Charles Boustany
| Charles Boustany, Jr. | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Chris John |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | February 21 1956 Lafayette, Louisiana |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Bridget Boustany |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Charles William Boustany Jr. (born February 21, 1956) represents Louisiana's historically Democratic 7th congressional district as a Republican since 2004.
Boustany (pronounced boo-STAN-ie) won an open race in 2004, when Christopher "Chris" John, the incumbent Democrat, did not seek re-election in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Boustany, two Democrats and another Republican, David Thibodaux (1953–2007), a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board, vied for the House seat.
In the primary election, Boustany won 39 percent, with the next highest vote-getter being Democratic State Senator Willie Landry Mount, the former mayor of Lake Charles, who received 25 percent. Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, in the event no candidate wins a "50 percent plus one" total of the vote, a runoff is conducted between the two top candidates.
In the resulting December 4 runoff election, with Thibodaux's support, Boustany defeated Mount 55-45 percent, due mainly to support from black voters in St. Landry parish. This anomaly occurred because the third-place finisher in the race was African-American politician Don Cravins Sr. of St. Landry Parish, who was angry with the state Democratic party's treatment of him in the primary. Cravins' network of support now is represented on Boustany's staff.
In the mid-term election of 2006, Boustany, with 71 percent of the vote, handily defeated the Democrat Mike Stagg despite the national tide that favored Democratic congressional nominees.[1]
Boustany has authored a comprehensive plan for reinvigorating the economy of his district known as the "Prescription for Prosperity."
Personal life
Boustany was born in Lafayette, Louisiana to Madlyn M. Ackal and Charles W. Boustany, Sr., M.D.; his paternal grandparents were immigrants from Lebanon.[2] He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University. Boustany is a heart surgeon, who initially practiced in Rochester, New York before taking a job at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.
The congressman is married to the former Bridget Edwards, niece of former governor Edwin Edwards. He is one of 10 children. One of his sisters is married to the son of longtime political kingpin Edmund Reggie of Crowley.
Boustany's family has been active in Lafayette Parish politics. His father, Dr. Charles Boustany Sr., a former Democrat, is the elected Republican coroner of Lafayette Parish.
References
External links
- U.S. Congressman Charles Boustany, House site
- Charles Boustany at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Federal Election Commission — Dr. Charles Boustany Jr. campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Charles Boustany issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Charles W. Boustany Jr campaign contributions
- Biography, Voting record, and Interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Charles Boustany, Jr., MD official campaign site
- Louisiana Secretary of State — Official Parish Election Results, Parish of Lafayette
| Preceded by Chris John |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 7th congressional district 2005 – present |
Incumbent |
| Louisiana's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
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| Senators | Mary Landrieu (D), David Vitter (R) |
| Representative(s) | Bobby Jindal (R), William J. Jefferson (D), Charles Melancon (D), Jim McCrery (R), Rodney Alexander (R), Richard H. Baker (R), Charles Boustany (R) |
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