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Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.​

Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.​

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Originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lastrapes switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.​

Originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lastrapes switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.

 

==Background==​

==Background==

​Lastrapes was born in [[New Orleans]] to William Dudley Lastrapes, Sr. (1897–1973), and the former Gertrude Schminke (1895–1985),<ref name=genealogy>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103371552/william-dudley-lastrapes|title=William Dudgle Lastrapes, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 23, 2019}}</ref> but he was reared in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. The senior Lastrapes owned the Opelousas Credit Bureau and published the local ''Legal Times.'' Lastrapes graduated from Opelousas High School in 1946. He then attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then known as the Southwestern Louisiana Institute), from which in 1950, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in [[English]] and communications.​

​Lastrapes was born in [[New Orleans]] to William Dudley Lastrapes, Sr. (1897–1973), and the former Gertrude Schminke (1895–1985),<ref name=genealogy>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103371552/william-dudley-lastrapes|title=William Dudgle Lastrapes, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 23, 2019}}</ref> but he was reared in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. The senior Lastrapes owned the Opelousas Credit Bureau and published the local ''Legal Times.'' Lastrapes graduated from Opelousas High School in 1946. He then attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then known as the Southwestern Louisiana Institute), from which in 1950, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in [[English]] and communications.​

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Thereafter, in January 1951, Lastrapes entered the [[United States Air Force]] for a full four-year stint. He was stationed in [[South Korea]] throughout 1953. He left the military with the rank of staff sergeant. He has been active in the Lafayette [[American Legion]].​

Thereafter, in January 1951, Lastrapes entered the [[United States Air Force]] for a full four-year stint. He was stationed in [[South Korea]] throughout 1953. He left the military with the rank of staff sergeant. He has been active in the Lafayette [[American Legion]].​

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==Occupation and family==​

==Occupation and family==

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In 1955, Lastrapes went to work as a [[reporter]] and newscaster for the newly opened Lafayette television station KLFY-TV, Channel 10 ([[CBS]]). He left the station to go into [[radio]] but soon returned to KLFY as news director, a position that he maintained until 1970.​

In 1955, Lastrapes went to work as a [[reporter]] and newscaster for the newly opened Lafayette television station KLFY-TV, Channel 10 ([[CBS]]). He left the station to go into [[radio]] but soon returned to KLFY as news director, a position that he maintained until 1970.​

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Lastrapes is also known as the mayor who hired many women in city government. Lewana Shearer of Lafayette's city-parish risk management and insurance division, was hired in the Bowen municipal administration in 1979. She started as a claims investigator and worked her way through the ranks to risk manager. She considers the Lastrapes administration to have been "the best years of my career because he gave women the opportunity to shine."​

Lastrapes is also known as the mayor who hired many women in city government. Lewana Shearer of Lafayette's city-parish risk management and insurance division, was hired in the Bowen municipal administration in 1979. She started as a claims investigator and worked her way through the ranks to risk manager. She considers the Lastrapes administration to have been "the best years of my career because he gave women the opportunity to shine."​

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Lastrapes was not, however, the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. Smaller towns like Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish  ([[Jack Breaux]]),  [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten 1922-2004),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966.</ref> and Haughton in Bossier Parish (Elizabeth O. Sherwin) elected Republican mayors earlier. Alexandria had a Republican mayor by defection from 1972–1973, when [[Ed Karst|Charles Edward "Ed" Karst]] switched parties in the last years of his single term.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 5, 1973.</ref>Karst did not remain Republican, however, as he later returned to the Democrats to seek a judicial position in Rapides Parish in 1978.<ref>''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' September 17, 1978​.</ref>

Lastrapes was not, however, the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. Smaller towns like Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish  ([[Jack Breaux]]),  [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten 1922-2004),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966.</ref> and Haughton in Bossier Parish (Elizabeth O. Sherwin) elected Republican mayors earlier. Alexandria had a Republican mayor by defection from 1972–1973, when [[Ed Karst]] switched parties in the last years of his single term.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' May 5, 1973.</ref>Karst did not remain Republican, however, as he later returned to the Democrats to seek a judicial position in Rapides Parish in 1978.<ref>''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk,'' September 17, 1978​.</ref>

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Republicans have since served as mayor of [[Shreveport]] (Hazel Beard and Robert "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] (Bobby R. Simpson), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria.​ Thee were also short-term Republican mayors in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (Melvin Rambin) and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] ([[Leo Deslatte]]).

