returned to his insurance business in 1992, after his mayoral service ended.​

In 1970, Lastrapes became a public relations officer of the former Guaranty Bank and Trust Company in Lafayette, later Chase Bank. In 1973, he went into the health and life [[insurance]] business. He worked in that capacity until he became mayor. He returned to his insurance business in 1992, after his mayoral service ended.​

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==Lastrapes and Bowen==​

==Lastrapes and Bowen==​

Lastrapes then filed to run for mayor. He unseated the [[incumbent]] [[Kenny Bowen|Kenneth F. "Kenny" Bowen]] in the [[primary]] held in April 1980. Lastrapes polled 10,609 votes (50.3 percent) to take the mayoralty outright without the need for a [[general election]] under the unique Louisiana primary system that began operating in 1975. Bowen trailed with 5,649 votes (26.8 percent), while another Democrat, George Landry, finished with 4,839 votes (22.9 percent).​<ref>''Baton Rouge State-Times,'' April 19, 1980, 17B​.</ref>

Lastrapes then filed to run for mayor. He unseated the [[incumbent]] [[Kenny Bowen|Kenneth F. "Kenny" Bowen]] in the [[primary]] held in April 1980. Lastrapes polled 10,609 votes (50.3 percent) to take the mayoralty outright without the need for a [[general election]] under the unique Louisiana primary system that began operating in 1975. Bowen trailed with 5,649 votes (26.8 percent), while another Democrat, George Landry, finished with 4,839 votes (22.9 percent).​<ref>''Baton Rouge State-Times,'' April 19, 1980, 17B​.</ref>

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Ironically, Bowen had been the unsuccessful Republican mayoral nominee in 1968. Bowen was defeated that year by 1,322 votes by the popular Democratic Mayor J. Rayburn Bertrand. Bowen was then elected in 1972, with 62 percent of the vote over three opponents in the then still closed Democratic primary. He was reelected in 1976. He won a third term in 1992 and succeeded Lastrapes, who did not seek reelection.​

Ironically, Bowen had been the unsuccessful Republican mayoral nominee in 1968. Bowen was defeated that year by 1,322 votes by the popular Democratic Mayor J. Rayburn Bertrand (1918-2005). Bowen was then elected in 1972, with 62 percent of the vote over three opponents in the then still closed Democratic primary. He was reelected in 1976. He won a third term in 1992 and succeeded Lastrapes, who did not seek reelection.​

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==Mr. Republican Mayor==​

==Mr. Republican Mayor==​

Lastrapes is also known as the mayor who hired many women in city government. Lewana Shearer of Lafayette's city-parish risk management and insurance division, was hired in the Bowen municipal administration in 1979. She started as a claims investigator and worked her way through the ranks to risk manager. She considers the Lastrapes administration to have been "the best years of my career because he gave women the opportunity to shine."​

Lastrapes is also known as the mayor who hired many women in city government. Lewana Shearer of Lafayette's city-parish risk management and insurance division, was hired in the Bowen municipal administration in 1979. She started as a claims investigator and worked her way through the ranks to risk manager. She considers the Lastrapes administration to have been "the best years of my career because he gave women the opportunity to shine."​

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Lastrapes was not, however, the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. Smaller towns like Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish  ([[Jack Breaux]]),  [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten 1922-2004), and Haughton in Bossier Parish (Elizabeth O. Sherwin) elected Republican mayors earlier. Alexandria had a Republican mayor by defection from 1972–1973, when [[Ed Karst|Charles Edward "Ed" Karst]] switched parties in the last years of his single term.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 5, 1973.</ref>Karst did not remain Republican, however, as he later returned to the Democrats to seek a judicial position in Rapides Parish in 1978.<ref>''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' September 17, 1978​.</ref>

Lastrapes was not, however, the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. Smaller towns like Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish  ([[Jack Breaux]]),  [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten 1922-2004),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966.</ref> and Haughton in Bossier Parish (Elizabeth O. Sherwin) elected Republican mayors earlier. Alexandria had a Republican mayor by defection from 1972–1973, when [[Ed Karst|Charles Edward "Ed" Karst]] switched parties in the last years of his single term.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 5, 1973.</ref>Karst did not remain Republican, however, as he later returned to the Democrats to seek a judicial position in Rapides Parish in 1978.<ref>''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' September 17, 1978​.</ref>

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Republicans have since served as mayor of [[Shreveport]] (Hazel Beard and Robert "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] (Bobby R. Simpson), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria.​ Thee were also short-term Republican mayors in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (Melvin Rambin) and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] ([[Leo Deslatte]]).

Republicans have since served as mayor of [[Shreveport]] (Hazel Beard and Robert "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] (Bobby R. Simpson), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria.​ Thee were also short-term Republican mayors in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (Melvin Rambin) and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] ([[Leo Deslatte]]).

