Changes

|term_start=2004

|term_start=2004

|term_end=2016

|term_end=2016

|predecessor=Walter B. Comeaux, III

|predecessor=Walter St. Julien Comeaux, Jr.

|successor=[[Joel Robideaux]]

|successor=[[Joel Robideaux]]

|birth_date=April 3, 1953

|birth_date=April 3, 1953

==The election of 2003==

==The election of 2003==

In 2003, the then incumbent Mayor-President, Democrat Walter Comeaux, III, declined to seek a third term, and instead supported fellow Democrat Glenn M. Weber in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 4, 2003.

In 2003, the then incumbent Mayor-President, Democrat Walter St. Julien Comeaux, Jr. (1937-2010), a former Lafayette Parish police juror, declined to seek a third term, and instead supported fellow Democrat Glenn M. Weber in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 4, 2003.

The only Republican in the field, Durel led the primary with 41 percent of the vote, compared to 29 percent for Weber and 19 percent for Floyd Domingue, a Democrat and a land man, one who obtains land for oil drilling rights.  Three lesser candidates divided the remaining 11 percent of the vote.<ref> Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>

The only Republican in the field, Joey Durel led the primary with 41 percent of the vote, compared to 29 percent for Weber and 19 percent for Floyd Domingue, a Democrat and a land man, one who obtains land for oil drilling rights.  Three lesser candidates divided the remaining 11 percent of the vote.<ref> Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>

Durel and Weber hence entered the [[general election]] held on November 15, 2003. Durel won with 34,806 votes (52 percent) to Weber's 32,113 (48 percent). The mayor-presidency vote mirrored the gubernatorial totals in Lafayette Parish. Republican [[Bobby Jindal]] received 34,951 votes (52 percent) to Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]]'s 32,734 (48 percent). Blanco hence won the governorship but lost her home parish of Lafayette. Durel trailed Jindal by only 145 votes in the parish, and Weber trailed Blanco by 621 ballots. On the surface, there appeared to have been relatively little ticket-splitting in the two Lafayette Parish races.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref>  

Durel and Weber hence entered the [[general election]] held on November 15, 2003. Durel won with 34,806 votes (52 percent) to Weber's 32,113 (48 percent). The mayor-presidency vote mirrored the gubernatorial totals in Lafayette Parish. Republican [[Bobby Jindal]] received 34,951 votes (52 percent) to Democrat [[Kathleen Blanco]]'s 32,734 (48 percent). Blanco hence won the governorship but lost her home parish of Lafayette. Durel trailed Jindal by only 145 votes in the parish, and Weber trailed Blanco by 621 ballots. On the surface, there appeared to have been relatively little ticket-splitting in the two Lafayette Parish races.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref>