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→Mr. Republican Mayor
Lastrapes was also mayor when the $64 million Cajundome opened in 1985 on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He 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 was also mayor when the $64 million Cajundome opened in 1985 on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He 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 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]] 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 [[Tom Colten]],<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]] 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>
Republicans have since served as mayor of [[Shreveport]] (Hazel Beard and Robert Warren "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] ([[Tom Ed McHugh]] and [[Bobby Simpson]]), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria. There 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 Warren "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] ([[Tom Ed McHugh]] and [[Bobby Simpson]]), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria. There were also short-term Republican mayors in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (Melvin Rambin) and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] ([[Leo Deslatte]]).