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|parents=Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence L. Breaux

|parents=Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence L. Breaux

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'''Jack Louis Breaux, Sr.''' (November 6, 1926 &ndash; January 26, 1980),<ref name=obit/> was the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[mayor]] of Zachary in [[Baton Rouge|East Baton Rouge Parish]] for nearly fourteen years &mdash; from his first election in 1966 until his death of a brain tumor. He was the first member of his party since [[Reconstruction]] to head the municipal government of a Louisiana city.​

'''Jack Louis Breaux, Sr.''' (November 6, 1926 &ndash; January 26, 1980),<ref name=obit/> was the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[mayor]] of Zachary in [[Baton Rouge|East Baton Rouge Parish]] for nearly fourteen years &mdash; from his first election in 1966 until his death of a brain tumor. He was the first member of his party since [[Reconstruction]] to head the municipal government of a Louisiana city.​

Breaux (no relation to [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] former [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]]) was elected as a part-time mayor in the spring of 1966. In 1978, the Zachary municipal [[charter]] was altered to provide for a full-time mayor, and Breaux (pronounced BRO) was again chosen to lead his community.​

Breaux (no relation to [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] former [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]]) was elected as a part-time mayor in the spring of 1966. In 1978, the Zachary municipal [[charter]] was altered to provide for a full-time mayor, and Breaux (pronounced BRO) was again chosen to lead his community.​

 

==Background==

==Background==

 

Breaux was born in Carencro in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]], where his father, Lawrence L. Breaux, had been mayor. He graduated from Carencro High School and thereafter served in the [[United States Navy]] in [[World War II]].

Breaux was born in Carencro in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]], where his father, Lawrence L. Breaux, had been mayor. He graduated from Carencro High School and thereafter served in the [[United States Navy]] in [[World War II]].

After the war, he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana, from 1947 to 1950. He moved to Zachary in 1951. He was an industrial and labor relations supervisor at Copolymer Rubber and Chemical Corp., until his retirement to become Zachary's full-time mayor in 1978.​<ref name=obit/>

After the war, he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana, from 1947 to 1950. He moved to Zachary in 1951. He was an industrial and labor relations supervisor at Copolymer Rubber and Chemical Corp., until his retirement to become Zachary's full-time mayor in 1978.​<ref name=obit/>

 

==Tenure as Zachary mayor==

==Tenure as Zachary mayor==

Using a door-to-door campaign approach, Breaux was elected mayor on June 14, 1966, by a 15-vote margin, 353 to 338, to unseat incumbent Democrat Stanley M. Noble.<ref>''Lake Charles American-Press'', June 15, 1966, p. 10.</ref> When Breaux became mayor, Zachary had a population of about 4,000; the 2000 census showed the count at just under 12,000.​

Using a door-to-door campaign approach, Breaux was elected mayor on June 14, 1966, by a 15-vote margin, 353 to 338, to unseat incumbent Democrat Stanley M. Noble.<ref>''Lake Charles American-Press'', June 15, 1966, p. 10.</ref> When Breaux became mayor, Zachary had a population of about 4,000; the 2000 census showed the count at just under 12,000.​

 

Under the Breaux administration, Zachary was named the "most progressive" city in Louisiana.<ref>This definition of "progressive" means "moving forward," not the expansion of government associated with the former Progressive movement.</ref> Mayor Breaux initiated the expansion and improvement of many city projects and programs, including the widening of Louisiana Highway 64. As mayor, Breaux led the drive for annexation of several outlying areas of the city. In his last race for mayor, he cited his achievements as improvements in roads, water, and the city drainage system.​<ref name=obit/>

Under the Breaux administration, Zachary was named the "most progressive" city in Louisiana.<ref>This definition of "progressive" means "moving forward," not the expansion of government associated with the former Progressive movement.</ref> Mayor Breaux initiated the expansion and improvement of many city projects and programs, including the widening of Louisiana Highway 64. As mayor, Breaux led the drive for annexation of several outlying areas of the city. In his last race for mayor, he cited his achievements as improvements in roads, water, and the city drainage system.​<ref name=obit/>

==Other campaigns==

==Other campaigns==

 

In 1975 and 1976, Breaux unsuccessfully sought election as a Republican for [[sheriff]] of East Baton Rouge Parish and for the Baton Rouge mayor-president position, a combined municipal-parish office. In the sheriff's race, Breaux, who was opposing Democratic incumbent J. Al Amiss (pronounced AIM ISS), ran third with 19.6 percent and narrowly missed a [[general election]] berth. Amiss led the field with 31.9 percent, and another Democrat, D.P. "Skip" D'Amico trailed with 22.9 percent in the primary.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, [[Baton Rouge]], Election returns, November 1, 1975.</ref> Amiss defeated D'Amico and served from 1972 until his death early in 1983. A Republican, [[Elmer Litchfield]], was subsequently the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff from 1983 until his retirement in 2006 because of health problems.​

