Joel Robideaux
{{Short description|American politician (born 1962)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Joel Robideaux
| image =
| office = Mayor-President of Lafayette Parish
| term_start = January 4, 2016
| term_end = January 6, 2020
| predecessor = Joey Durel
| successor = Josh Guillory
| office1 = Speaker pro tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives
| term_start1 = January 11, 2012
| term_end1 = January 13, 2016
| predecessor1 = Karen Carter Peterson
| successor1 = Walt Leger III
| state_house2 = Louisiana
| district2 = 45th
| term_start2 = 2004
| term_end2 = 2016
| predecessor2 = Mert Smiley
| successor2 = Jean-Paul Coussan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|10|05}}
| birth_place = Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
| party = Republican
| spouse = Bobette
| children = 3
| education = University of Louisiana at Lafayette (BS)
| profession = Accountant
}}
Joel Robideaux (born October 5, 1962) is an American politician and accountant who served as the Mayor-President of Lafayette Parish from 2016 to 2020.{{cite web |title=Lafayette Mayor-President |url=https://www.lafayettela.gov/mayor-president |website=Lafayette Consolidated Government |access-date=May 17, 2024}} He was previously a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing the 45th district from 2004 to 2016,{{cite web |title=Louisiana House of Representatives |url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp |website=Louisiana House of Representatives |access-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426082436/http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/members.asp?ID=46 |url-status=dead }} and served as Speaker pro tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016.{{cite web |title=House Speaker |url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/speaker.asp |website=Louisiana House of Representatives |access-date=May 17, 2024}}
Early life and education
Robideaux was born in Lafayette, Louisiana.{{cite web |title=Biography |url=https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Bios.aspx?cmem=855 |website=Louisiana State Legislature |access-date=May 17, 2024}} He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.{{cite web |title=Alumni |url=https://www.louisiana.edu/about-us/notable-alumni |website=University of Louisiana at Lafayette |access-date=May 17, 2024}}
Career
Robideaux began his career as an accountant.{{cite web |title=Joel Robideaux |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Joel_Robideaux |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 17, 2024}} In 2004, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served for twelve years. During his tenure, he was known for his work on fiscal policy and tax reform.{{cite web |title=Robideaux on Fiscal Policy |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_6b6d47b2-8a58-11e5-9473-c37f6a70493a.html |website=The Advocate |date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2024}}
In 2015, Robideaux ran for the position of Mayor-President of Lafayette Parish. He won the election and served from January 2016 to January 2020.{{cite web |title=Robideaux Wins Mayor-President Election |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/article_61628710-92e1-11e5-b4f4-93a1a6bc334b.html |website=The Advocate |date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2024}} As Mayor-President, he focused on economic development, infrastructure improvement, and public safety.{{cite web |title=Robideaux's Mayoral Goals |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/article_1a3d2b6a-92e5-11e5-8764-1f70497d4bb5.html |website=The Advocate |date=November 25, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2024}} One of his major achievements was managing the city's response to the 2016 flood.{{cite web |title=Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux reflects on his time in office |url=https://cypresslakewire.com/joel-robideaux-reflects-on-time-in-office |website=Cypress Lake Wire |date=January 5, 2020 |access-date=May 17, 2024}} He also led the initiative for a $100 million replacement of the Heymann Center.{{cite web |title=Joel Robideaux spearheads plan for $100 million Heymann Center |url=https://thecurrentla.com/joel-robideaux-heymann-center-plan |website=The Current |date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2024}}
Robideaux faced challenges, including controversies over police department pay raises and vetoing funding for the Louisiana Avenue extension.
Personal life
Robideaux is married to Bobette, and they have three children.{{cite web |title=Personal Life |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2015/11/24/robideaux-lafayette-mayor-president/76303766/ |website=The Advertiser |date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lafayettela.gov/ Official website of Lafayette Consolidated Government]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mayors of places in Louisiana
Category:Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Category:Louisiana Republicans
Category:People from Lafayette, Louisiana
Category:University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumni
Category:21st-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature