SWLA Republican
​Upcoming Local Events

​CRPEC Meeting 

Calcasieu Republican Parish Executive Committee

 When -  Thursday, May tba, 2023 at 5:30 pm
​Location - Imperial Wound Center 1727 Imperial Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70605
*Calcasieu Republican Parish Executive Committee meets the 3rd Tuesday on even Months.

Republican Roundtable

Nic at Night

Please join Calcasieu Republican Parish Executive Committee and the Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana in welcoming Guest Speaker Nic Hunter, Mayor of Lake Charles.

Mayor Hunter will discuss hurricane recovery and public private partnerships for Lake Charles.

​When:  May 4th, 2023 - 5:30 – 7:00 PM 
What:  Buffet Dinner - Cost $30
Where:  Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Drive 
Lake Charles, LA 70605​
​
Ticket purchased on this website will use the order confirmation receipt that is emailed to you after checkout as your ticket. Please check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox, or email swlarepublicans@gmail.com and we will forward your receipt to you.  We receive confirmation of your purchase immediately.
To reserve seats and pay at the door, you must include Person responsible for the reservation, number of Attendees, ​Phone Number, and Email Address.  Reservations not canceled by noon two days before the event must be honored. 

About our Speaker

​A life-long resident of Lake Charles and small business owner, Nic Hunter was elected to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in 2011 and was in his second term when he was elected to the office of Mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, April 29, 2017.
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Early in life Mayor Hunter acquired his work ethic by bussing tables and washing dishes at his grandparents’ restaurant, Harlequin Steaks & Seafood, which they opened in 1956. With his grandmother’s blessing, he began running the restaurant full time at the age of 17. Today he is a partner in The Villa Harlequin restaurant.

Mayor Hunter graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in 2002. In 2007, he received a Bachelor of Arts in History from McNeese State University. Mayor Hunter credits his experience at McNeese for sparking an interest in public service; and so he established an endowed scholarship through the McNeese State University Foundation, the Dr. Robert Forrest History Scholarship.

Since taking office on July 1, 2017, Mayor Hunter has successfully enacted a number of key initiatives, including increasing funding for drainage improvements by 93 percent. He launched the Partners in Parks Initiative in July 2018, securing more than $750,000 in private donations and grants. These funds have been used to transform several City parks and re-invigorate programming while inspiring various community and civic organizations to partner with the City. The Partners in Parks Initiative received a first place Community Achievement Award from the Louisiana Municipal Association in August 2019.

Since taking office, Mayor Hunter has had a steady focus on infrastructure and economic development.  

Making good on his promise to “turn dirt on the lakefront,” Mayor Hunter announced the lakefront development project Port Wonder, a $20 million plus science and nature center and state of the art children’s museum. This historic project was made possible by securing dozens of public and private funding partners. An official groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site on June 30, 2021. Port Wonder was a catalyst for an additional lakefront announcement. The Crying Eagle Brewery development partners will be breaking ground on a restaurant and micro-brewery in the first quarter of 2022.

With a deep love for the community and a passion to give back to the City Mayor Hunter has always looked for ways to encourage philanthropy and the entrepreneurial spirit in others. Several efforts that he has focused on specifically have been children in need in SWLA, efforts to support active military and military veterans, and encouraging animal adoption. Working with United Way and the Community Foundation, Mayor Hunter has rallied hundreds of thousands of dollars for such efforts in his tenure as mayor.
Mayor Hunter has passionately led the community through a string of natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey (August 2017), the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 2020- Present), Hurricane Laura (August 2020), Hurricane Delta (October 2020), Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) and a 1,000 Year Rain Event/Flash Flood (May 2021). His tireless efforts have given citizens a voice as he has staunchly advocated for the needs of Southwest Louisiana at the local, state and federal levels.

Mayor Hunter has been married to his wife, Becky, an accomplished lawyer in Southwest Louisiana since 2015. They welcomed their first born, a son named Harrison, into the world in August 2017 and welcomed their second child, a daughter named Colette, in February 2020. Together, they have two rescue dogs: Humphrey and Jolene.

​Join the Republican Women in welcoming Guest Speaker: Mike Strain.

​​When:  March 23rd, 2023
​Buffet Lunch @ 11:00 am - Cost $25
Regular Meeting @ 11:00 -1:00 pm

Where:  Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605

​Reservations by noon Tuesday week of the event
​Contact Terri Doucet by email RWSWLAReservations@gmail.com
Reservations not cancelled by noon Tuesday must be honored.

About Mike Strain

​Dr. Mike Strain, elected to serve as Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007, was sworn into office in January 2008. He was reelected in 2011.
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Born and raised on a cattle farm in Covington, Strain is no stranger to rural life in Louisiana. He was very active in FFA and 4-H and remains involved in his family’s cattle business. After graduating Covington High School, Strain’s interest in livestock led him to pursue studies in pre-veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University.
In 1983, Strain earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from LSU and quickly found clients for his new large animal practice through the family cattle operation. A year later Strain married his Veterinary School sweetheart, Susan Searcy, a native of Hot Springs, Ark. Together they opened Claiborne Hill Veterinary Hospital in Covington, where she focuses on a small animal practice and Strain remains involved in hospital management and herd health consulting.

