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 jungle primary.
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Republicans have since served as mayor of Shreveport (Hazel Beard) and Baton Rouge (Bobby R. Simpson), but no Republican has won in New Orleans, Lake Charles, or Monroe or has been directly elected in Alexandria.
Two years later, Lafayette elected the conservative William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr., as the city's first Republican mayor since Reconstruction.
Bowen, and his Republican successor, William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr. (pronounced LA STRAPS), encouraged women to reach the higher ranks in city administration.
Dud Lastrapes | Pete and Dud: Come Again | Dud Dudley | Dud Bascomb |