Michael F. "Mike" Thompson

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Michael Francis "Mike" Thompson (born 1942) is a Lafayette home builder who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972-1988. Thompson was a Democrat for his first six years of service, but he switched to the Republican Party for the balance of his tenure. He was defeated for reelection in the 1987 general election by a "No Party" candidate, who served only one term. Thompson is particularly remembered for his strong support of the right-to-life cause. He is a graduate of the law school of Tulane University in New Orleans.

1 Supporting pro-family causes
2 Unseated in the 1987 general election
3 Mike Thompson Homes
4 References

[edit] Supporting pro-family causes

In 1976, as he entered his second term in the legislature, Thompson and several conservative colleagues, including Daniel Wesley "Dan" Richey of Ferriday in Concordia Parish, cast critical votes in the House Civil Law Committee against the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, which lost 5-9 in the panel and was therefore not referred to the full House for an up-or-down vote. Thompson's right-to-life supporters organized against the ERA on the premise that if implemented it would have federalized family law. Therefore, they convinced the lawmaker to reverse his previously stated support for the ERA.

Lafayette has been a center of antiabortion activism since the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, which legalized access to abortion. Lafayette physicians at the time signed a joint statement declaring that life begins before birth and vowed not to perform abortions, which remain rare in Acadiana, a term referring to French cultural Louisiana. The doctors said that despite Roe, "we feel compelled to continue to practice our profession in accordance with our moral beliefs, central to which is the preservation of life." This group of doctors along with other professionals, priests, pastors, and homemakers organized to educate the public and to let abortion clinics know that they were not welcome in Acadiana. They also established LIFE-LINE to aid women and families in crisis. In 2006, the Desormeaux Foundation, which funds a Lafayette crisis pregnancy center, honored three physicians at the forefront of the antiabortion movement. Also cited for their roles in the prolife movement were former Lafayette Republican Mayor William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr., and former state Representative Thompson.

Thompson is Roman Catholic. His friend and former legislative colleague Dan Richey recalls that Thompson once told a meeting of Protestant ministers, including the Reverend Jerry Falwell of Lynchburg, Virginia, that he was with the conservatives on family-related issues but not when it came to restrictions against "beer and bingo," popular with Louisiana Catholics.

[edit] Unseated in the 1987 general election

In his last election, Thompson, the District 43 representative, was challenged by the independent Odon L. Bacque, Jr., and the Democrat Vana Lanier. Thompson led in the October 24 primary with 7,345 votes (45 percent) to Bacqaue's 6,473 (40 percent), and Lanier's 2,377 (15 percent). In the November 21 general election, the Lanier backers swung strongly to Bacque, who prevailed, 6,811 (57 percent) to Thompson's 5,106 ballots (43 percent). Thompson's defeat was also attributed to the failure of some 2,200 Republican voters who participated in the primary to return to the polls for the second round of balloting. Still, the successful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Paul J. Hardy won in Lafayette Parish over the Democratic incumbent Robert Louis "Bobby" Freeman at the same time that Thompson was going down to defeat.

[edit] Mike Thompson Homes

Thompson and his second wife, Cheryl F. Thompson, work together in their home construction business. They have built more than 300 homes throughout Acadiana, mostly in the French country and traditional Louisiana styles. He is a past president of the Acadian Home Builders Association and was designated "Builder of the Year" in 1997. He is the treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Home Builders Assn. Mrs. Thompson specializes in interior design and works to guarantee that the contractors comply with the buyers' design selections.

Preceded by At-large members O.C. "Dan" Guillot (D) Frederic G. Hayes (D) J.Luke LeBlanc (D)	Louisiana State Representative from District 43 (Lafayette Parish) Michael F. "Mike" Thompson (R) 1972–1988	Succeeded by Odon L. Bacque, Jr., (I)