Changes

[[Calcasieu Parish]], [[Louisiana]]

[[Calcasieu Parish]], [[Louisiana]]

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]

|term_start=April 2001

|term_start=April 2000

|term_end=April 2017

|term_end=April 2017

|preceded=Rodney Geyen (interim)

|preceded=Rodney Geyen (interim)

|religion=[[United Methodist]]}}

|religion=[[United Methodist]]}}

'''Randall Edmund Roach''', known as '''Randy Roach''' (born February 13, 1951),<ref name=whoswho>"Louisiana: Roach, Randy,'' ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004'', 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2003), p. 793.</ref> served from 2001 to 2017 as the [[mayor]] of his native [[Lake Charles]], [[Louisiana]], a post that he won in a [[special election]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Roach was from 1988 to 1996 the District 36 state representativefor Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in the far southwestern portion of his state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024: Calcasieu Parish|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=December 30, 2020}}</ref>

'''Randall Edmund Roach''', known as '''Randy Roach''' (born February 13, 1951),<ref name=whoswho>"Louisiana: Roach, Randy,'' ''Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004'', 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2003), p. 793.</ref> served from 2000 to 2017 as the [[mayor]] of his native [[Lake Charles]], [[Louisiana]], a post that he won in a [[special election]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Roach was from 1988 to 1996 the District 36 state representativefor Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in the far southwestern portion of his state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024: Calcasieu Parish|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=December 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

Roach has won countless accolades for his public service. In 1990, he was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. He was named "Most Effective Legislator" by ''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'' and "Citizen of the Year" by Lake Charles Kiwanis Internationa.  After his legislative service, Roach was appointed by [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], to head a task force on transportation infrastructure and economic development.<ref name=mayor/>

Roach has won countless accolades for his public service. In 1990, he was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. He was named "Most Effective Legislator" by ''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'' and "Citizen of the Year" by Lake Charles Kiwanis Internationa.  After his legislative service, Roach was appointed by [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], to head a task force on transportation infrastructure and economic development.<ref name=mayor/>

Roach won the runoff election for mayor on April 15, 2000, when he defeated fellow Democrat Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., a city council member, 12,493votes (60 percent) to 8,327 (40 percent). The special election <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 15, 2000.</ref> was required when Willie Mount, the city's first woman mayor, stepped down to become a state senator. Roach was elected to full terms in 2001 (unopposed), 2005 (87.6 percent), 2009 (77.8 percent), and 2013 (unopposed).

Roach won the runoff election for mayor on April 15, 2000, when he defeated fellow Democrat Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., a city council member, 12,493 votes (60 percent) to 8,327 (40 percent). The special election <ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 15, 2000.</ref> was required when Willie Mount, the city's first woman mayor, stepped down to become a state senator. Roach was elected to full terms in 2001 (unopposed), 2005 (87.6 percent), 2009 (77.8 percent), and 2013 (unopposed).

In 2002 and 2003, Roach was named president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors. He is active in the promotion of [[tourism]], the arts, and architecture in the Lakefront Promenade project. He has worked to revitalize the downtown and for the establishment and upgrading of numerous city parks and playgrounds, such as Riverside and Tuten parks. He pushed for the establishment of a 9-11 Memorial with beams from the former [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]] and [[granite]] from [[The Pentagon]]. Roach has worked to eliminate child abuse. In 2014, he received the "President's Award" from the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.<ref name=mayor/>

In 2002 and 2003, Roach was named president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors. He is active in the promotion of [[tourism]], the arts, and architecture in the Lakefront Promenade project. He has worked to revitalize the downtown and for the establishment and upgrading of numerous city parks and playgrounds, such as Riverside and Tuten parks. He pushed for the establishment of a 9-11 Memorial with beams from the former [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]] and [[granite]] from [[The Pentagon]]. Roach has worked to eliminate child abuse. In 2014, he received the "President's Award" from the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.<ref name=mayor/>