Tom Ed McHugh
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward McHugh, known as Tom Ed McHugh (born October 3, 1943), has since 2001 been the executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association. McHugh is a former Mayor
-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of East Baton Rouge Parish
, Louisiana
. A resident of Zachary
in East Baton Rouge Parish, McHugh was elected as a Democratic
mayor-president in 1988 and 1992. He won a third term in 1996 as a Republican
. The position includes all of the capital city of Baton Rouge
.
McHugh is descended from a prominent East Baton Rouge Parish family. The original Thomas E. McHugh (born 1861) was a clerk of the East Baton Rouge district court, a staunch Democrat, and an organizer of the city of Zachary. Another kinsman, also named Thomas Edward McHugh, possibly a grandfather, was the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff
from 1928-1932.
In 1988, Democratic Mayor-President James Patrick Screen, Jr.
, declined to seek a third term. Screen's predecessor, former Mayor-President W.W. Dumas of Baker
, came out of political retirement at the age of seventy-two to seek his old position in a crowded field in the nonpartisan blanket primary. Dumas polled 29,109 votes (29.9 percent) to McHugh's 38,629 ballots (39.7 percent). In third place was State Senator
Mike Cross
of Baker, who received 12,741 votes (13.1 percent). Freshman State Representative
Carl Crane
, one of two Republicans in the race, polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 percent). In the general election
, McHugh defeated Dumas, 79,134 (55.5 percent) to 63,519 (44.5 percent).
In 1992, McHugh defeated the Democrat Ron Johnson and the Republican Kim P. Carmouche having garnered 69,925 (73.3 percent) to win the post outright in the primary. In 1993, McHugh ordered trick-or-treating
moved from October 31 to October 29 to avoid conflicts with Sunday evening church services. Three inches of rain spoiled the Friday evening for many. McHugh later said that he got more telephone calls about that incident than any other issue in his twelve years in office. In 1959, Mayor-President Jack Christian
had similarly moved trick-or-treating from Saturday, October 31, to Friday, October 30, to accommodate the LSU Tigers
football
game against the Ole Miss Rebels
. That decision proved more popular for Christian because Billy Cannon
scored an 89-yard touchdown
to keep the Tigers undefeated and to win a Heisman Trophy
, the only LSU player ever so honored.
In 1996, McHugh, having defected to the Republican ticket, handily defeated a later mayor-president, Democratic state representative Melvin "Kip" Holden
. McHugh polled 75,413 (66.1 percent) to Holden's 38,641 (33.9 percent).
McHugh did not seek a fourth term as mayor-president in 2000 and was succeeded by fellow Republican Bobby Simpson
.
After his mayor-presidency, McHugh became executive director of the LMA, a nonpartisan position in an organization with more than three hundred municipal members.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state...
, 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...
. A resident of Zachary
Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in East Baton Rouge Parish, McHugh was elected as a 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...
mayor-president in 1988 and 1992. He won a third term in 1996 as a 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...
. The position includes all of the capital city of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
.
McHugh is descended from a prominent East Baton Rouge Parish family. The original Thomas E. McHugh (born 1861) was a clerk of the East Baton Rouge district court, a staunch Democrat, and an organizer of the city of Zachary. Another kinsman, also named Thomas Edward McHugh, possibly a grandfather, was the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
from 1928-1932.
In 1988, Democratic Mayor-President James Patrick Screen, Jr.
Pat Screen
James Patrick Screen, Jr., known as Pat Screen , was a Louisiana State University quarterback from New Orleans, Louisiana, who served as the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish from 1981–1988....
, declined to seek a third term. Screen's predecessor, former Mayor-President W.W. Dumas of Baker
Baker, Louisiana
Baker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baker is located at...
, came out of political retirement at the age of seventy-two to seek his old position in a crowded field in the nonpartisan blanket primary. Dumas polled 29,109 votes (29.9 percent) to McHugh's 38,629 ballots (39.7 percent). In third place was 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...
Mike Cross
Mike Cross (Louisiana politician)
Michael Aduron Cross, known as Mike Cross is an American businessman who served from 1981 to 1996 as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from District 13 in Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
of Baker, who received 12,741 votes (13.1 percent). Freshman State Representative
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...
Carl Crane
Carl Crane
Carl Norman Crane is the former Republican chairman of the Education Committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He served in the state House from 1984 to 2008 from District 70 in East Baton Rouge Parish...
, one of two Republicans in the race, polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 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...
, McHugh defeated Dumas, 79,134 (55.5 percent) to 63,519 (44.5 percent).
In 1992, McHugh defeated the Democrat Ron Johnson and the Republican Kim P. Carmouche having garnered 69,925 (73.3 percent) to win the post outright in the primary. In 1993, McHugh ordered trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating or "Guising", is a customary practice for children on Halloween in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy with the question "Trick or treat?"...
moved from October 31 to October 29 to avoid conflicts with Sunday evening church services. Three inches of rain spoiled the Friday evening for many. McHugh later said that he got more telephone calls about that incident than any other issue in his twelve years in office. In 1959, Mayor-President Jack Christian
Jack Christian
John "Jack" Christian was a businessman who served from 1957-1964 as the Mayor/President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-Background:Christian was born to John C...
had similarly moved trick-or-treating from Saturday, October 31, to Friday, October 30, to accommodate the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game against the Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels
University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
. That decision proved more popular for Christian because Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
scored an 89-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
to keep the Tigers undefeated and to win a Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, the only LSU player ever so honored.
In 1996, McHugh, having defected to the Republican ticket, handily defeated a later mayor-president, Democratic state representative Melvin "Kip" Holden
Kip Holden
Melvin L. "Kip" Holden is the Democratic Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The parish includes the state capitol of Baton Rouge and smaller suburban cities like Baker, Central City and Zachary. He was elected the city's mayor on November 3, 2004. He unseated the Republican...
. McHugh polled 75,413 (66.1 percent) to Holden's 38,641 (33.9 percent).
McHugh did not seek a fourth term as mayor-president in 2000 and was succeeded by fellow Republican Bobby Simpson
Bobby Simpson (Louisiana politician)
Bobby Ray Simpson is an educator who served as the Republican Mayor-President, a combined municipal-parish office of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, from 2001-2004...
.
After his mayor-presidency, McHugh became executive director of the LMA, a nonpartisan position in an organization with more than three hundred municipal members.