Charles Boustany

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Charles William Boustany, Jr.
Charles Boustany

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Chris John

Born February 21, 1956 (1956-02-21) (age 53)
Lafayette, Louisiana
Political party Republican
Spouse Bridget Boustany
Children Erik and Ashley
Residence Lafayette, Louisiana
Alma mater University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana State University
Occupation Surgeon
Religion Episcopalian

Charles William Boustany, Jr. (born February 21, 1956) represents Louisiana's historically Democratic 7th congressional district as a Republican, serving since 2005. His plan for reinvigorating the economy of his district is known as the Prescription for Prosperity.

Boustany (pronounced boo-STAN-ie) won an open race in 2004, when Christopher "Chris" John, 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 jungle 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 Richard B. Cheney campaigned on behalf of Boustany, the Republican prevailed, 55 percent to 45 percent for Willie Mount.

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.[1] He was reelected over Don Cravins, Jr., and Peter Vidrine in the United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana in 2008.

His wife Bridget Edwards Boustany is a niece of former Democratic Governor Edwin Washington Edwards.[2]

Contents

[edit] Congressional career

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Personal life

Boustany was born in Lafayette 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.[3] The senior Boustany, a Democrat, served for sixteen years as coroner of Lafayette Parish. The senior Boustanys had ten children: Representative Boustany, James Boustany, Jon Boustany, Ron Boustany, Dr. Stella Boustany Noel, Terese Reggie, Kathryn Scurlock, Madlyn Juneau, Adele Weber, and Cheryn Eppley.[4]

Boustany, Jr., attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University. Boustany is a heart surgeon, who initially practiced in Rochester, New York before taking a job at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Chris John
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 7th congressional district

2005 – present
Incumbent
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