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→Mr. Republican Mayor
==Mr. Republican Mayor==
==Mr. Republican Mayor==
Under the Lastrapes administration, Lafayette annexed some thirteen square miles of area. The city grew rapidly from 1980–1984, and then there was a slowdown in the important [[oil]] industry. Lafayette rebounded in the late 1980s and attracted some new industries and expansion of existing ones. On March 18, 1983, Lastrapes recommended to the Lafayette City Council the construction of a four-lane river crossing at the Camellia Boulevard on the city's south side. After years of studies, protests, and delays, construction was completed in 2003.
Under the Lastrapes administration, Lafayette annexed some thirteen square miles of area. The city grew rapidly from 1980–1984, and then there was a slowdown in the important [[oil]] industry. Lafayette rebounded in the late 1980s and attracted some new industries and expansion of existing ones. On March 18, 1983, Lastrapes recommended to the Lafayette City Council the construction of a four-lane river crossing at the Camellia Boulevard on the city's south side. After years of studies, protests, and delays, construction was completed in 2003.
Lastrapes was reelected in 1984, when he defeated a city councilman. And he was reelected on March 8, 1988, when he narrowly derailed a strong comeback attempt by Bowen. Lastrapes polled 13,424 votes (52 percent) to Bowen's 12,512 (48 percent). The mayoral election corresponded with the presidential primaries in Louisiana.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 8, 1988.</ref>
Lastrapes was reelected in 1984, when he defeated a city councilman. And he was reelected on March 8, 1988, when he narrowly derailed a strong comeback attempt by Bowen. Lastrapes polled 13,424 votes (52 percent) to Bowen's 12,512 (48 percent). The mayoral election corresponded with the presidential primaries in Louisiana.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 8, 1988.</ref>
In 1985, Lastrapes recommended a 2 percent [[sales tax]] increase; voters approved it, along with a bond referendum that included the Camellia bridge. The sales tax revenue was used to hire city employees and to start capital improvement projects at a time when few others in Lafayette were building or hiring, said Dee Stanley, chief administrative officer of the Lafayette Consolidated Government. (Lafayette, like [[Baton Rouge]], has a combined city-parish government.) "Mayor Lastrapes understood the necessity of hiring good, qualified people to work in government," Stanley said. Lastrapes was also mayor when the $64 million Cajundome opened in 1985 on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In 1985, Lastrapes recommended a 2 percent [[sales tax]] increase; voters approved it, along with a bond referendum that included the Camellia bridge. The sales tax revenue was used to hire city employees and to start capital improvement projects at a time when few others in Lafayette were building or hiring, said Dee Stanley, chief administrative officer of the Lafayette Consolidated Government. (Lafayette, like [[Baton Rouge]], has a combined city-parish government.) "Mayor Lastrapes understood the necessity of hiring good, qualified people to work in government," Stanley said. Lastrapes was also mayor when the $64 million Cajundome opened in 1985 on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
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."
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>
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>
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]]).
A Republican, Lester Joseph "Joey" Durel, Jr., reclaimed for his party the combined mayor/presidency of the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish in the 2003 primary election.
A Republican, Lester Joseph "Joey" Durel, Jr., reclaimed for his party the combined mayor/presidency of the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish in the 2003 primary election.
==As GOP state chairman==
==As GOP state chairman==
Lastrapes was the second Lafayette Republican to serve as state party chairman in twenty years. [[Charles and Mary de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]] had held the post from 1968 to 1972, during a difficult period for the Louisiana GOP.
Lastrapes was the second Lafayette Republican to serve as state party chairman in twenty years. [[Charles and Mary de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]] had held the post from 1968 to 1972, during a difficult period for the Louisiana GOP.