Charles Boustany
Encyclopedia
Charles William Boustany, Jr. (bʊˈstæni; born February 21, 1956) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
to the former Madlyn M. Ackal and Charles W. Boustany, Sr., M.D. (1930–2009); his paternal grandparents, Alfred Frem Boustany and the former Florida Saloom, were immigrants from Lebanon
. The senior Boustany, a Democrat, served for sixteen years as coroner
of Lafayette Parish. Congressman Boustany has nine siblings: James Boustany, Jon Boustany, Ron Boustany, Dr. Stella Boustany Noel, Terese Reggie, Kathryn Scurlock, Madlyn Juneau, Adele Weber, and Cheryn Eppley.
Boustany, Jr., attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order
fraternity. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University
. Boustany is a heart surgeon, who completed his residency in Rochester
, New York
before returning to Louisiana to take a job at Charity Hospital
in New Orleans.
, the incumbent Democrat, did not seek re-election in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Boustany, another Republican (the late David Thibodaux
of Lafayette) and two Democrats 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 nonpartisan blanket primary system, in the event no candidate wins a "50 percent plus one vote" total, a runoff is conducted between the two top candidates, regardless of party.
In the resulting December 4 runoff election, in which then Vice President
Dick Cheney
campaigned on behalf of Boustany, the Republican prevailed, 55 percent to 45 percent for Willie Mount. He became only the second Republican to represent the district, the first being Jimmy Hayes
(who switched from the Democrats in 1995).
In the Louisiana House elections of 2006, Boustany won with 71 percent of the vote, handily defeating Democrat Mike Stagg despite the national tide that favored Democratic congressional nominees.
2008
Boustany was reelected over Don Cravins, Jr.
, and Peter Vidrine.
2010
Boustany was unopposed in 2010.
2012
Boustany's district was eliminated due to redistricting. He will run in the newly redrawn Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
. Landry was endorsed by Citizens United
. Landry lead Boustany in third-quarter 2011 fundraising, $251,000 to $218,000. According to Federal Election Commission
, Boustany leads in cash-on-hand lead, $1.1 million-$402,000.
Representative Boustany presented the Republican response to President Obama's joint address to congress on Wednesday September 9th, 2009
.
Governor Edwin Washington Edwards.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life, education, and medical career
Boustany was born in LafayetteLafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
to the former Madlyn M. Ackal and Charles W. Boustany, Sr., M.D. (1930–2009); his paternal grandparents, Alfred Frem Boustany and the former Florida Saloom, were immigrants from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The senior Boustany, a Democrat, served for sixteen years as coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
of Lafayette Parish. Congressman Boustany has nine siblings: James Boustany, Jon Boustany, Ron Boustany, Dr. Stella Boustany Noel, Terese Reggie, Kathryn Scurlock, Madlyn Juneau, Adele Weber, and Cheryn Eppley.
Boustany, Jr., attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
fraternity. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. Boustany is a heart surgeon, who completed his residency in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before returning to Louisiana to take a job at Charity Hospital
Charity Hospital
Charity Hospital was one of two teaching hospitals which were part of the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans . Three weeks after the events of Hurricane Katrina, then Governor Kathleen Blanco said that Charity Hospital would not reopen, even though the military had scrubbed the building to...
in New Orleans.
Elections
Boustany won an open race in 2004, when Christopher "Chris" JohnChris John
Christopher Charles "Chris" John is American politician who was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005, representing Louisiana's 7th congressional district.-Early life:...
, the incumbent Democrat, did not seek re-election in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Boustany, another Republican (the late David Thibodaux
David Thibodaux
David Glenn Thibodaux was for twenty-seven years an English professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a member and officer of the Lafayette Parish School Board for twelve years, and a four-time Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 7th...
of Lafayette) and two Democrats 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
Willie Mount
Willie Landry Mount is an American politician from Louisiana. Mount is a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate and has since 2000 represented District 27, which includes parts of Lake Charles and surrounding cities Sulphur and Westlake. From 1993 to 1999 she served as the first female...
, the former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, who received 25 percent. Under Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary system, in the event no candidate wins a "50 percent plus one vote" total, a runoff is conducted between the two top candidates, regardless of party.
In the resulting December 4 runoff election, in which then Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
campaigned on behalf of Boustany, the Republican prevailed, 55 percent to 45 percent for Willie Mount. He became only the second Republican to represent the district, the first being Jimmy Hayes
Jimmy Hayes
James Allison "Jimmy" Hayes is a Republican politician from the state of Louisiana.Born in Lafayette, Hayes graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette . He served in the Louisiana Air National Guard from 1968 to 1974...
(who switched from the Democrats in 1995).
In the Louisiana House elections of 2006, Boustany won with 71 percent of the vote, handily defeating Democrat Mike Stagg despite the national tide that favored Democratic congressional nominees.
2008
Boustany was reelected over Don Cravins, Jr.
Don Cravins, Jr.
Donald R. "Don" Cravins, Jr. is a Democratic politician from the State of Louisiana.In the 2008 elections, Cravins unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic candidate for Louisiana's 7th congressional district seat held by Republican U.S. Representative Charles Boustany, Jr. In addition to Boustany,...
, and Peter Vidrine.
2010
Boustany was unopposed in 2010.
2012
Boustany's district was eliminated due to redistricting. He will run in the newly redrawn Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
Louisiana's 3rd congressional district
Louisiana's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district surrounds the southern tier of the Greater New Orleans Area. The district contains large portions of southeastern and south central Louisiana, including River Parishes and East Acadiana...
. Landry was endorsed by Citizens United
Citizens United
Citizens United is a conservative non-profit organization in the United States. Its president and chairman is David Bossie.-Overview:Citizens United describes its mission as being dedicated to restoring the United States government to "citizens' control" and to "assert American values of limited...
. Landry lead Boustany in third-quarter 2011 fundraising, $251,000 to $218,000. According to Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
, Boustany leads in cash-on-hand lead, $1.1 million-$402,000.
Tenure
Boustany's plan for reinvigorating the economy of his district is known as the Prescription for Prosperity.Representative Boustany presented the Republican response to President Obama's joint address to congress on Wednesday September 9th, 2009
Barack Obama speech to joint session of Congress, September 2009
United States President Barack Obama discussed his plan for health care reform in a speech delivered to a joint session of the 111th United States Congress on September 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM . The speech was delivered to Congress on the floor of the chamber of the United States House of...
.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Ways and MeansUnited States House Committee on Ways and MeansThe Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
- Subcommittee on OversightUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on OversightThe House Way and Means Subcommittee on Oversight is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
(Chairman) - Subcommittee on Human Resources
- Subcommittee on Select Revenue MeasuresUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue MeasuresThe Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measure is a subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:From the House rules:...
- Subcommittee on Oversight
Personal life
His wife, Bridget Edwards Boustany, is a niece of former DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Governor Edwin Washington Edwards.
External links
- Congressman Charles Boustany official U.S. House site
- Charles Boustany, Jr., MD official campaign site
- Louisiana Secretary of State — Official Parish Election Results, Parish of Lafayette
- "Kallakis previously convicted for American titles scam", Property Week, 03.04.09