Rep. Robideaux, Joel C. (I)
District# 45, Lafayette

• District # 45: House District 1
• Party: Independent
• Caucus Membership: Acadiana Delegation
  Louisiana Rural Caucus
• Occupation: CPA
• Education: B.S., University of Southwestern Louisiana; M.S., Louisiana State University
• Spouse:Bobette
• Year Elected: 2004
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2016
• 2007 Election
  Robideaux was reelected without opposition during the most recent election cycle, a nice break from his previous run. Though Republicans carried 62 percent of the 2003 primary vote, Robideaux still managed to capture 55 percent in the runoff. It was the first time in recent history, possibly ever, that an independent won the seat.
  The post became open in 2004 when then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco tapped Jerry Luke LeBlanc to serve as her commissioner of administration – and Robideaux has made a real go of filling those shoes. He has gotten involved in other local legislative races after only one term and has the makings for an area power-broker.
  Despite the growing divide in the Legislature along party lines, Robideaux is completely comfortable as an independent, as both Democrats and Republicans have learned in recent years.
  Over the next term, expect Robideaux to take a lead role on ethics and transportation issues.
  

• Louisiana Map
• District Map
• Metro Map
• Economic: District 45 is essentially Lafayette proper, comprising the entire southwestern portion of the parish. The district is largely residential with the exception of a few small manufacturing and distribution companies along U.S. 90. Johnston Street, meanwhile, has become a source for revitalization. Art boutiques, restaurants and the city’s two alternative newspapers have become an anchor for the downtown area.
  Regional entertainment venues are located in the district as well, including ULL’s athletic complex, the Cajundome and the recently-opened convention center. The district is likewise home to the University Medical Center, which is affiliated with the state’s Charily Hospital system.
  Residents primarily hold middle-management positions in the city’s business and energy firms, or work as skilled laborers at oilfield service companies. Agriculture also plays a role in the district’s economy, but only in the more rural areas where sugarcane, rice and soybeans are dominant crops.
• Social: The district’s population is largely white, with blacks making up less than 10 percent of the constituency. Residents are mostly middle-class and many hold at least some Cajun heritage.
• Political: Voters in the district are mostly conservative, with more than a third registered as Republican. In fact, roughly 65 percent voted for Bobby Jindal in 2007. The district is heavily Catholic and pro-life stances are taken very seriously. Even local Democrats running in statewide races have trouble carrying their home base, as evidenced by the meager showings of both Kathleen Blanco and Chris John. However, an independent can win and sustain the district, as recently displayed by Rep. Joel C. Robideaux.

• Lafayette's Joel C. Robideaux has taken quickly to the local and statewide political scene. A CPA, Robideaux is a natural on tax issues and has carved out an interesting niche as an independent, serving as a voice in the middle on issues ranging from revenues to education. Although he easily jumps between factions of both mainstream parties, Robideaux seems to have made stronger allies on the GOP side. It isn’t surprising, as Robideaux could easily be described as a traditional conservative.
• In 2009, he pushed legislation defining how unfunded accrued liability should be paid and advocated expanding the Louisiana Community Development Financial Institution tax credit program.
• On health care, Robideaux favors substantial changes in the charity hospital system, a system he views as increasingly irrelevant.
  While a vocal supporter of scaling back the state’s dependence on oil and gas, Robideaux has slowly garnered a reputation as a pro-business legislator and consistently earns high ratings from LABI. Additionally, he rarely votes for taxes.
• On education, Robideaux is a loyal supporter of ULL and is a proponent of redirecting money to classroom teachers and supporting school accountability efforts.
• Most recently, Robideaux received statewide press coverage for a special fund he wanted to create to allow each parish to address their own road challenges. He has also developed a taste for ethics reform, filing a bill in 2007 that would have stiffened lobbyist registration and expenditure report requirements.