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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr.​

| name=Edward Gordon<br>

"Ned" Randolph, Jr.​

| office=[[Mayor]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]],  [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

| office=[[Mayor]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]],  [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

| party=[[Democratic Party)|Democrat]]​

| party=[[Democratic Party)|Democrat]]​

|resting_place=Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana

|resting_place=Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana

| occupation=[[Attorney]]​

| occupation=[[Attorney]]​

| spouse=Sanna Randolph (divorced)

| spouse= (1) Sanna Randolph (divorced)

(2) Missing (divorced)<br>

(2) Missing (divorced)<br>

(3) Deborah Ann Broussard Randolph (married 1994-2016, his death))​

(3) Deborah Ann Broussard Randolph (married 1994-2016, his death))​

In 1975, he ran for the District 29 state Senate seat and unseated the 14-year incumbent, [[Cecil R. Blair]], a fellow Democrat from Lecompte in south Rapides Parish, in the first nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1, 1975.</ref>

In 1975, he ran for the District 29 state Senate seat and unseated the 14-year incumbent, [[Cecil R. Blair]], a fellow Democrat from Lecompte in south Rapides Parish, in the first nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held in Louisiana.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1, 1975.</ref>

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In 1976, as a new state senator, Randolph and [[Jock Scott]], his House successor, led the successful Rapides Parish campaign for Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]] [[Georgia]]. A quiet, introspective man, Randolph learned how to get things done for his district during his two terms in the state senate.​

In 1976, as a new state senator, Randolph and [[Jock Scott]], his House successor, led the successful Rapides Parish campaign to elect Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]of [[Georgia]]. A quiet, introspective man, Randolph learned how to get things done for his district during his two terms in the state senate.​

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==Randolph's political challenges==​

==Randolph's political challenges==​

In 1983, Randolph was unseated in the primary for reelection to the state senate by fellow Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the Red River from Alexandria and later from Woodworth in south Rapides Parish. McPherson, who was elected to the state senate again in 2007, was supported by both Congressman Long and Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who was making a successful bid in that same election for a third term in the governor's office.​

In 1983, Randolph was unseated in the primary for reelection to the state senate by fellow Democrat [[Joe McPherson]], then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the Red River from Alexandria and later from Woodworth in south Rapides Parish. McPherson, who was elected to the state senate again in 2007, was supported by both Congressman Long and Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who was making a successful bid in that same election for a third term in the governor's office.​

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In the primary, Randolph led with 13,501 votes (38.4 percent) to McPherson's 11,032 (31.4 percent). Former Senator Cecil Blair polled 6,096 votes (17.4 percent), and Alexandria Mayor [[John K. Snyder]] in the second year of his second mayoral term, received 4,496 (12.8 percent). In the runoff—officially the Louisiana [[general election]] - McPherson won, 16,360 votes (53.9 percent) to Randolph's 13,973 (46.1 percent). Turnout was nearly five thousand less in the runoff than in the primary, a phenomenon that may have worked against incumbent Randolph.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns,  With two consecutive defeats, Randolph's political career seemed on the ropes.​

In the primary, Randolph led with 13,501 votes (38.4 percent) to McPherson's 11,032 (31.4 percent). Former Senator Cecil Blair polled 6,096 votes (17.4 percent), and Alexandria Mayor [[John K. Snyder]] in the second year of his second mayoral term, received 4,496 (12.8 percent). In the runoff—officially the Louisiana [[general election]] - McPherson won, 16,360 votes (53.9 percent) to Randolph's 13,973 (46.1 percent). Turnout was nearly five thousand less in the runoff than in the primary, a phenomenon that may have worked against incumbent Randolph.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns,  With two consecutive defeats, Randolph's political career seemed on the ropes.​

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In the general election, Baker defeated Holloway by 2,728 votes even though Holloway polled majorities in fifteen of the seventeen parishes in the district. A majority of Randolph's supporters were believed to have gone to Baker. Turnout in the congressional general election, which accompanied the Clinton-Bush presidential contest, was 245,178, nearly double the 141,821 votes cast in the primary.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</ref>

In the general election, Baker defeated Holloway by 2,728 votes even though Holloway polled majorities in fifteen of the seventeen parishes in the district. A majority of Randolph's supporters were believed to have gone to Baker. Turnout in the congressional general election, which accompanied the Clinton-Bush presidential contest, was 245,178, nearly double the 141,821 votes cast in the primary.​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</ref>

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==Legacy as mayor==​

In 1997, a decade after he became mayor, Randolph ran unsuccessfully for a state judgeship.​

