| dbpprop:abstract
|
- Ernest Joseph "Ernie" Alexander 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 has compiled a generally conservative voting record in the legislature, both socially and economically. He has worked to increase the time required for procuring a divorce on the grounds that delay may lead quarreling couples to reconcile. He has also fought to bring more jobs and better-paying jobs to Louisiana. Some, however, have questioned his support for tax increases. Alexander originally campaigned on support for 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.
|
![[RDF Data]](/statics/sw-cube.png)
