Guillory term-limited out of Legislature

Louisiana’s three-term limit on legislators spells the end of Rep. Mickey Guillory’s tenure in the House of Representatives.
Guillory is one of 21 legislators who reached the legal limit on their time.
Guillory, 75, a retired State Police officer, was first elected in 2003 and represents the 41th District.
Even as term limits are costing him his position, Guillory said there are pros and cons to term limits. He thinks a four-term limit would be better than three terms.
“You lose good people at times,” he said of term limits.
And, “people always have the opportunity to throw someone out.”
Guillory, a Democrat, defeated Greg Fruge, a Republican, with 58 percent of the vote in the October 2003 election. Guillory then ran unopposed for his second and third terms.
“The highlight for me and the satisfaction came from helping constituents, people who had problems,” he said.
“My attitude was this: If people had the confidence to come see me for help I was going to do everything I could to help them whether they were for me or against me in the elections.”
In what has become almost a rarity among white Democrats, Guillory retained his identity as a Democrat.
“I’m a Democrat, however I’m not a rubber stamp for any party,” he said. “I vote first of all the way my constituents want.”
But he says he probably voted with Republicans more than not.
Helping people one by one was his primary goal, he said.
One example, he said was man living in FEMA trailer in Church Point after a storm. FEMA wanted the trailer returned and the man offered to pay for it to no avail. Guillory intervened, but nothing happened until one day someone from FEMA called to say the man could have the trailer.
In another case, a man needed surgery and, with Guillory’s help, located a surgeon in Shreveport with the necessary skills.
“I enjoy it and we were able to do quite a few things in this office,” he said.
In between road and bridge projects, helping fire districts and individuals, Guillory agrees his big project was the Community Education Building on the Louisiana State University Eunice campus.
William Nunez, former LSUE chancellor, said Guillory was the reason the campus got the building.
“I remember when he came to me when I just announced I was running,” he said of Nunez. “‘Mickey,’ he says, ‘I’ve been trying to get a classroom community building over here. Do you think you can help us with that?’ I said, ‘Chancellor, I’ll do everything I can. I can’t guarantee I’ll get it, but I will work on it for you.’”
Guillory first worked with Gov. Kathleen Blanco on the building project and obtained $660,000 for planning, he said.
Next came Gov. Bobby Jindal.
“I have this college in Eunice,” he said he told Jindal. “We’ve got the money for planning and everything. I’d like to see if we can get the money to build the building.”
Money was not so much an issue in Jindal’s first term and Guillory said $9 million was allocated out of a $95 million surplus that was to be spent.
The classroom eventually cost about $7 million to construct, he said.
Guilllory said politics was something he was always interested in.
“I was always around politics,” he said. “I always liked watching it. I guess I always kind of thought in the back of my mind maybe I would run for something.”
Guillory retired as acting captain over State Police Region II narcotics officers after 26 years with the State Police. He then went to work as Eunice City Marshal L.G. Carrier’s assistant.
Next, he won election as city marshal.
“I wound up serving in two elected positions for the last 20 years because of people asking me to run,” he said.
Along the way, Rebel Manuel has been by his side, he said.
“She has been tremendous,” he said.
“Over the years she made contacts. Who to call,” he said.
Guillory’s House committee assignments are Administration of Criminal Justice, Labor and Industrial Relations, Ways and Means, Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Joint Committee on Homeland Security and Atchafalaya Basin Program Oversight Committee.
On the House website, Guillory’s education includes State Police Academy and Louisiana State University Eunice and Louisiana State University Baton Rouge.
Guillory’s term ends at 10 a.m. Jan 11.
About what is next, Guillory said, “I’m not sure. I’ve been asked to run for other things. I’m playing it by ear.”
Guillory said, “I really enjoy serving and making a lot of friends. It is almost amazing.”