Changes

Cortez sought the House seat when the Republican Ernest Joseph "Ernie" Alexander, Jr. (1933-2012) was contemplating seeking a third term, but he died just a few days after his second term ended. Cortez has been allied with former state Senator Michael John Michot, a son of former Louisiana Education Superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]], a former Democrat who had been Cortez's fraternity brother at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. he was also allied with the then [[Independent]]] (since Republican) former District 45 state Representative Joel Craig Robideaux (born 1962), both of whom actively supported Cortez in the race against [[Patrick LeBlanc]] through an organization called "Leadership for Louisiana." In the 2007 House primary, Cortez defeated fellow Republican Patrick LeBlanc, an architect who owned  the private-prison company LCS Corrections Services. In the campaign Cortez questioned prison contracts which LeBlanc obtained through sheriffs in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish and [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. No charges of wrongdoing by LeBlanc were ever filed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228215330/http://knoe.com/weblog/archives/00000063.html|date=October 1, 2007|title="Ethics Candidate" Linked to Scandals Involving Louisiana and Texas sheriffs|publisher=KNOETV|accessdate=April 12, 2019}}</ref>​

Cortez sought the House seat when the Republican Ernest Joseph "Ernie" Alexander, Jr. (1933-2012) was contemplating seeking a third term, but he died just a few days after his second term ended. Cortez has been allied with former state Senator Michael John Michot, a son of former Louisiana Education Superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]], a former Democrat who had been Cortez's fraternity brother at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. he was also allied with the then [[Independent]]] (since Republican) former District 45 state Representative Joel Craig Robideaux (born 1962), both of whom actively supported Cortez in the race against [[Patrick LeBlanc]] through an organization called "Leadership for Louisiana." In the 2007 House primary, Cortez defeated fellow Republican Patrick LeBlanc, an architect who owned  the private-prison company LCS Corrections Services. In the campaign Cortez questioned prison contracts which LeBlanc obtained through sheriffs in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish and [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. No charges of wrongdoing by LeBlanc were ever filed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228215330/http://knoe.com/weblog/archives/00000063.html|date=October 1, 2007|title="Ethics Candidate" Linked to Scandals Involving Louisiana and Texas sheriffs|publisher=KNOETV|accessdate=April 12, 2019}}</ref>​

Cortez received 7,742 votes (55.5 percent) compared to LeBlanc's 6,218 ballots (44.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Less than five months after the election, LeBlanc and his pilot died in a small-craft airplane crash near Abbeville in Vermilion Parish near Lafayette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2183&Itemid=93|title=Home – IND Media|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Cortez received 7,742 votes (55.5 percent) compared to LeBlanc's 6,218 ballots (44.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Less than five months after the election, LeBlanc and his pilot died in a small-craft airplane crash near Abbeville in Vermilion Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theind.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2183&Itemid=93|title=Home – IND Media|publisher=theind.com|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Ernie Alexander and then [[U.S. Representative]] Charles Boustany, a Lafayette physician and former Democrat in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district, endorsed Patrick LeBlanc for the state House seat, rather than Cortez. Boustany and LeBlanc also endorsed the failed 2008 candidacy of former [[New York City]] [[Mayor]] [[Rudy Giuliani]] for the Republican presidential nomination. His opponents questioned LeBlanc regarding facilities in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish in north Louisiana and in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. No charges, however, were brought against LeBlanc from wrongdoing regarding the prisons.

Ernie Alexander and then [[U.S. Representative]] Charles Boustany, a Lafayette physician and former Democrat in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district, endorsed Patrick LeBlanc for the state House seat, rather than Cortez. Boustany and LeBlanc also endorsed the failed 2008 candidacy of former [[New York City]] [[Mayor]] [[Rudy Giuliani]] for the Republican presidential nomination. His opponents questioned LeBlanc regarding facilities in Bastrop in Morehouse Parish in north Louisiana and in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]. No charges, however, were brought against LeBlanc from wrongdoing regarding the prisons.