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Like his brother Dave Treen, John Treen has long been active in the Louisiana Republican Party. While Dave Treen ran for governor on February 1, 1972, in the first of three campaigns for the state's highest office, John Treen in that same election contested a state Senate seat in Jefferson Parish. He lost by 973 votes to the Democrat M. Joseph Tiemann, 16,153 (51.6 percent) to 15,180 (48. percent.)<ref>[[Louisiana Secretary of State]], General election returns, February 1, 1972.</ref>

Like his brother Dave Treen, John Treen has long been active in the Louisiana Republican Party. While Dave Treen ran for governor on February 1, 1972, in the first of three campaigns for the state's highest office, John Treen in that same election contested a state Senate seat in Jefferson Parish. He lost by 973 votes to the Democrat M. Joseph Tiemann, 16,153 (51.6 percent) to 15,180 (48. percent.)<ref>[[Louisiana Secretary of State]], General election returns, February 1, 1972.</ref>

Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, [[Cajuns]] vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from [[Acadiana]], regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the  Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat [[Chris John]]. Both were then [[U.S. representative]]s.<ref name=cajuns/>​

Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, Cajuns vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from Acadiana, regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the  Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat [[Chris John]]. Both were then [[U.S. representative]]s.<ref name=cajuns/>​

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​===Treen V. Duke===

​===Treen V. Duke===

John Treen was not a very dynamic campaigner, and he was not very well liked by the political insiders in Jefferson Parish. ... Harry Lee was quoted as saying the runoff election was 'a choice between a bigot and an asshole.' During the few head-to-head public forums Treen's advisors allowed, John wilted under the relative eloquence of Duke.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223">Ron Gomez, p. 223.</ref></blockquote> ​

John Treen was not a very dynamic campaigner, and he was not very well liked by the political insiders in Jefferson Parish. ... Harry Lee was quoted as saying the runoff election was 'a choice between a bigot and an asshole.' During the few head-to-head public forums Treen's advisors allowed, John wilted under the relative eloquence of Duke.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223">Ron Gomez, p. 223.</ref></blockquote> ​

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John Treen's candidacy was endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], former President [[Ronald W. Reagan]], and other notable Republicans such as the political activist [[Beth Rickey]].<ref>"GOP Condemns Duke," ''[[Newsday]]'', [[Long Island]], [[New York]], February 25, 1989. p. 9.</ref> Treen also drew the backing of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/23/us/ex-klan-chief-places-first-in-louisiana-primary.html|title=Ex-Klan Chief Places First in Louisiana Primary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=January 23, 1989|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> the Democrat [[Victor Bussie]] (long-term president of the Louisiana [[AFL-CIO]]), and [[Edward J. Steimel]] (president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry). Duke, however, hammered Treen on a statement that Treen had made indicating a willingness to entertain higher [[property tax]]es if so determined by the voters, an unpopular stance in the [[suburban]] district. Moreover, the third-place candidate, Delton Charles, did little to help Treen in the contest with Duke.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hill: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), ISBN 0807843814), p. iii</ref>​

John Treen's candidacy was endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], former President [[Ronald W. Reagan]], and other notable Republicans such as the political activist [[Beth Rickey]].<ref>"GOP Condemns Duke," ''[[Newsday]]'', [[Long Island]], [[New York]], February 25, 1989. p. 9.</ref> Treen also drew the backing of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/23/us/ex-klan-chief-places-first-in-louisiana-primary.html|title=Ex-Klan Chief Places First in Louisiana Primary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=January 23, 1989|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> the Democrat [[Victor Bussie]] (long-term president of the Louisiana [[AFL-CIO]]), and [[Edward J. Steimel]] (president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry). Duke, however, hammered Treen on a statement that Treen had made indicating a willingness to entertain higher [[property tax]]es if so determined by the voters, an unpopular stance in the [[suburban]] district. Moreover, the third-place candidate, Delton Charles, did little to help Treen in the contest with Duke.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hill: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), ISBN 0807843814), p. iii</ref>​

With 8,459 votes (50.7 percent), Duke narrowly defeated Treen, who polled 8,232 votes (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328065|title=John S. Treen|publisher=Ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Duke served in the House from 1990 until 1992, his only public office.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembers1812_2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2008|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> The turnout was a relatively high 54 percent for a showdown election.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223"/> Though Duke had left the Klan in 1979, his presence in Louisiana Republican circles in the 1990s created much havoc for the party and may have delayed its advancement to near parity with the Democrats, which developed by the early years of the 21st century.

With 8,459 votes (50.7 percent), Duke narrowly defeated Treen, who polled 8,232 votes (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328065|title=John S. Treen|publisher=Ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Duke served in the House from 1990 until 1992, his only public office.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembers1812_2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2008|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> The turnout was a relatively high 54 percent for a showdown election.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223"/> Though Duke had left the Klan in 1979, his presence in Louisiana Republican circles in the 1990s created much havoc for the party and may have delayed its advancement to near parity with the Democrats, which developed by the early years of the 21st century.

On March 24, 2012, John Treen was handily defeated in a race for the District 81 seat on the Republican State Central Committee. He lost that race to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [Eric Skrmetta, 447 (63.3 percent) to 259 (36.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 24, 2012.</ref>​

On March 24, 2012, John Treen was handily defeated in a race for the District 81 seat on the Republican State Central Committee. He lost that race to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [Eric Skrmetta, 447 (63.3 percent) to 259 (36.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 24, 2012.</ref>​

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==References==

==References==

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