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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. Like [[Baton Rouge]], Lafayette has a combined city-parish government. According to Stanley, Lastrapes "understood the necessity of hiring good, qualified people to work in government."​  

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 also mayor when the $64 million Cajundome opened in 1985 on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.​ He 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>