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'''Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen, Sr.''' (February 9, 1926 – May 2, 2002) was a three-term [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] mayor of [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], the fourth largest city in the state. His tenure, which some assessed as distinguished and others as a failure, extended from 1972 to 1980 and again from 1992 to 1996.​

'''Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen, Sr.''' (February 9, 1926 – May 2, 2002) was a three-term [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] mayor of [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], the fourth largest city in the state. His tenure, which some assessed as distinguished and others as a failure, extended from 1972 to 1980 and again from 1992 to 1996.​

Bowen was Lafayette's first and last mayor under the city's mayor-council form of [[government]], which was used for the 24 years between 1972 and 1996.  He was elected mayor with 62 percent of the vote in the 1972 Democratic primary, in which he defeated three opponents, and he was elected again in 1976 and 1992. When Bowen left office in 1996, the City of Lafayette and [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]] combined their governments, much as [[Baton Rouge]] and East Baton Rouge Parish had done years earlier. The mayor then became the "president" of the combined government.​

Bowen was Lafayette's first and last mayor under the city's mayor-council form of [[government]], which was used for the twenty-four years between 1972 and 1996.  He was elected mayor with 62 percent of the vote in the 1972 Democratic primary, in which he defeated three opponents, and he was elected again in 1976 and 1992. When Bowen left office in 1996, the City of Lafayette and [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]] combined their governments, much as [[Baton Rouge]] and East Baton Rouge Parish had done years earlier. The mayor then became the "president" of the combined government.​

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==Background==

==Background==

Bowen was once awarded the French Legion of Merit for his work in promoting the use of the [[France|French]] language in Louisiana.​

Bowen was once awarded the French Legion of Merit for his work in promoting the use of the [[France|French]] language in Louisiana.​

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==Three mayoral terms==​

==Three Democratic mayoral terms==

 

Bowen's tenure is remembered for controversy, for he often squabbled with city council members and police chiefs.  In the third term, pro-Bowen and anti-Bowen factions clashed so frequently that municipal government was in frequent deadlock. Bowen nevertheless obtained the conversion of the former Evangeline Hotel on Jefferson Street into apartments for senior citizens. There were downtown street improvements too, but cost overruns led to several [[indictment]]s.​

Bowen's tenure is remembered for controversy, for he often squabbled with city council members and police chiefs.  In the third term, pro-Bowen and anti-Bowen factions clashed so frequently that municipal government was in frequent deadlock. Bowen nevertheless obtained the conversion of the former Evangeline Hotel on Jefferson Street into apartments for senior citizens. There were downtown street improvements too, but cost overruns led to several [[indictment]]s.​

 

In actuality, the third term almost did not happen. In the primary held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana, Bowen trailed his fellow Democrat, former state Representative [[Ron Gomez]], 10,301 (34 percent) to 12,127 (40 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent) and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent). In an all-Democratic [[general election]] allowed under the Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez, a former [[journalist]], by 166 votes. The tabulation in 78 Lafayette precincts was 14,677 for Bowen and 14,511 for Gomez. Whereas Bowen was a former Republican, Gomez later switched his party affiliation and served on the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee.​

In actuality, the third term almost did not happen. In the primary held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana, Bowen trailed his fellow Democrat, former state Representative [[Ron Gomez]], 10,301 (34 percent) to 12,127 (40 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent) and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent). In an all-Democratic [[general election]] allowed under the Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez, a former [[journalist]], by 166 votes. The tabulation in 78 Lafayette precincts was 14,677 for Bowen and 14,511 for Gomez. Whereas Bowen was a former Republican, Gomez later switched his party affiliation and served on the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee.​

 

A year later, the former chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, [[Charles and Virginia de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]], who had labored with Bowen in the [[Republican Party|GOP]] vineyard in the 1960s, launched an unsuccessful [[recall]] effort against the mayor. De Gravelles said that he tried to recall Bowen because of the mayor's "micromanagement" of city affairs.​

A year later, the former chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, [[Charles and Virginia de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]], who had labored with Bowen in the [[Republican Party|GOP]] vineyard in the 1960s, launched an unsuccessful [[recall]] effort against the mayor. De Gravelles said that he tried to recall Bowen because of the mayor's "micromanagement" of city affairs.​

