Rep. LeBas, H. Bernard (D)
District# 38, Ville Platte

• District # 38: House District 1
• Party: Democrat
• Caucus Membership: Acadiana Delegation
  Democratic Caucus
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
• Occupation: Pharmacist
• Education: Sacred Heart High School, Ville Platte, LA, 1961; Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, B.S. Pharmacy, 1968
• Spouse: Charlotte
• Year Elected: 2007
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
  This is LeBas’ first elected office. The House District 38 seat was vacated by another Ville Platte Democrat, Eric Lafleur, in his bid for the District 28 seat in the state Senate. A Ville Platte Democrat elected without opposition, LeBas is an independent pharmacist who has also served on multiple state health care commissions and as president of the Louisiana Pharmacist Association Board of Directors.
  

• Louisiana Map
• District Map
• Metro Map
• Economic: District 38 includes most of Evangeline Parish and portions of north and east St. Landry Parish. Agriculture is still the dominant economic activity – primarily rice, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Ville Platte is the main trade area of the region. Some manufacturing development has occurred over the years. Cabot Corporation employs hundreds of workers at its carbon black plant in Ville Platte. CLECO operates a utility facility in the community of St. Landry. Other employers are the Martco pulpwood plant in Le Moyen and Union Tank Car in Ville Platte; Bobcat and Proctor and Gamble have storage facilities in Port Barre. Cooper oil tools also operated a major valve-manufacturing plant near Ville Platte. In Krotz Springs, located on the Atchafalaya River, in eastern St. Landry Parish, Valero operates an independent refining facility.
• Social: The district is overwhelmingly French and Catholic, particularly in the cities of Ville Platte and Mamou, well known as centers of Cajun culture. There are enclaves, however, of Protestantism throughout north the Evangeline and St. Landry portions of the districts.
• Political:
  Political activities here tend to be colorful and controversial and local government is a very influential force. With a large percentage of blacks and Cajuns, the Democratic Party has a strong grip on this district, though populist/conservatives of either party can do well with white voters.

• Expect three areas to define Bernard LeBas’ inaugural term as District 38 representative – education, health care and infrastructure.
  A Ville Platte Democrat elected without opposition, LeBas is an independent pharmacist who has also served on multiple state health care commissions and as president of the Louisiana Pharmacist Association Board of Directors.
• This is LeBas’ first elected office. The House District 38 seat was vacated by another Ville Platte Democrat, Eric Lafleur, in his bid for the District 28 seat in the state Senate.
• As a member of the budget-drafting Appropriations Committee, he’ll play a central role in how the state approaches its forecasted shortfalls. He has also shown a willingness to sponsor student-related legislation – in the past, he has authored bills that allow students to carry and self-administer certain medications and to take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities. LeBas also favors tax relief for parents who want to send their children to private schools and insists that discipline and parental involvement are essential for successful educational programs.
• LeBas said he planned to push for reform in the state charity hospital system, which he characterized in an interview with The (Baton Rouge) Advocate as “old and antiquated.” He also said health care and education, specifically higher education, should be insulated from further budget cuts and that legislators should seek alternatives before they trim these two traditionally vulnerable areas.
• The link between infrastructure and economic development is very important to LeBas and to District 38. During his first term, LeBas will work to secure funding to improve roads with the goal of bringing new industry to the area.
• A 1968 graduate of Northeastern State University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe), LeBas owns four pharmacies in Evangeline and St. Landry parishes: The LeBas family – indeed, LeBas’ career – is defined by pharmacy and the health care profession. His father, brother, two of his sons and a daughter-in-law were or are pharmacists. LeBas is founder of the Cajun Area Pharmacist Association, secretary of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and is the recipient of the ULM Pharmacy Alumni Award. LeBas also received the Bishop’s Service award from Lafayette Diocese.
• He’s served on numerous statewide health care panels, including the Louisiana Medicaid Advisory Panel, the Department of Health and Hospitals’ advisory and interdisciplinary boards and the Department of Insurance’s Louisiana Health Care Commission.