Stephen L. Gunn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stephen Lee "Steve" Gunn (born 1946) is the Independent mayor of his hometown of Montgomery (population 787 in 2000) in northern Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. Previously, Gunn was a "No Party" member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, having represented District 22 (Catahoula, Grant, La Salle, and one precinct in Rapides parishes from 1992-1996.
Gunn's maternal great-aunt, Lula Wardlow, was also a mayor of Montgomery. A Methodist minister and denominational leader, Mrs. Wardlow was mayor from 1926-1930. A Democrat, she was the first woman ever to be elected mayor of any community in the United States.
Gunn was born to Murrell H. Gunn (1919-1978), a Grant Parish school principal, and the former Elizabeth Wardlow (born 1924), a teacher. He is a graduate of Montgomery High School (1964) and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (1968). A Montgomery businessman, he is retired from the military. He is single.
Gunn was elected to the legislature by 94 votes in 1991. He campaigned on a limited budget from his own resources and knocked on nearly every residence in the district. In the primary, he ran second to incumbent Democrat A. Dale Smith, but ahead of Cliff Zell, also a Democrat. Gunn received 6,087 primary votes (33 percent) to Smith's 8,538 (46 percent), and Zell's 21 percent. In the general election, Gunn prevailed, 9,931 (50 percent) to Smith's 9,837 (50 percent). Gunn lost Grant Parish in the primary, but he beat Smith by some 800 votes in his home parish in the general election to secure his narrow victory. Gunn did not seek reelection in 1995.
Gunn was an Independent town council member prior to his legislative service. He led the balloting in the October 1990 council election and served with three Democrats and a Republican, Donna Stroud Guillory (born 1962). He resigned the seat to enter the legislature.
On October 5, 2002, Gunn was elected Montgomery mayor in the primary without opposition. He succeeded the Democrat Tim Coolman, with whom he had served on the council in 1991.
On November 2, 2004, Montgomery approved a one-cent town sales tax, which Gunn said would allow his community to meet rising fuel and insurance costs. The tax won handily, 194-91 (68-32 percent).
Gunn won a second term as mayor by a wide margin in the jungle primary held on September 30, 2006. He defeated the Democrat Leo Floyd Davis, 180-38 votes, or 83-17 percent. The incoming town council will consist of two Independents, two Democrats, and one Republican, Joann B. Lary (born 1939).
One of Gunn's priorities is to obtain construction of a bridge atop the Red River at Montgomery to link the town directly to Natchitoches to the west. Such a structure could revitalize the community. There was a ferry once used to cross the river at Montgomery, but it ceased operations in 1960.
[edit] References
http://www.thetowntalk.com/html/160C464B-077F-4826-A43A-8C53DC0DB460.shtml
Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives since 1880 (Baton Rouge; Secretary of State)
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=11020422
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=09300622
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=10050222
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms3&rqsdta=101991
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms3&rqsdta=111691
"Lula Wardlow," A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. II (1988)
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=09300622
| Preceded by A. Dale Smith (D) |
Louisiana State Representative from District 22 (Catahoula, Grant, La Salle, and Rapides parishes)
Stephen Lee "Steve" Gunn (I) |
Succeeded by Thomas D. "Tommy" Wright (D) |
| Preceded by Tim Coolman (D) |
Mayor of Montgomery, Louisiana (Grant Parish)
Stephen Lee "Steve" Gunn (I) |
Succeeded by Incumbent, reelected in 2006 |
