Leader refuses to quit
Democrat sets event for Republican official
By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Advocate Acadiana bureau
Published: Dec 12, 2006
A member of the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee who
came under fire for holding a fundraiser for Republican City-Parish
President Joey Durel, said in a statement he has no intention of
stepping down.
Glenn Armentor, a lawyer, is hosting a fundraiser Thursday for
Durel’s re-election — an event that features several
prominent Republicans and a few Democrats. The country needs less
“scorched earth” politics and more bipartisanship,
committee member Armentor said in a statement. “I believe
that in a nation dangerously divided between blue and red, real
leadership is bipartisan,” Armentor said. “A real leader
does the right thing for his constituency despite politics.”
Democrats will lose the momentum gained nationally if they adopt the
philosophy that “Democrats should be against whatever a
Republican is for,” Armentor said. “While that may
have been the recent Republican Party’s philosophy, I believe
issues and people should be looked at individually on their
merits,” Armentor said.
Mike Stagg, a former Democratic congressional candidate for the 7th
District, wrote in a blog maintained by the Lafayette Parish Democratic
Executive Committee that Armentor should resign because of the
endorsement.
Committee member Stephen Handwerk said he expected a move to censure Armentor.
In his statement, Armentor said he doesn’t see his endorsement of
Durel as a betrayal of his position as a leader in the Democratic
Party. “Instead of this being the activity of a traitor of the
Democratic Party, I respectfully suggest that it may be real leadership
in the direction of a bipartisan dialogue that seeks to clear the way
for real progress for all the citizens of Lafayette Parish,”
Armentor said.
Durel said Monday that party politics have never played a role in his
administration. “I continue to be amazed that some people try to
make traffic, drainage and jobs into something partisan,” Durel
said. The goal is to make Lafayette the best place in the south to live
and raise a family, Durel said. “We’re not going to let
distraction prevent us from accomplishing that goal,” Durel said.
Durel praised Armentor.
“I appreciate and respect his courage and the fact that
he’s put Lafayette way ahead of partisan politics,” Durel
said.
Armentor’s “No Party” fundraiser for Durel will be held Thursday night; tickets are $250 per couple.
Co-hosts for the fundraiser include a who’s who list of state
politics, such as likely gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Bobby
Jindal, R-Kenner; U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La.; U.S. Rep. Charles
Boustany, R-Lafayette; and state Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette.
Another co-host is former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of
Louisiana and former Louisiana Democratic Party chairman Mike
Skinner. Business leaders listed as co-hosts include Matt
Stuller, Clay Allen, Bill Fenstermaker, Don Bacque, Robert Daigle, Bob
Giles, Randy Haynie, Ricky Miniex, Max Hoyt, Mark Knight, Gary
McGoffin, Richard Zuschlag, Adrian Vega, Herbie Schilling, Steve Oubre
and Tyron Picard.
Also listed as co-hosts are Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court Louis
Perret, a Republican, and Lafayette Parish School Board member Rickey
Hardy, a Democrat
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