Louis B. "Papa" Lausier (November 17, 1879 - January 14, 1962) was a Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 politician. Lausier was born in 1879 in Biddeford

Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...

 to Antoine and Aurilie (Cartier) Lausier. He studied the Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière in Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

 before returning to Biddeford to study law under Maine Supreme Court Justice George F. Haley. He passed the Maine bar in 1906 and entered Biddeford municipal government, holding the positions of city auditor, municipal judge and alderman

Alderman

An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...

. A Democrat

Maine Democratic Party

The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S...

, Lausier represented Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...

 in the Maine House of Representatives

Maine House of Representatives

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...

 from 1919-20. Lausier was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention

Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...

 in 1940

1940 Democratic National Convention

The 1940 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 15–18, 1940. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of President Franklin Roosevelt as the Democratic Party candidate for an unprecedented third term. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A...

 and 1948

1948 Democratic National Convention

The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...

. In 1948

Maine gubernatorial election, 1948

The 1948 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 13, 1948. Incumbent Republican Governor Horace A. Hildreth, was term limited and seeking election to the United States Senate , thus did not run. Republican mayor of Augusta Frederick G. Payne faced off against Democratic challenger...

, Lausier sought and received his party's nomination for Governor of Maine

Governor of Maine

The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....

. He lost to Republican Frederick G. Payne

Frederick G. Payne

Frederick George Payne was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Maine. He was born in Lewiston, Maine....

, gaining 34% of the vote. Lausier served as mayor of Biddeford from 1941-55. While mayor, Lausier was fiscally conservative and refused for the city to obtain debt. While mayor, many criticized him for ignoring non Franco-Americans living in the town, especially because of the poor quality of the public schools. He was defeated in the Democratic primary for mayor in 1955 by Albert C. Lambert.

Lausier died in January 1962. Current Governor of Maine

Governor of Maine

The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....

 John H. Reed

John H. Reed

John Hathaway Reed was the 67th Governor of Maine. He was once an Aroostook County potato farmer. Reed is a Republican, who took office following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson....

said of Lausier at the time of his death

"Mayor Lausier will be remembered for steadfast devotion to his party ideals and the interest which he always maintained in furthering the progress of his city and state".