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| | A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nungesser was from 2007 to 2015 the president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission in the [[suburb]]s of his native [[New Orleans]]. In that capacity he worked diligently in hurricane relief. Former [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]] appointed him to the 20-member Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, a panel named to formulate a master plan for coastal protection. Since leaving the parish presidency in 2015, Nungesser relocated to River Ridge in [[Lafayette]] Parish. | | A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nungesser was from 2007 to 2015 the president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission in the [[suburb]]s of his native [[New Orleans]]. In that capacity he worked diligently in hurricane relief. Former [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]] appointed him to the 20-member Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, a panel named to formulate a master plan for coastal protection. Since leaving the parish presidency in 2015, Nungesser relocated to River Ridge in [[Lafayette]] Parish. |
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| − | Nungesser's parents, [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] and the former Ruth Amelia Marks (1932-2012), were active in the revitalization of the state Republican Party. The senior Nungesser wasthe chief of staff to Republican former Governor [[David C. Treen]] and later the state GOP chairman, in which capacity he broke with Treen to endorse [[Pat Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican presidential nomination against [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]. | + | Nungesser's parents, [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] and the former Ruth Amelia Marks (1932-2012), were active in the revitalization of the state Republican Party. The senior Nungesser was the chief of staff to Republican former Governor [[David C. Treen]] and later the state GOP chairman, in which capacity he broke with Treen to endorse [[Pat Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican presidential nomination against [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]. |
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| | In 1991, Nungesser launched his business, General Marine Leasing Company, which began with a $7,500 loan and grew to a $20 million operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/lt-governor/index|title=Nungesser Biography|publisher=Crt.state.la.us|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref> | | In 1991, Nungesser launched his business, General Marine Leasing Company, which began with a $7,500 loan and grew to a $20 million operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crt.state.la.us/lt-governor/index|title=Nungesser Biography|publisher=Crt.state.la.us|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref> |
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| | In 2016, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said that he believes voter fraud by the Democratic Party is still a serious hurdle for Republicans in Louisiana because registered and unregistered voters are bussed to polling cites and merely sign a sheet of paper to have their votes count. His remarks drew a quick rebuke from then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], who called the comments "at a minimum uninformed. [He] quite possibly [made] an insult to not only my office, but also our hard-working clerks of court and registrars of voters who are our trusted partners for every election." Schedler who subsequently resigned his position in a sexual harassment scandal. Nungessersaid that his comments referred to a local election in Plaquemines Parish in 2005, not Schedler's operation in Baton Rouge, of which Nungesser had been supportive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d424cb84-4863-11e6-b16a-a7d7592a06ff.html|title=Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser draws ire of Secretary of State Tom Schedler with statements about voting laws|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp}}</ref> | | In 2016, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser said that he believes voter fraud by the Democratic Party is still a serious hurdle for Republicans in Louisiana because registered and unregistered voters are bussed to polling cites and merely sign a sheet of paper to have their votes count. His remarks drew a quick rebuke from then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], who called the comments "at a minimum uninformed. [He] quite possibly [made] an insult to not only my office, but also our hard-working clerks of court and registrars of voters who are our trusted partners for every election." Schedler who subsequently resigned his position in a sexual harassment scandal. Nungessersaid that his comments referred to a local election in Plaquemines Parish in 2005, not Schedler's operation in Baton Rouge, of which Nungesser had been supportive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d424cb84-4863-11e6-b16a-a7d7592a06ff.html|title=Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser draws ire of Secretary of State Tom Schedler with statements about voting laws|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=April 9, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp}}</ref> |
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| − | Though he has in the past been considered a [[conservative]], Nungesser in May 2018 came to the defense of Governor John Bel Edwards regarding a tax increase to close a longstanding budget deficit. Nungesser criticized conservative state Representative Blake John Miguez of New Iberia, who questioned the comments of the lieutenant governor. [[Radio]] talk show shot [[Moon Griffon]] criticized Nungesser for coming to Edwards' defense and questioned whether Nungesser is now a Moderate Republican and no longer a conservative. Griffon said that Nungesser's willingness to "reach across the aisle" is troubling.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 30, 2018.</ref> | + | Though he has in the past been considered a [[conservative]], Nungesser in May 2018 came to the defense of Governor John Bel Edwards regarding a tax increase to close a longstanding budget deficit. Nungesser criticized conservative state Representative [[Blake Miguez]] of New Iberia, who questioned the comments of the lieutenant governor. [[Radio]] talk show shot [[Moon Griffon]] criticized Nungesser for coming to Edwards' defense and questioned whether Nungesser is now a Moderate Republican and no longer a conservative. Griffon said that Nungesser's willingness to "reach across the aisle" is troubling.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 30, 2018.</ref> |
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| − | As of October 18, 2019, Nungesser is the only elected statewide official who has not endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Eddie Rispone]]. He has remained in hiding and will not accept phone calls. Griffon suggested that Nungesser may be supporting Governor Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' October 18, 2019.</ref> | + | As of October 18, 2019, Nungesser was the only elected statewide official who did not endorse the Republican gubernatorial candidate, [[Eddie Rispone]]. He has remained in hiding and will not accept phone calls. Griffon suggested that Nungesser may be supporting Governor Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' October 18, 2019.</ref> |
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |