Stephen L. Gunn
Encyclopedia
Stephen Lee "Steve" Gunn (born May 12, 1946) is the departing Independent
mayor
of his hometown of Montgomery
(population 787 in 2000) in northern Grant Parish in north central Louisiana
. Previously from 1992–1996, Gunn was a "No Party" member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 22 (Catahoula, Grant, and La Salle parishes plus one precinct
in Rapides Parish).
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 Louisiana.
Gunn was born to Murrell Harrison Gunn (1919–1978), a Grant Parish school principal and administrator, and the former Elizabeth Wardlow (1924–2010), an English
teacher at Montgomery High School and the daughter of James Owen Wardlow (1895–1980) and the former Mabel Thompson (1897–1977). Gunn graduated from Montgomery High School in 1964. A Montgomery businessman, he is retired from the military. He is single.
Gunn was elected to the legislature by ninety-four votes in 1991. He campaigned on a limited budget from his own resources and knocked on the door of nearly every residence in the district. In the October 19 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 to Smith's 9,837 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 council election held on October 6, 1990. He 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 T. Coolman (born September 22, 1962), 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.
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. The town council then consisted of two Independents, two Democrats, and one Republican, Joann B. Lary (born November 1, 1939).
Mayor Gunn had sought construction of a bridge atop the Red River at Montgomery to link the town directly to Natchitoches
to the west. A ferry once used to cross the river at Montgomery ceased operating in 1960.
Gunn did not seek reelection as mayor in the October 2, 2010 primary. His successor is the Democrat Vera "Susie" Waters, who received 168 votes (80 percent). Democrat Randy Cotten received 42 votes (20 percent).
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of his hometown of Montgomery
Montgomery, Louisiana
left|thumb|200px|First Baptist Church in MontgomeryMontgomery is a town in Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area. Founded in 1712, even before New Orleans, Montgomery is situated on U.S...
(population 787 in 2000) in northern Grant Parish in north central 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...
. Previously from 1992–1996, Gunn was a "No Party" 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 22 (Catahoula, Grant, and La Salle parishes plus one precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
in Rapides Parish).
Gunn's maternal great-aunt, Lula Wardlow
Lula Wardlow
Lula Ethredge Wardlow was a businesswoman, United Methodist minister, and the first woman ever elected mayor of a Louisiana community. She served from 1926-1930 in Montgomery , a village in northern Grant Parish.Mrs. Wardlow was born in Grant Parish to Wesley Ethredge and the former Alpha Jane Baker...
, was also a mayor of Montgomery. A Methodist minister and denominational leader, Mrs. Wardlow was mayor from 1926-1930. A 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...
, she was the first woman ever to be elected mayor of any community in Louisiana.
Gunn was born to Murrell Harrison Gunn (1919–1978), a Grant Parish school principal and administrator, and the former Elizabeth Wardlow (1924–2010), an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
teacher at Montgomery High School and the daughter of James Owen Wardlow (1895–1980) and the former Mabel Thompson (1897–1977). Gunn graduated from Montgomery High School in 1964. A Montgomery businessman, he is retired from the military. He is single.
Gunn was elected to the legislature by ninety-four votes in 1991. He campaigned on a limited budget from his own resources and knocked on the door of nearly every residence in the district. In the October 19 primary, he ran second to 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...
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 to Smith's 9,837 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 council election held on October 6, 1990. He served with three Democrats and 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...
, 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 T. Coolman (born September 22, 1962), 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.
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. The town council then consisted of two Independents, two Democrats, and one Republican, Joann B. Lary (born November 1, 1939).
Mayor Gunn had sought construction of a bridge atop the Red River at Montgomery to link the town directly to Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
to the west. A ferry once used to cross the river at Montgomery ceased operating in 1960.
Gunn did not seek reelection as mayor in the October 2, 2010 primary. His successor is the Democrat Vera "Susie" Waters, who received 168 votes (80 percent). Democrat Randy Cotten received 42 votes (20 percent).