Ernie Alexander
Encyclopedia
Ernest Joseph "Ernie" Alexander (born May 3, 1933) is a former Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from Lafayette Parish, having served in District 43 from 2000 to 2008. Prior to his legislative tenure, Alexander served a four-year term on the newly-established Lafayette
City-Parish Council. A former classroom teacher
, he previously owned Lafayette radio
stations KMDL
and KFTE
.
Alexander compiled a generally conservative voting record in the legislature, both socially and economically. He worked to increase the time required for procuring a divorce
on the grounds that delay may lead quarreling couples to reconcile. He also fought to bring more jobs and better-paying jobs to Louisiana. Some, however, questioned his support for tax
increases.
Alexander originally campaigned in support of a two-term limit for legislators. The legislature since passed a three-term limit. Alexander considered seeking a third term but then decided to honor his own stated preference for a two-term limit.
Even before Alexander announced his retirement, his successor, fellow Republican Patrick Page Cortez
(born 1961) had already entered the race in the heavily Republican district. Cortez is a co-owner and operator of La-Z-Boy
Furniture
and Stoma’s Furniture and Interiors in Lafayette. Cortez outraised Alexander 4-1 for the race before the incumbent decided not to run again. A former teacher and high school coach
, Cortez has served on the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Commission. He also has name recognition from his television
advertising on the Lafayette channels. He is personally close to Republican State Senator
Michael J. Michot
and Independent State Representative Joel C. Robideaux of Lafayette. Michot, however, said that he would have remained neutral in any jungle primary
which might have pitted Alexander against Cortez, Michot's former fraternity
brother at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
.
Also seeking the seat was a second Republican, architect
Patrick Lynn "Pat" LeBlanc
(1954–2008), another ULL alumnus and the president of LCS Corrections, the fifth largest private prison
system in the United States
. LeBlanc said that he would not have otherwise challenged Alexander but decided to run when the seat became open.
Cortez defeated LeBlanc, 7,742 (55 percent) to 6,218 (45 percent), to win the seat outright in the primary.
In the October 23, 1999, primary, Alexander faced a fellow Republican, Ross Little, Jr., and a Democrat
Ken Bouillion. Alexander led with 7,647 votes (46 percent) to Little's 5,005 (30 percent), and Bouillion's 3,839 (23 percent). In the general election
, Alexander defeated Little, 9,109 (62 percent) to 5,615 (38 percent). Alexander was unopposed for reelection in the 2003 primary. That year, Alexander joined more than thirty legislative colleagues in endorsing the unsuccessful gubernatorial candidacy of former House Speaker
Hunt Downer
of Houma
, the seat of Terrebonne Parish
in south Louisiana.
In his election to the Lafayette Council, District 7 seat in 1995, Alexander ran as a "No Party" candidate and polled 3,772 votes (59 percent) to defeat two Republican rivals. He is Roman Catholic.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Lafayette Parish, having served in District 43 from 2000 to 2008. Prior to his legislative tenure, Alexander served a four-year term on the newly-established Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
City-Parish Council. A former classroom teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, he previously owned Lafayette radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
stations KMDL
KMDL
KMDL is a country music formatted radio station in Lafayette, Louisiana.The station is an affiliate of the New Orleans Saints radio network.-History:...
and KFTE
KFTE
KFTE is a commercial radio station in Abbeville, Louisiana, broadcasting to the Lafayette, Louisiana, area. KFTE airs a modern rock music format....
.
Alexander compiled a generally conservative voting record in the legislature, both socially and economically. He worked to increase the time required for procuring a divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
on the grounds that delay may lead quarreling couples to reconcile. He also fought to bring more jobs and better-paying jobs to Louisiana. Some, however, questioned his support for tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
increases.
Alexander originally campaigned in support of a two-term limit for legislators. The legislature since passed a three-term limit. Alexander considered seeking a third term but then decided to honor his own stated preference for a two-term limit.
Even before Alexander announced his retirement, his successor, fellow Republican Patrick Page Cortez
Page Cortez
Patrick Page Cortez, known as Page Cortez , is a Lafayette, Louisiana, businessman and a departing one-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives...
(born 1961) had already entered the race in the heavily Republican district. Cortez is a co-owner and operator of La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is a furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan, USA which makes home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, and sleeper sofas...
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
and Stoma’s Furniture and Interiors in Lafayette. Cortez outraised Alexander 4-1 for the race before the incumbent decided not to run again. A former teacher and high school coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, Cortez has served on the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Commission. He also has name recognition from his television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
advertising on the Lafayette channels. He is personally close to Republican State Senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Michael J. Michot
Michael J. Michot
Michael John "Mike" Michot is the departing senior Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, having represented District 23 since the year 2000. He is the outgoing hairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Michot was unopposed for his third Senate term in the nonpartisan blanket primary...
and Independent State Representative Joel C. Robideaux of Lafayette. Michot, however, said that he would have remained neutral in any jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
which might have pitted Alexander against Cortez, Michot's former fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
brother at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
.
Also seeking the seat was a second Republican, architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Patrick Lynn "Pat" LeBlanc
Patrick LeBlanc
Patrick Lynn LeBlanc, Sr., usually known as Pat LeBlanc , was a prominent Lafayette, Louisiana, architect and businessman who was also active in Republican politics. LeBlanc and his pilot perished when their single-engine airplane crashed over northern Vermilion Parish...
(1954–2008), another ULL alumnus and the president of LCS Corrections, the fifth largest private prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
system in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. LeBlanc said that he would not have otherwise challenged Alexander but decided to run when the seat became open.
Cortez defeated LeBlanc, 7,742 (55 percent) to 6,218 (45 percent), to win the seat outright in the primary.
In the October 23, 1999, primary, Alexander faced a fellow Republican, Ross Little, Jr., and a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Ken Bouillion. Alexander led with 7,647 votes (46 percent) to Little's 5,005 (30 percent), and Bouillion's 3,839 (23 percent). In the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, Alexander defeated Little, 9,109 (62 percent) to 5,615 (38 percent). Alexander was unopposed for reelection in the 2003 primary. That year, Alexander joined more than thirty legislative colleagues in endorsing the unsuccessful gubernatorial candidacy of former House Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Hunt Downer
Hunt Downer
Major General Huntington Blair Downer, Jr., known as Hunt Downer , is a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Louisiana who is the assistant adjutant general of the state National Guard and the first ever director of the new Louisiana Veterans Affairs Department.A former Speaker of the...
of Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
, the seat of Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Houma. Its population was 111,860...
in south Louisiana.
In his election to the Lafayette Council, District 7 seat in 1995, Alexander ran as a "No Party" candidate and polled 3,772 votes (59 percent) to defeat two Republican rivals. He is Roman Catholic.