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JOHN KENNEDY  
US Senator for Louisiana​
BILL CASSIDY
US Senator for Louisiana
CLAY HIGGINS
US Representative for 3rd District Louisiana 
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 ​Join the Republican Women of SWLA in welcoming 

Our Guest Speaker Mike Strain

About our speaker

​Dr. Mike Strain, elected to serve as Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007, was sworn into office in January 2008. He was reelected in 2011.
Born and raised on a cattle farm in Covington, Strain is no stranger to rural life in Louisiana. He was very active in FFA and 4-H and remains involved in his family’s cattle business. After graduating Covington High School, Strain’s interest in livestock led him to pursue studies in pre-veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University.
​
In 1983, Strain earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from LSU and quickly found clients for his new large animal practice through the family cattle operation. A year later Strain married his Veterinary School sweetheart, Susan Searcy, a native of Hot Springs, Ark. Together they opened Claiborne Hill Veterinary Hospital in Covington, where she focuses on a small animal practice and Strain remains involved in hospital management and herd health consulting.
The Strains have two children, Michael and Melissa, and worship at St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church in Abita Springs.

The values of hard work and service to community instilled in Strain by his parents, Butch and Carolyn, inspired him to become active in civic and professional organizations while maintaining a successful veterinary practice. He served 17 years with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserves as a Lieutenant in the Special Operations Division and was further involved in his local community as a Commissioner for St. Tammany Parish Fire District 12. Strain was also appointed by the parish government to serve on the Local Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee.
All the while, Strain stayed true to his rural roots and profession through membership in the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. He served as parish president and state board member for Farm Bureau, a parish officer for LCA and state president for LVMA.

Strain’s passion for improving his state and community didn’t end with his service to these organizations. Called to serve in political office, he felt he could truly make a difference for the people of the North Shore and beyond. In 1999, those he had known for so many years as clients and friends recognized his calling and elected Strain to the office of State Representative in House District 74 with 70 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed to win a second term in 2003.
While in the Louisiana Legislature, Strain served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus, the largest legislative caucus in Louisiana.

Although he spent many hours at the Capitol representing the people of the North Shore, Strain continued to garner recognition for his expertise in veterinary medicine. He was one of three veterinarians from Louisiana chosen to train in a bioterrorism awareness program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. In 2003, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine presented Strain the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also named Legislator of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good Government.

After two terms in the Legislature, with the backing of family and supporters, Strain announced he would seek the statewide office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007. He ran a campaign based on reform and returning the Department to its core mission – to promote, protect and advance agriculture, forestry, and soil and water resources. The public embraced his platform and Strain easily won a spot in the run-off with a 28-year incumbent. The incumbent withdrew from the run-off and Strain began his transition into office.

Streamlining programs, efficient management of taxpayer’s money and quality public service are top priorities for his administration. Appointed staff salaries were immediately reduced saving the Department a net of $450,000. Construction work performed by Department employees with other job duties was halted along with the policy of using premium-grade fuel in Department vehicles. Policies involving the Department’s fleet of aircraft were redrafted to reflect Strain’s commitment to transparent operation of the state agency.

Strain is committed to ethics and a high level of service to the public. With his appointed staff, he took an Oath of Office and attended a workshop provided by the State Ethics Board. Every member of the appointed staff received a copy of the Government Code of Ethics. Strain also issued a whistleblower proclamation encouraging Department staff to report any act of wrongdoing without fear of retribution.

Strain believes faith in the Department and its ability to provide effective, efficient programs to the farmers, forest landowners and consumers of Louisiana has been restored. He is proud of what has been accomplished and looks forward to what the future holds for Louisiana agriculture and forestry.
When:  Thursday, March 23rd, 2023
​Lunch Buffet @ 11:30 am - Cost $25
Regular Meeting @ 11:00 -1:00 pm

Where:  Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605
​Reservations by Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
​​Contact  RWSWLAReservations@gmail.com​  ​
​Reservations not canceled by Tuesday before the event must be honored.
Location: Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605

Roundtable with Nic Hunter

​Please join Calcasieu Republican Parish Executive Committee and Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana in welcoming Nic Hunter on for dinner at the Lake Charles Country Club.

