Democrat Wins Fifth Term as Mayor of Alexandria, LA

The Alexandria (LA) Daily Town Talk | 10-06-02 | Manuel, Suzan, The Town Talk

[Theodore R.]

Randolph wins fifth term Suzan Manuel / Staff Reporter Posted on October 6, 2002

Julie Bennett

Mayor Ned Randolph (center) and his wife, Deborah, greet a guest at his victory party Saturday night. Randolph received two-thirds of the votes cast to win a fifth term as Alexandria mayor.

Ned Randolph will be mayor of Alexandria for four more years, as he captured two-thirds of the vote Saturday in winning a fifth term.

"It feels great," Randolph said Saturday night. "I really appreciate the community's voice of confidence in our regime, in what we've been doing the last few years and what we expect to do in the next few years."

Randolph faced three challengers in this election. Randolph captured 7,611 votes, 66 percent.

Patricia "Pat" Larvadain came in second with 2,505 votes, 22 percent. Alice "Red" Hammond had 1,086 votes, 9 percent. Thomas Peterson got 346 votes, 3 percent.

A total of 11,548 people voted in the mayor's race.

Randolph said the margin by which he won says a great deal about his administration.

"I think that it says the vast majority of the people that live in Alexandria like what is happening and what we're trying to do to make this a better community."

Randolph pledged to continue "to make this an excellent place to live."

He said that includes continuing to work to attract business and industry to the area, funding programs for the young and the elderly, and working to keep young adults in Alexandria.

While she did not win this election, Larvadain said she enjoyed the experience.

"I thought we did an excellent job," Larvadain said. "We ran a professional campaign and stuck to the issues."

Larvadain said the results showed that 22 percent of voters "are not pleased with the direction in which the city is being directed. ... They saw my vision and worked with me to develop those issues."

Still, she wanted to congratulate Randolph on his win, she said, and hoped he would work to encourage inclusiveness and economic development through his administration.

Suzan Manuel: 487-6387;

[Theodore R.]

Though it is heavily Democrat, Alexandria sometimes votes Republican for president, governor, and U.S. representative.

[William McKinley]

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[governsleastgovernsbest]

"I really appreciate the community's voice of confidence in our regime"

Regime? Isn't that a bit grandiose for the mayor of a small city in the bayou? A little megalo, no?

[peekaboo]

He was the best choice, considering his other three running mates. The republican candidate received 329 votes, spent no money, ran no ads. The other two were african american females, one of which made a pretty good showing. Compared to a national election, it is like Al Sharpton running in the presidential primary as the democratic contender.

[Theodore R.]

Actually, Alexandria is at least 75 miles north of bayou country. The city is about 45,000, but the overall area is over 70,000. This the district where Republican Clyde Holloway is trying to make a comeback to Congress -- he will be on the Nov. 5 ballot. If no one gets a majority at that time, another candidate, perhaps Democrat Rodney Alexander, will presumably face Holloway in a December runoff.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the Louisiana geography/politics lesson!

By the way, I'm hoping to get down to New Orleans fairly soon to visit friends who recently moved there.

I'd like to visit bayou/Cajun country, and am looking for some out-of-the-way golf courses. Any possible suggestions.

[Theodore R.]

Not being a golfer, I know of no popular golf courses in the state. I am also not well-informed about the New Orleans area. I have been to N.O. three times, about a day's visit each time. I have not been there since 1989. N.O. is a "Democrat's city." It is over 2/3 black.