 

===Contrast to Snyder===​

==Legacy==

 

===In contrast to Snyder===​

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Randolph announced on April 3, 2006, that he would not seek a sixth term. The ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' his hometown newspaper, said that his 20-year leadership had lifted "the city's esteem and changed its direction." Randolph succeeded the controversial John K. Snyder, an admirer of the late [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]. Snyder once even checked himself into a mental health facility.​ "Thank God Ned chose to run," said Glen E. s Beard (born 1938), the Alexandria police chief from 1983 until 1991. "When he was elected, it was like a breath of fresh air." At one point, Snyder even seized Beard's police car. Randolph later named Darren Coutee as the first African-American police chief.​

Randolph announced on April 3, 2006, that he would not seek a sixth term. The ''Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' his hometown newspaper, said that his 20-year leadership had lifted "the city's esteem and changed its direction." Randolph succeeded the controversial John K. Snyder, an admirer of the late [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]. Snyder once even checked himself into a mental health facility.​ "Thank God Ned chose to run," said Glen E. s Beard (born 1938), the Alexandria police chief from 1983 until 1991. "When he was elected, it was like a breath of fresh air." At one point, Snyder even seized Beard's police car. Randolph later named Darren Coutee as the first African-American police chief.​

There were public relations campaigns "to try to make people feel good again about themselves and about Alexandria," said Mrs. Randolph. A former city council member, Marion Chaney, who worked for an Alexandria [[architect]]ural firm, said, "It was time for a change" by 1986. "I wouldn't say Alexandria was a laughing stock, but it definitely needed a change."​

There were public relations campaigns "to try to make people feel good again about themselves and about Alexandria," said Mrs. Randolph. A former city council member, Marion Chaney, who worked for an Alexandria [[architect]]ural firm, said, "It was time for a change" by 1986. "I wouldn't say Alexandria was a laughing stock, but it definitely needed a change."​

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===Municipal improvements===​

===Municipal improvements==

When Randolph became mayor, Alexandria faced budget deficits and potential city employee layoffs. During the two decades that Randolph served as mayor, Alexandria landed a tank car plant, completed the Riverfront Center, opened a performing arts center, and improved its drainage system. In the 1990s,  the city faced the closure of the former England Air Force Base and a police strike.

When Randolph became mayor, Alexandria faced budget deficits and potential city employee layoffs. During the two decades that Randolph served as mayor, Alexandria landed a tank car plant, completed the Riverfront Center, opened a performing arts center, and improved its drainage system. In the 1990s,  the city faced the closure of the former England Air Force Base and a police strike.

Randolph said that his "worst day" in office came early in 2003, when two young police officers, David C. Ezernack and Jeremy E. "Jay" Carruth, were shot to death in the line of duty, a tragedy not that common in Alexandria at that time.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 3, 2006.</ref>

Randolph said that his "worst day" in office came early in 2003, when two young police officers, David C. Ezernack and Jeremy E. "Jay" Carruth, were shot to death in the line of duty, a tragedy not that common in Alexandria at that time.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk,'' December 3, 2006.</ref>

 

Prior to his death in Alexandria at the age of seventy-four, Randolph practiced law and served as the Central Louisiana representative for the state Attorney General's Office.  IRandolph had two children from his  first marriage:  Sanna Aimee Randolph (born 1970) and her husband,  Robert Mathew Lapic of Mill Valley, [[California]], and [[journalist]] Edward G. "Ned" Randolph, III, (born 1971), formerly with ''The Baton Rouge Advocate" who resides with his wife, Dr. Jessica Shank Randolph, in [[San Diego]], California.  Randolph is also the stepfather of Deborah's son, Matthew Alexander Dunn (born 1986) of Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> ​

Prior to his death, Randolph practiced law and served as the Central Louisiana representative for the state Attorney General's Office.  IRandolph had two children from his  first marriage:  Sanna Aimee Randolph (born 1970) and her husband,  Robert Mathew Lapic of Mill Valley, [[California]], and [[journalist]] Edward G. "Ned" Randolph, III, (born 1971), formerly with ''The Baton Rouge Advocate" who resides with his wife, Dr. Jessica Shank Randolph, in [[San Diego]], California.  Randolph is also the stepfather of Deborah's son, Matthew Alexander Dunn (born 1986) of Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> ​

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On February 2, 2008, Randolph and his former congressional rival, Richard Baker, were among several individuals inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, north of Alexandria.<re

On February 2, 2008, Randolph and his former congressional rival, Richard Baker, were among several individuals inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, north of Alexandria.<re