When: May 4th, 2023 @ 5:30 - 7 pm 
Where:  Lake Charles Country Club - 3550 Country Club Dr. Lake Charles, LA 70605

Quote of the Month

​"You cannot subsidize irresponsibility and expect people to become more responsible."
​-Thomas Sowell

Upcoming Election Dates

2022 Southwest Louisiana Republican Calendar

PRIMARY ELECTION

​SATURDAY, December 10, 2022 (Polls 7:00 am – 8:00 pm)
  • Run Offs (if any) from the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Election
  • Chennault: Tax Renewal for Chennault International Airport Operation Expenses 
  • Vinton: Tax Renewal for Fire Department Maintenance/Fire Protection
  • Constitutional Amendments - SEE PAR Guide
  • DEADLINE to schedule propositions is Mon October 17, 2022
  • EARLY VOTING DATES:  Sat November 26, 2022 – Sat December 3, 2022 (Closed Sunday)
  • DEADLINE to register to vote in person/by mail: Wed November 9, 2022
  • DEADLINE to register online/geauxvote.com: Sat November 19, 2022
  • Ballots by mail or walk-in must be received by Fri November 9, 2022 at 4:30 pm

EARLY VOTING DATES & TIMES:
For information on absentee voting please visit www.calclerkofcourt.com/elections
  • ​8:30 am – 6:00 
  • Dates have past
  • Closed Sundays
  • Early Voting Locations (see below)

​DEADLINES
  • ​Deadline to Register to Vote in person or by mail – Tues Oct 11, 2022 by 4:30 pm
  • Deadline to Register to Vote Online @ geauxvote.com – Tues Oct 18, 2022 by 4:30 pm
  • Criteria and details at geauxvote.com
  • Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot – Friday Nov 4 by 4:30 pm
  • Deadline for mail in ballot to be received by Registrar – Mon Nov 7 by 4:30​








OPTIONS FOR DISPLACED VOTERS
​
Vote By Mail
  • Request an absentee mail-in ballot by the prescribed deadlines.
  • Call the Registrar of Voters office at 337-721-4000 or visit GeauxVote.com to UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS so the ballot is delivered to your temporary residence.
  • Be sure to observe deadlines.
  • Instructional video on completing the absentee ballot: VIEW
​
Vote In Person
  • Early Voting
  • Election Day

​Early Voting Locations: 

Lake Charles 

Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
​2nd Floor
Address: 1000 Ryan St #5
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone:  (337) 437-3550

Sulphur 

Sulphur City Annex
Address: 101 N Huntington St
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone:(337) 527-4500

Moss Bluff  

Calcasieu Parish Library
261 Parish Rd
Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 721-7128

View Your Ballot...

To view and print your sample ballot go to geauxvote.com
​​PAR Guide to the 2022 Constitutional Amendments
The 2022 Guide covers the potential impact of 11 constitutional amendments the public will consider on the Nov. 8 and Dec. 10 ballots. This nonpartisan, educational review helps you understand the issues and the proposed changes so you can develop your own positions on each proposition. To view the 2022 Guide, please visit the link below.

Republican Woman Flags $15 

"A Republican Woman Lives Here"

Flags are in.  Flags are $15; the stands are $10.  
​Reserve yours now by contacting Jackie Hebert 337-794-0778 or email her here. 

Or pick one up at our next meeting.

​Announcements ​

Police Jury Meetings
1st Thursday of each month,
5:30, 901 Lakeshore Drive
​Emergency Operations Center of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
​City Council Meetings
1st and 3rd Wednesday of
each month - 5:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
326 Pujo St., Lake Charles La.

Sharon Hewitt.TV

Senator Sharon Hewitt is about solutions, not politics.  ​Her team has created a great resource that provides weekly updates on our Louisiana Legislation.  Check out "The Capitol Report" and other great videos by Senator Hewitt by clicking here. 

​The Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana is proudly affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women and the Louisiana Federation of Republican Women.