Thereafter, Lastrapes worked to elect [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]  [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] as president, and he became a personal friend of the president. Bush carried Louisiana in the 1988 race, but not in 1992. In 1994, the GOP won control of both houses of Congress, and the mechanism was set in place to win the 1995 gubernatorial race to succeed Edwards. Then came a bitter GOP disappointment in the [[U.S. Senate]] race in 1996, with the disputed loss of [[Woody Jenkins]]. The Lafayette Parish GOP rebounded in 2003 to win the election for mayor-president.​

Thereafter, Lastrapes worked to elect [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]  [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] as president, and he became a personal friend of the president. Bush carried Louisiana in the 1988 race, but not in 1992. In 1994, the GOP won control of both houses of Congress, and the mechanism was set in place to win the 1995 gubernatorial race to succeed Edwards. Then came a bitter GOP disappointment in the [[U.S. Senate]] race in 1996, with the disputed loss of [[Woody Jenkins]]. The Lafayette Parish GOP rebounded in 2003 to win the election for mayor-president.​

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Lastrapes attended three Republican national conventions as a delegate pledged to Reagan: 1976 in [[Kansas City]], 1980 in [[Detroitt]], and 1984 in [[Dallas]],  He also attended the 1992 conclave in Houston as an observer.​

Lastrapes attended three Republican national conventions as a delegate pledged to Reagan: 1976 in [[Kansas City]], 1980 in [[Detroit]], and 1984 in [[Dallas]],  He also attended the 1992 conclave in Houston as an observer.​

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One of Lastrapes' cousins through their common grandfather, Dr. William Robertson Lastrapes, Sr. (1869-1951),<ref name=genealogy/> was Edward Taylor Lewis "Ned" Borie, Sr. (1927-2013), a chemical engineer in Baton Rouge.<ref name=nborie>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=edward-tl-borie-ned&pid=165695990|title=Edward T. L. "Ned" Borie obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref> Borie was involved in grass roots Republican activities in East Baton Rouge Parish and was a delegate to the 1964 national convention in [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/boothby-borunda.html|title=Index of Politicians: Booth-clibborn to Borzaga|publisher=politicalgraveyard.com|accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref> which nominated the [[Barry Goldwater]]. Borie died of head injuries sustained in a fall while on a family vacation in [[Italy]].<ref name=nborie/>​

One of Lastrapes' cousins through their common grandfather, Dr. William Robertson Lastrapes, Sr. (1869-1951),<ref name=genealogy/> was Edward Taylor Lewis "Ned" Borie, Sr. (1927-2013), a chemical engineer in Baton Rouge.<ref name=nborie>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=edward-tl-borie-ned&pid=165695990|title=Edward T. L. "Ned" Borie obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref> Borie was involved in grass roots Republican activities in East Baton Rouge Parish and was a delegate to the 1964 national convention in [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/boothby-borunda.html|title=Index of Politicians: Booth-clibborn to Borzaga|publisher=politicalgraveyard.com|accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref> which nominated the [[Barry Goldwater]]. Borie died of head injuries sustained in a fall while on a family vacation in [[Italy]].<ref name=nborie/>​

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"Well, the oil industry brought in a lot of people. You know, this was not as homogenized, if you can say it that way, a group of people, or citizens, where it once was maybe 90 percent [[Cajun]], 90 percent Catholic. A lot of that changed when the oil industry developed so strongly beginning in the fifties and people from [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Oklahoma]], [[California]], whatever, came into the state, many of them still here, and they became a pretty nice blend of oil industry and local Cajuns. And many married locally and so on. So you've had that blend over the years, and I think some influence came into play too, not that we don't have some conservative Cajuns; we do, a fair number, but the influence of a lot of the oil people coming from these states. It was mostly a conservative influence that had a little play on the flavor of politics locally, and still does to this day. I would say most, somebody would maybe challenge me, but I would say most of the people in the oil industry tend to be on the conservative side of politics and today mostly on the Republican side of politics."​

"Well, the oil industry brought in a lot of people. You know, this was not as homogenized, if you can say it that way, a group of people, or citizens, where it once was maybe 90 percent [[Cajun]], 90 percent Catholic. A lot of that changed when the oil industry developed so strongly beginning in the fifties and people from [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Oklahoma]], [[California]], whatever, came into the state, many of them still here, and they became a pretty nice blend of oil industry and local Cajuns. And many married locally and so on. So you've had that blend over the years, and I think some influence came into play too, not that we don't have some conservative Cajuns; we do, a fair number, but the influence of a lot of the oil people coming from these states. It was mostly a conservative influence that had a little play on the flavor of politics locally, and still does to this day. I would say most, somebody would maybe challenge me, but I would say most of the people in the oil industry tend to be on the conservative side of politics and today mostly on the Republican side of politics."​

 

==References==

==References==

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