Republicans have since served as mayor of [[Shreveport]] (Hazel Beard and Robert "Bo" Williams) and [[Baton Rouge]] (Bobby R. Simpson), but no Republican has won in [[New Orleans]], [[Lake Charles]], or has been directly elected in Alexandria.​ Thee were also short-term Republican mayors in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] (Melvin Rambin) and [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] ([[Leo Deslatte]]).

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==Lastrapes' affiliations==​

==Lastrapes' affiliations==​

Lastrapes was listed in 1984 as a member of the  [[Council for National Policy]], a conservative think-tank begun by the Louisiana Republican (then a Democrat) [[Woody Jenkins|Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins]] intended to be a balance to the [[Council on Foreign Relations]]. Another Louisiana Republican who joined the group was state Representative Arthur William  Sour, Jr.]], (1924–2000) of Shreveport, who legislative service parallels the mayoral years of Mayor Lastrapes. Still another was state Representative and later state Senator [[Dan Richey]], formerly of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.​

Lastrapes was listed in 1984 as a member of the  [[Council for National Policy]], a conservative think-tank begun by the Louisiana Republican (then a Democrat) [[Woody Jenkins|Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins]] intended to be a balance to the [[Council on Foreign Relations]]. Another Louisiana Republican who joined the group was state Representative Arthur William  Sour, Jr., (1924–2000) of Shreveport, who legislative service parallels the mayoral years of Mayor Lastrapes. Still another was state Representative and later state Senator [[Dan Richey]], formerly of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.​

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A [[Roman Catholic]], Lastrapes is a member of Lafayette [[Right-to-Life]]. He was active in [[Little League]] baseball, when his sons were players. He is a veteran member of Rotary International and has been active in blood donor drives. He is also a [[cancer]] survivor.​

A [[Roman Catholic]], Lastrapes is a member of Lafayette [[Right to Life]]. He was active in [[Little League]] baseball, when his sons were players. He is a veteran member of Rotary International and has been active in blood donor drives. He is also a [[cancer]] survivor.​

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==Lastrapes analyzes GOP growth in Acadiana==​

==Lastrapes analyzes GOP growth in Acadiana==​

Years after leaving the mayor's position, Lastrapes was asked to give his take on why Republicanism took root in [[Acadiana]]. Here is his verbatim reply:​

Years after leaving the mayor's position, Lastrapes was asked to give his take on why Republicanism took root in Acadiana. Here is his verbatim reply:​

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"Well, the oil industry brought in a lot of people. You know, this was not as homogenized, if you can say it that way, a group of people, or citizens, where it once was maybe 90 percent [[Cajun]], 90 percent Catholic. A lot of that changed when the oil industry developed so strongly beginning in the fifties and people from [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Oklahoma]], [[California]], whatever, came into the state, many of them still here, and they became a pretty nice blend of oil industry and local Cajuns. And many married locally and so on. So you've had that blend over the years, and I think some influence came into play too, not that we don't have some conservative Cajuns; we do, a fair number, but the influence of a lot of the oil people coming from these states. It was mostly a conservative influence that had a little play on the flavor of politics locally, and still does to this day. I would say most, somebody would maybe challenge me, but I would say most of the people in the oil industry tend to be on the conservative side of politics and today mostly on the Republican side of politics."​

"Well, the oil industry brought in a lot of people. You know, this was not as homogenized, if you can say it that way, a group of people, or citizens, where it once was maybe 90 percent [[Cajun]], 90 percent Catholic. A lot of that changed when the oil industry developed so strongly beginning in the fifties and people from [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Oklahoma]], [[California]], whatever, came into the state, many of them still here, and they became a pretty nice blend of oil industry and local Cajuns. And many married locally and so on. So you've had that blend over the years, and I think some influence came into play too, not that we don't have some conservative Cajuns; we do, a fair number, but the influence of a lot of the oil people coming from these states. It was mostly a conservative influence that had a little play on the flavor of politics locally, and still does to this day. I would say most, somebody would maybe challenge me, but I would say most of the people in the oil industry tend to be on the conservative side of politics and today mostly on the Republican side of politics."​