The Strains have two children, Michael and Melissa, and worship at St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church in Abita Springs.
The values of hard work and service to community instilled in Strain by his parents, Butch and Carolyn, inspired him to become active in civic and professional organizations while maintaining a successful veterinary practice. He served 17 years with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserves as a Lieutenant in the Special Operations Division and was further involved in his local community as a Commissioner for St. Tammany Parish Fire District 12. Strain was also appointed by the parish government to serve on the Local Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee.

All the while, Strain stayed true to his rural roots and profession through membership in the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. He served as parish president and state board member for Farm Bureau, a parish officer for LCA and state president for LVMA.

Strain’s passion for improving his state and community didn’t end with his service to these organizations. Called to serve in political office, he felt he could truly make a difference for the people of the North Shore and beyond. In 1999, those he had known for so many years as clients and friends recognized his calling and elected Strain to the office of State Representative in House District 74 with 70 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed to win a second term in 2003.

While in the Louisiana Legislature, Strain served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus, the largest legislative caucus in Louisiana.

Although he spent many hours at the Capitol representing the people of the North Shore, Strain continued to garner recognition for his expertise in veterinary medicine. He was one of three veterinarians from Louisiana chosen to train in a bioterrorism awareness program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. In 2003, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine presented Strain the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also named Legislator of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good Government.

After two terms in the Legislature, with the backing of family and supporters, Strain announced he would seek the statewide office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007. He ran a campaign based on reform and returning the Department to its core mission – to promote, protect and advance agriculture, forestry, and soil and water resources. The public embraced his platform and Strain easily won a spot in the run-off with a 28-year incumbent. The incumbent withdrew from the run-off and Strain began his transition into office.

Streamlining programs, efficient management of taxpayer’s money and quality public service are top priorities for his administration. Appointed staff salaries were immediately reduced saving the Department a net of $450,000. Construction work performed by Department employees with other job duties was halted along with the policy of using premium-grade fuel in Department vehicles. Policies involving the Department’s fleet of aircraft were redrafted to reflect Strain’s commitment to transparent operation of the state agency.

Strain is committed to ethics and a high level of service to the public. With his appointed staff, he took an Oath of Office and attended a workshop provided by the State Ethics Board. Every member of the appointed staff received a copy of the Government Code of Ethics. Strain also issued a whistleblower proclamation encouraging Department staff to report any act of wrongdoing without fear of retribution.
Strain believes faith in the Department and its ability to provide effective, efficient programs to the farmers, forest landowners and consumers of Louisiana has been restored. He is proud of what has been accomplished and looks forward to what the future holds for Louisiana agriculture and forestry.
Republican Core Principles
​Republicans believe the constitution of the United States is a contract between free people and the public officials they choose to govern them; that our rights are granted to us by our creator and not by the government; that the purpose of taxation is to finance government and not to redistribute income; that we are all created equal and should stand equal before the law; and in individual liberty with personal responsibility for ones choices and actions
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS:

​STATE & MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATES

If you are not sure of your previous precinct, you can  ​SEARCH BY VOTER  at the Secretary of State Geaux Vote Site.

Upcoming elections

Saturday, April 29, 2023 - Early voting begins April 15.
Tax Renewals: Recreation District Number 1 of Ward 3.

PRIMARY ELECTION

​Upcoming Major Election Saturday: October 14, 2023
  • Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer,
  • Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, BESE Member, State Senator,
  • State Representative, Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Assessor, Coroner, Police Jurors, Two 14 th
  • Judicial Judges. Source: calcasieu clerk of court/website/elections.

On the Ballot: 

Qualifying begins August 8th . Early voting begins September 23. Runoffs November 18.

  • On the Ballot: Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, BESE Member, State Senator, State Representative, Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Assessor, Coroner, Police Jurors, Two 14th Judicial Judges. Source: calcasieu clerk of court/website/elections.
  • Qualifying begins August 8th. Early voting begins September 23. Runoffs November 18.
  • Declared Republican Candidates for Governor: Attorney General Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, Senator Sharon Hewitt, Business Owner Xan John, Representative Richard Nelson. Source: ballotpedia.org., Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2023.
 
Potential Republican Candidates for Presidential Primary March 2024
  • Declared Candidates: Former President Donald Trump and Former South Carolina Governor and Ambassador Nikki Haley.
  • Serious Contenders: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Former VP Mike Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noam, and Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin.
  • Other Potential Candidates: Chris Sununu, Greg Abbott, Larry Hogan, Christ Christie, Asa Hutchinson.
  • Source: thehill.com/ranking the GOP’s top 10 presidential candidates.

Early Voting Dates & Times:

For information on absentee voting please visit www.calclerkofcourt.com/elections
  • ​8:30 am – 6:00 
  • Tues Oct 25 – Tues Nov 1, 2022
  • Closed Sundays
  • Early Voting Locations (see below)

Deadlines

  • ​Deadline to Register to Vote in person or by mail – Tues Oct 11, 2022 by 4:30 pm
  • Deadline to Register to Vote Online @ geauxvote.com – Tues Oct 18, 2022 by 4:30 pm
  • Criteria and details at geauxvote.com
  • Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot – Friday Nov 4 by 4:30 pm
  • Deadline for mail in ballot to be received by Registrar – Mon Nov 7 by 4:30​

​Early Voting Locations: ​

Lake Charles -
Calcasieu Parish Courthouse 2nd Floor
Address: 1000 Ryan St # 5
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone:  (337) 437-3550

Sulphur -
Sulphur City Annex
Address: 101 N Huntington St
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone:(337) 527-4500

Moss Bluff -
Calcasieu Parish Library
261 Parish Rd
Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 721-7128