In 1975 and 1976, Breaux unsuccessfully sought election as a Republican for [[sheriff]] of East Baton Rouge Parish and for the Baton Rouge mayor-president position, a combined municipal-parish office. In the sheriff's race, Breaux, who was opposing Democratic incumbent J. Al Amiss (pronounced AIM ISS), ran third with 19.6 percent and narrowly missed a [[general election]] berth. Amiss led the field with 31.9 percent, and another Democrat, D.P. "Skip" D'Amico trailed with 22.9 percent in the primary.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, [[Baton Rouge]], Election returns, November 1, 1975.</ref> Amiss defeated D'Amico and served from 1972 until his death early in 1983. A Republican, [[Elmer Litchfield]], was subsequently the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff from 1983 until his retirement in 2006 because of health problems.​

In 2001, a Baker Republican, Bobby Simpson, became mayor-president, but he was unseated after one term in 2004 by the [[African American]] Democrat Kip Holden, a former state representative. Simpson had succeeded a Democrat-turned-Republican Tom Ed McHugh, in office for three terms as mayor-president from 1989 to 2001 and later the executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association.​

In 2001, a Baker Republican, Bobby Simpson, became mayor-president, but he was unseated after one term in 2004 by the [[African American]] Democrat Kip Holden, a former state representative. Simpson had succeeded a Democrat-turned-Republican Tom Ed McHugh, in office for three terms as mayor-president from 1989 to 2001 and later the executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association.​

 

Breaux hence started the path which made possible the future breakthroughs by the Republicans Litchfield and Simpson.​

Breaux hence started the path which made possible the future breakthroughs by the Republicans Litchfield and Simpson.​

 

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

 

Tom Ed McHugh, who chaired the charter commission, said that Breaux saw the change in government as "another opportunity to serve the community." He said that Breaux's death was a great loss to the Republican Party: "I think it's a very tragic thing; we hate to lose our oldest Republican mayor in terms of service. He was a great asset to the community, not only as a mayor, but as an individual."​<ref name=obit/>

Tom Ed McHugh, who chaired the charter commission, said that Breaux saw the change in government as "another opportunity to serve the community." He said that Breaux's death was a great loss to the Republican Party: "I think it's a very tragic thing; we hate to lose our oldest Republican mayor in terms of service. He was a great asset to the community, not only as a mayor, but as an individual."​<ref name=obit/>

On November 8, 1966, Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten (1922-2004), a member of the Republican State Executive Committee, was elected mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, five months after Breaux won as mayor of Zachary. Breaux and Colten were the first two Republican mayors of the 20th century in Louisiana.​<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>

On November 8, 1966, Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten (1922-2004), a member of the Republican State Executive Committee, was elected mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, five months after Breaux won as mayor of Zachary. Breaux and Colten were the first two Republican mayors of the 20th century in Louisiana.​<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>

 

==Death and family==

==Death and family==

 

Breaux underwent neurosurgery in November 1978, just after becoming the full-time mayor. He was readmitted to the hospital in August 1979. His illness requjired him to take a leave of absence from mayoral duties. He died in Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge.​<ref name=obit/>

Breaux underwent neurosurgery in November 1978, just after becoming the full-time mayor. He was readmitted to the hospital in August 1979. His illness requjired him to take a leave of absence from mayoral duties. He died in Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge.​<ref name=obit/>

 

Services were held on January 28, 1980, at Breaux's church, Plains [[Presbyterian]] in Zachary. Burial was at the Azalea Rest Cemetery.​ Survivors included his wife, the former Betty Ellis (born December 1929), a Zachary teacher; his mother, Mrs. Lawrence L. Breaux of [[Lafayette]]; two sons, Dr. Jack L. Breaux, Jr. (born 1951), and wife Carolyn Derbes Breaux (born 1948), of [[New Orleans]], later of Baton Rouge, and Frank William Breaux (born 1954), then of [[Guadalajara]], [[Mexico]], and later of Baton Rouge; a brother, William R. Breaux (1924–1995) of Lafayette, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Breaux of New Orleans.​<ref name=obit>Jack Breaux obituary, ''Baton Rouge Advocate'', January 27, 1980, p. 1 and obituary section​.</ref>

Services were held on January 28, 1980, at Breaux's church, Plains [[Presbyterian]] in Zachary. Burial was at the Azalea Rest Cemetery.​ Survivors included his wife, the former Betty Ellis (born December 1929), a Zachary teacher; his mother, Mrs. Lawrence L. Breaux of [[Lafayette]]; two sons, Dr. Jack L. Breaux, Jr. (born 1951), and wife Carolyn Derbes Breaux (born 1948), of [[New Orleans]], later of Baton Rouge, and Frank William Breaux (born 1954), then of [[Guadalajara]], [[Mexico]], and later of Baton Rouge; a brother, William R. Breaux (1924–1995) of Lafayette, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Breaux of New Orleans.​<ref name=obit>Jack Breaux obituary, ''Baton Rouge Advocate'', January 27, 1980, p. 1 and obituary section​.</ref>