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→Political life
==Political life==
==Political life==
Dastugue was first elected to the legislature in 1979 when he defeated a two-term incumbent, Democrat Harold Toca. He won with more than 60 percent of the vote. At the age of twenty-three, he was the third youngest person ever elected to the Louisiana legislature.
Dastugue was first elected as a Democrat to the legislature in 1979 when he unseated a two-term incumbent, Democrat Harold Toca. Dastugue won with more than 60 percent of the vote. At the age of twenty-three, he was the third youngest person ever elected to the Louisiana legislature.
In December 1989, Dastugue in his third state House term announced that he would run as a Republican for the [[U.S. Senate]] in a bid to unseat popular three-term Democratic incumbent [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]].<ref>"Dastugue enters Senate race," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' December 20, 1989, p. 8.</ref> However, when the state GOP held a convention on January 13, 1990, the delegates endorsed then state Senator [[Ben Bagert]] of New Orleans as the official party choice. Dastugue then abandoned plans to make the race. So did another candidate, Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005), at the time the Louisiana Secretary of State and a son of former [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]]. Like Dastugue and Bagert, McKeithen was a former Democrat. Bagert later withdrew from the contest, and Johnston defeated the remaining Republican candidate, state Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish and a former figure in the Knights of the [[Ku Klux Klan]].
In December 1989, Dastugue in his third state House term announced that he would run as a Republican for the [[U.S. Senate]] in a bid to unseat popular three-term Democratic incumbent [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]].<ref>"Dastugue enters Senate race," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' December 20, 1989, p. 8.</ref> However, when the state GOP held a convention on January 13, 1990, the delegates endorsed then state Senator [[Ben Bagert]] of New Orleans as the official party choice. Dastugue then abandoned plans to make the race. So did another candidate, Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-2005), at the time the Louisiana Secretary of State and a son of former [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]]. Like Dastugue and Bagert, McKeithen was a former Democrat. Bagert later withdrew from the contest, and Johnston defeated the remaining Republican candidate, state Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish and a former figure in the Knights of the [[Ku Klux Klan]].
===The call for levee board reforms===
===The call for levee board reforms===
Dastugue during part of his tenure was chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, Dastugue authored and secured passage of the state Transportation Trust Fund and the TIMED program. In 1994, he received one of eleven national "Legislator of the Year" awards.
Dastugue during part of his tenure was chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, Dastugue authored and secured passage of the state Transportation Trust Fund and the TIMED program.<ref name=halloffame/> In 1994, he received one of eleven national "Legislator of the Year" awards.
As a legislator, Dastugue was a leader of a small group who questioned the accountability of the levee board system of controlling the [[Mississippi River]] levees. He filed bills to reform the levee boards year after year during the 1980s, when then Democratic Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] was at the zenith of his power. Dastugue said that establishment politicians ridiculed his reform attempts. Dastugue was, unfortunately in his view, vindicated by the tragedy of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. "What bothered me the most was seeing intelligent people turn their backs on such an important public service," Dastugue said of his earlier efforts on behalf of stronger levees.
As a legislator, Dastugue was a leader of a small group who questioned the accountability of the levee board system of controlling the [[Mississippi River]] levees. He filed bills to reform the levee boards year after year during the 1980s, when then Democratic Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] was at the zenith of his power. Dastugue said that establishment politicians ridiculed his reform attempts. Dastugue was, unfortunately in his view, vindicated by the tragedy of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. "What bothered me the most was seeing intelligent people turn their backs on such an important public service," Dastugue said of his earlier efforts on behalf of stronger levees.