Durel gets ‘no party party’ --- Fundraiser scheduled
By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Published: Nov 25,
2006
Joey Durel
City-Parish President Joey Durel may well be the “best mayor our
town has had,” and as such, deserves support from both Democrats and
Republicans, according to a member of the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive
Committee.
Attorney Glenn Armentor, active in the Democratic Party, wrote the letter to
announce that next month he will host a bipartisan campaign fundraiser for
Durel’s re-election next fall.
Durel is a Republican.
Former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana and former
Louisiana Democratic Party chairman Mike Skinner is one of many co-hosts listed
on the invitation to the Dec. 14 event.
Durel has been a great leader for Lafayette during a crucial time, Armentor
wrote.
“True leaders are not partisan,” Armentor wrote.
The $250-a-couple fundraiser has been titled the “No Party, Party.”
Co-hosts include a who’s who list of state politics, such as likely
gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Metairie; U.S. Sen. David
Vitter, R-La.; U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette; and state Sen. Mike
Michot, R-Lafayette.
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.
In his letter, Armentor wrote that he supported Durel’s opponent in the last
election, Glenn Weber, but has been impressed by Durel’s work ethic and
sincerity.
“I initially found a grudging respect for his willingness to what was right
and to be totally committed to moving Lafayette forward,” Armentor wrote.
As time passed, Armentor wrote, he was impressed with Durel’s initiative to
get Lafayette Utilities System into the fiber-optic telecommunications business
and push for taxes to fund road infrastructure and a new courthouse.
“Durel has become Lafayette’s best ‘salesman,’ working constantly toward
economic development and bringing new companies (and jobs) into our parish,”
Armentor wrote.
Durel has “sound people instincts, unquestioned ethics and integrity and a
thorough knowledge of business administration,” Armentor wrote.
“Over these three years, I have become convinced that not a single prior
holder of this office has ever risen to the level of Joey Durel in terms of
sheer energy, knowledge, commitment and governmental instincts,” Armentor wrote.
“I believe he may well be the best mayor our town has had.”
Qualifying for the city-parish president race will be next summer. No one has
announced an intention to challenge Durel.
HOME