 

Many of the construction projects in early 21st century Lafayette were conceived by Bowen. Elmo Laborde, who served on the council during Bowen's final term, cited the fruits of Bowen's work as the Camellia Bridge and the Lafayette Convention Center, which opened the week of Bowen's death. Urban renewal and the expansion of the city utilities system were other Bowen accomplishments, according to Laborde.​

Many of the construction projects in early 21st century Lafayette were conceived by Bowen. Elmo Laborde, who served on the council during Bowen's final term, cited the fruits of Bowen's work as the Camellia Bridge and the Lafayette Convention Center, which opened the week of Bowen's death. Urban renewal and the expansion of the city utilities system were other Bowen accomplishments, according to Laborde.​

 

Former Democratic state Senator Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., of Lafayette said that Bowen was not "concerned about reelection. He was concerned about serving." In the funeral service, Mouton quipped that "Kenny will now rest in peace with the Lord, But I'm not so sure the Lord will have much peace," referring to Bowen's passion for politics. Mouton and fellow Democrat [[Edmund G. Reggie]] of Lafayette (formerly the city judge in Crowley in Acadia Parish) were among honorary pallbearers at Bowen's funeral. Reggie was the father-in-law of the late [[U.S. Senator]] [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].​

Former Democratic state Senator Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., of Lafayette said that Bowen was not "concerned about reelection. He was concerned about serving." In the funeral service, Mouton quipped that "Kenny will now rest in peace with the Lord, But I'm not so sure the Lord will have much peace," referring to Bowen's passion for politics. Mouton and fellow Democrat [[Edmund G. Reggie]] of Lafayette (formerly the city judge in Crowley in Acadia Parish) were among honorary pallbearers at Bowen's funeral. Reggie was the father-in-law of the late [[U.S. Senator]] [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].​

 

Bowen hired the first blacks to work in professional capacities in Lafayette City Hall. "When he came to office, no people of color were working for the City of Lafayette other than on the back of garbage trucks, in public works, and the police department. The only black person working in City Hall was a janitor," said Anthony Navarre, a former city police officer who was a frequent guest on Bowen's ''Let's Talk'' [[television]] program. Bowen, and his Republican successor, [[Dud Lastrapes|William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.]], encouraged women to reach the higher ranks in city administration.​

Bowen hired the first blacks to work in professional capacities in Lafayette City Hall. "When he came to office, no people of color were working for the City of Lafayette other than on the back of garbage trucks, in public works, and the police department. The only black person working in City Hall was a janitor," said Anthony Navarre, a former city police officer who was a frequent guest on Bowen's ''Let's Talk'' [[television]] program. Bowen, and his Republican successor, [[Dud Lastrapes|William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.]], encouraged women to reach the higher ranks in city administration.​

 

Tommy Gilbeau, another former councilman and Bowen friend, recalled the former mayor as having a caring and feeling side that identified with the underdog and ordinary citizen: "He had a zest for life and a love of politics that was unmatched as mayor of Lafayette."​

Tommy Gilbeau, another former councilman and Bowen friend, recalled the former mayor as having a caring and feeling side that identified with the underdog and ordinary citizen: "He had a zest for life and a love of politics that was unmatched as mayor of Lafayette."​

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As mayor, Bowen served a term as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association from 1977 to 1978. He was also active in the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.​

As mayor, Bowen served a term as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association from 1977 to 1978. He was also active in the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.​

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==Bowen and the GOP==​

==Bowen and the GOP==

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Bowen had been the Republican mayoral nominee in 1968, the last in Lafayette under the commission form of government. He lost the [[general election]] to Democratic [[incumbent]] J. Rayburn "Ray" Bertrand (October 1, 1918 - March 6, 2005). Bowen had been a delegate to the 1964 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]], where he cast his ballot for the party's nominee, then Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]].​

Bowen had been the Republican mayoral nominee in 1968, the last in Lafayette under the commission form of government. He lost the [[general election]] to Democratic [[incumbent]] J. Rayburn "Ray" Bertrand (October 1, 1918 - March 6, 2005). Bowen had been a delegate to the 1964 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]], where he cast his ballot for the party's nominee, then Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]].​

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