Peppi Bruneau
Encyclopedia
Charles Emile Bruneau, Jr., known as Peppi Bruneau (born November 12, 1942), is an attorney from New Orleans
, Louisiana
, who represented District 94 (Orleans Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1976 until his retirement in April 2007.
Representative Bruneau wrote landmark sunshine laws to open government meetings and records to the public. He sponsored the controversial law that legalized video poker
in the state. He procured passage of another law that clarifies the right of a victim to shoot a carjacker
. However, he fought efforts to halt excessive alcohol consumption. He mastered the art of redistricting
as a House parliamentarian. Rarely was he seriously challenged in his own Lakeview
district. He also pushed without success for both voucher
s for families of private school pupils and for merit selection of state court judges.
Bruneau left the legislature with nine months remaining in his eighth term, having even accelerated his original departure date by two weeks. A special election was therefore held to choose his successor. His son, Jeb E. Bruneau, ran unsuccessfully for the seat, having lost a March 31, 2007, runoff to fellow Republican
Nicholas Lorusso
, a New Orleans attorney. Also in the race in the spring was Democratic
activist Deborah Langhoff.
Thereafter, Bruneau's other son, Adrian Lee Bruneau (born ca. 1972), failed in the regular nonpartisan blanket primary, or jungle primary, held on October 20, 2007, to select a full-term successor to the term-limited Bruneau. Lorusso again prevailed, having defeated Adrian Bruneau and, again, the Democrat Deborah Langhoff. In addition to Lakeview, the 94th District includes Mid-City, City Park, and the Lake areas of Orleans Parish.It was redistricted in 2011 for the 2012 legislative session.
Bruneau, known for his flamboyance, wit, humor, and theatrics in the House, was originally elected as an Independent in the first ever nonpartisan primary held in the fall of 1975. He switched to Republican
affiliation in 1984 and was thereafter elected as a Republican in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003.
During Hurricane Katrina
, Bruneau lost his home, law offices, and certain business interests. He sent dozens of updates and newsletters to constituents advising them of their options after Katrina.
Bruneau graduated from Brother Martin High School
, then known as St. Aloysius High School
, in New Orleans. He received his law degree from Loyola University
of New Orleans. In 1991, he was named as a distinguished fellow of the Government Leadership of the University of New Orleans
. He is a retired lieutenant colonel
in the Louisiana Air National Guard
. He is a former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House. In 1984, he was chairman of the House Republican delegation.. The conservative Alliance for Good Government named him "Legislator of the Year" in 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1986. The Louisiana Conservative Union cited him for service as well in 1981. The National Republican Legislators Association named him "National Legislator of the Year" in 1986. In 1992, he received the Monte M. Lemann Award from Louisiana Civil Service
. In 1995, he was honored by the interest group Victims and Citizens against Crime. Bruneau is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association
, Lakeview Civic Improvement Association, and is active in promoting the New Orleans Audubon Zoo
, Aquarium of the Americas
, and city park. He is Roman Catholic. He is married to the former Brenda Vines.
Bruneau attributed his early resignation to the desire that his successor serve prior to the implementation of term limits with the 2008 legislative session. Though Bruneau had originally supported term limits for legislators, he changed his mind on the matter as his time of departure neared. As early as 2005, Bruneau had expressed opposition to term limits, even having quipped the Richard M. Nixon line: "You won't have Peppi to kick around any more."
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who represented District 94 (Orleans Parish) in 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 1976 until his retirement in April 2007.
Representative Bruneau wrote landmark sunshine laws to open government meetings and records to the public. He sponsored the controversial law that legalized video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
in the state. He procured passage of another law that clarifies the right of a victim to shoot a carjacker
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
. However, he fought efforts to halt excessive alcohol consumption. He mastered the art of redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
as a House parliamentarian. Rarely was he seriously challenged in his own Lakeview
Lakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Lakeview District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Robert E. Lee Boulevard to the north, Orleans Avenue to the east, Florida Boulevard, Canal Boulevard and I-610 to the south and...
district. He also pushed without success for both voucher
Voucher
A voucher is a bond which is worth a certain monetary value and which may be spent only for specific reasons or on specific goods. Examples include housing, travel, and food vouchers...
s for families of private school pupils and for merit selection of state court judges.
Bruneau left the legislature with nine months remaining in his eighth term, having even accelerated his original departure date by two weeks. A special election was therefore held to choose his successor. His son, Jeb E. Bruneau, ran unsuccessfully for the seat, having lost a March 31, 2007, runoff to fellow Republican
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...
Nicholas Lorusso
Nicholas Lorusso
Nicholas J. Lorusso, also known as Nick Lorusso , is an attorney from New Orleans, Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 94 in Orleans Parish...
, a New Orleans attorney. Also in the race in the spring was Democratic
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...
activist Deborah Langhoff.
Thereafter, Bruneau's other son, Adrian Lee Bruneau (born ca. 1972), failed in the regular nonpartisan blanket primary, or jungle primary, held on October 20, 2007, to select a full-term successor to the term-limited Bruneau. Lorusso again prevailed, having defeated Adrian Bruneau and, again, the Democrat Deborah Langhoff. In addition to Lakeview, the 94th District includes Mid-City, City Park, and the Lake areas of Orleans Parish.It was redistricted in 2011 for the 2012 legislative session.
Bruneau, known for his flamboyance, wit, humor, and theatrics in the House, was originally elected as an Independent in the first ever nonpartisan primary held in the fall of 1975. He switched to Republican
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...
affiliation in 1984 and was thereafter elected as a Republican in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003.
During Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, Bruneau lost his home, law offices, and certain business interests. He sent dozens of updates and newsletters to constituents advising them of their options after Katrina.
Bruneau graduated from Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Catholic, university preparatory school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College...
, then known as St. Aloysius High School
Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Catholic, university preparatory school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College...
, in New Orleans. He received his law degree from Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
of New Orleans. In 1991, he was named as a distinguished fellow of the Government Leadership of the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
. He is a retired lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the Louisiana Air National Guard
Louisiana Air National Guard
The Louisiana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is, along with the Louisiana Army National Guard, an element of the Louisiana National Guard...
. He is a former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House. In 1984, he was chairman of the House Republican delegation.. The conservative Alliance for Good Government named him "Legislator of the Year" in 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1986. The Louisiana Conservative Union cited him for service as well in 1981. The National Republican Legislators Association named him "National Legislator of the Year" in 1986. In 1992, he received the Monte M. Lemann Award from Louisiana Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. In 1995, he was honored by the interest group Victims and Citizens against Crime. Bruneau is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, Lakeview Civic Improvement Association, and is active in promoting the New Orleans Audubon Zoo
Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo is a zoo located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages the Aquarium of the Americas. The zoo covers and is home to 2,000 animals. It is located in a section of Audubon Park in Uptown New Orleans, on the Mississippi River side of...
, Aquarium of the Americas
Aquarium of the Americas
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a renowned aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.Recognized as one of the leading aquariums in the United States, it is run by the Audubon Institute, which also supervises the Audubon Zoo and Audubon Park...
, and city park. He is Roman Catholic. He is married to the former Brenda Vines.
Bruneau attributed his early resignation to the desire that his successor serve prior to the implementation of term limits with the 2008 legislative session. Though Bruneau had originally supported term limits for legislators, he changed his mind on the matter as his time of departure neared. As early as 2005, Bruneau had expressed opposition to term limits, even having quipped the Richard M. Nixon line: "You won't have Peppi to kick around any more."