Gregory L. Fruge
Encyclopedia
Gregory L. Fruge, Sr. is a business
man in Eunice
, Louisiana
, who served as a Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 41 (Acadia
, Evangeline
, and St. Landry parishes
) from 1996-2004. In his bid for a third term, he was unseated in the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary by the Democrat
Mickey James Guillory (born 1940), then the Eunice city marshal. Guillory was unopposed for a second term in the 2007 primary.
Fruge received a Bachelor of Science
in industrial technology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
. Active in the community, he is a past president of the Eunice Jaycees and Lions Club. He holds membership in the Masonic lodge
and its companion organization, the Shriners
. He is Roman Catholic. He is a former vice chairman of the Acadiana
chapter of the American Welding Society. Fruge is a devotee of French
Cajun music
. His wife is Shella Fruge; they have at least one son, Gregory Fruge, Jr. (born 1972), and four grandchildren.
The legislative seat opened in 1995 when the Democratic incumbent
Representative, Dale Sittig
, also from Eunice, a small city
in St. Landry Parish, ran successfully for an unexpired term on the Louisiana Public Service Commission
. In the October 21 primary, Fruge led the Democrat Karl R. Derouen, Jr., of Eunice, 6,119 votes (42.1 percent) to 4,389 (30.2 percent). The remaining 28 percent, critical to the general election
outcome, was shared by three other Democratic contenders. In the November 16 general election, Fruge prevailed with 8,341 votes (54.1 percent) to Derouen’s 7.084 (48.9 percent).
In 1999, Representative Fruge was elected sergeant-at-arms of the otherwise all-Democratic Louisiana Rural
Caucus, an organization formed in 1979 to promote awareness of rural issues. To win his second term, Fruge defeated the Democrat Glenn Bihm of Eunice, 7,524 (58.2 percent) to 5,400 (41.8 percent).
On October 4, 2003, Fruge, with 5,650 votes (41.6 percent), was toppled by the Democrat Mickey Guillory, who received 7,938 ballots (58.2 percent). Fruge was damaged in his reelection bid when the chancellor of Louisiana State University at Eunice
attended Guillory’s announcement of candidacy.
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man in Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who served as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 41 (Acadia
Acadia Parish, Louisiana
Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Crowley. According to the 2010 census, the population of Acadia Parish is 61,773. The parish was founded from parts of St...
, Evangeline
Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,434 people, 12,736 households, and 9,157 families residing in the parish. The population density was 53 people per square mile . There were 14,258 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, and St. Landry parishes
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St...
) from 1996-2004. In his bid for a third term, he was unseated in the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary by the Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Mickey James Guillory (born 1940), then the Eunice city marshal. Guillory was unopposed for a second term in the 2007 primary.
Fruge received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in industrial technology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
. Active in the community, he is a past president of the Eunice Jaycees and Lions Club. He holds membership in the Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and its companion organization, the Shriners
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
. He is Roman Catholic. He is a former vice chairman of the Acadiana
Acadiana
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate...
chapter of the American Welding Society. Fruge is a devotee of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Cajun music
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
. His wife is Shella Fruge; they have at least one son, Gregory Fruge, Jr. (born 1972), and four grandchildren.
The legislative seat opened in 1995 when the Democratic incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Representative, Dale Sittig
Dale Sittig
Clifton Dale Sittig is the director of the Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority, who previously served from 1995-2008 as a Democratic member of his state’s Public Service Commission and from 1983-1995 as a state representative from Eunice in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana.Sittig graduated...
, also from Eunice, a small city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in St. Landry Parish, ran successfully for an unexpired term on the Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year terms...
. In the October 21 primary, Fruge led the Democrat Karl R. Derouen, Jr., of Eunice, 6,119 votes (42.1 percent) to 4,389 (30.2 percent). The remaining 28 percent, critical to the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
outcome, was shared by three other Democratic contenders. In the November 16 general election, Fruge prevailed with 8,341 votes (54.1 percent) to Derouen’s 7.084 (48.9 percent).
In 1999, Representative Fruge was elected sergeant-at-arms of the otherwise all-Democratic Louisiana Rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
Caucus, an organization formed in 1979 to promote awareness of rural issues. To win his second term, Fruge defeated the Democrat Glenn Bihm of Eunice, 7,524 (58.2 percent) to 5,400 (41.8 percent).
On October 4, 2003, Fruge, with 5,650 votes (41.6 percent), was toppled by the Democrat Mickey Guillory, who received 7,938 ballots (58.2 percent). Fruge was damaged in his reelection bid when the chancellor of Louisiana State University at Eunice
Louisiana State University at Eunice
Louisiana State University Eunice is a community college located in Eunice, Louisiana, that currently serves around 3,300 full and part-time students.LSU Eunice currently offers degrees and diplomas up to the associate's degree level...
attended Guillory’s announcement of candidacy.