Changes

As his tenure as natural resources secretary ended, Gomez entered the Lafayette mayor's race held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana. The incumbent Republican [[Dud Lastrapes]], a former journalist and an [[insurance]] agent who later became his party's state chairman, did not seek a fourth term. Gomez led the primary field with 12,127 votes (40 percent) and went into a second race with former Mayor [[Kenny Bowen|Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen]]. a Republican-turned-Democrat, who had previously held the position of mayor from 1972 to 1980. Bowen trailed in the first primary with 10,301 (34 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent), and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent). [26] In the all-Democratic general election allowed under the Louisiana primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez by 166 votes, 14,677 to 14,511.[27] Gomez described his opponent, Mayor Bowen, as "acrimonious" [with a] usual confrontational, self-serving, and cynical mode." [28]

As his tenure as natural resources secretary ended, Gomez entered the Lafayette mayor's race held on March 10, 1992, in conjunction with the presidential primaries in Louisiana. The incumbent Republican [[Dud Lastrapes]], a former journalist and an [[insurance]] agent who later became his party's state chairman, did not seek a fourth term. Gomez led the primary field with 12,127 votes (40 percent) and went into a second race with former Mayor [[Kenny Bowen|Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen]]. a Republican-turned-Democrat, who had previously held the position of mayor from 1972 to 1980. Bowen trailed in the first primary with 10,301 (34 percent). Two other candidates also ran, Democrat Kathy Ashworth, with 7,344 (24 percent), and Republican Emile Vidrine, with 603 votes (2 percent). [26] In the all-Democratic general election allowed under the Louisiana primary system and held on April 11, Bowen defeated Gomez by 166 votes, 14,677 to 14,511.[27] Gomez described his opponent, Mayor Bowen, as "acrimonious" [with a] usual confrontational, self-serving, and cynical mode." [28]

 

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

Gomez is divorced from the former Purdy Linton, now Purdy Gers of Baton Rouge. In 1975, he married his second and current wife, the former Carol Ross (born 1946), a USL graduate originally from King of Prussia, [[Pennsylvania]], who assists him in the operation of ''The Acadiana Gazette.'' Carol Gomez has an advertising agency known as Edge Communications, with such clients as the Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital. She also has her own radio program on KPEL-Lafayette and has on occasion substituted for statewide broadcaster [[Moon Griffon]]. Gomez has three living children from the previous marriage, Ronald James "Jimmie" Gomez, Jr., of Baton Rouge, Nanette Oliver of Lafayette, and Laurence Hughes Gomez of [[Austin]], [[Texas]]. He held the custody of the children after the divorce. A third son, Gregory Stephen Gomez, died in 1996 in Austin in an accident at the age of thirty-three. [29]

Gomez is divorced from the former Purdy Linton, now Purdy Gers of Baton Rouge. In 1975, he married his second and current wife, the former Carol Ross (born 1946), a USL graduate originally from King of Prussia, [[Pennsylvania]], who assists him in the operation of ''The Acadiana Gazette.'' Carol Gomez has an advertising agency known as Edge Communications, with such clients as the Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital. She also had her own conservative radio program on KPEL-Lafayette for three years prior to March 2022. On occasion, she substituted for statewide broadcaster [[Moon Griffon]], also based at KPEL. Gomez has three living children from the previous marriage, Ronald James "Jimmie" Gomez, Jr., of Baton Rouge, Nanette Oliver of Lafayette, and Laurence Hughes Gomez of [[Austin]], [[Texas]]. He held the custody of the children after the divorce. A third son, Gregory Stephen Gomez, died in 1996 in Austin in an accident at the age of thirty-three. [29]

Gomez recalls his mother's warning to him as a guiding light to integrity when he announced for state representative in 1979: "If you're not careful, you'll end up just as crooked as all those other politicians." Gomez said, "I never forgot her warning. The honesty, integrity and humility of this saintly woman as well as my father's simple but solid principles were pounded into all five children with regularity."[29]

Gomez recalls his mother's warning to him as a guiding light to integrity when he announced for state representative in 1979: "If you're not careful, you'll end up just as crooked as all those other politicians." Gomez said, "I never forgot her warning. The honesty, integrity and humility of this saintly woman as well as my father's simple but solid principles were pounded into all five children with regularity."[29]