Parey Branton

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Parey Pershing Branton, Jr., (born November 1918) is a retired businessman and a former Democratic state representative from Webster Parish in northern Louisiana, who served from 1960-1972. In the mid-1960s, he called himself a "Wallace--Goldwater--Free Enterprise--Right-to-Profit Democrat" and printed that slogan on his private vehicle. He refused to support the national Democratic presidential candidates during his tenure in the legislature. Instead, he endorsed Republican Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona in 1964 and former Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, Jr., in 1968, who ran on the American Independent Party banner in a vain attempt to block the election of either Richard Nixon or Hubert Humphrey as president.

Branton gave up his legislative seat after three terms to run for lieutenant governor in the 1971 Democratic primary. He was paired on an unofficial "ticket" with State Senator John G. Schwegmann, Jr., (1911-1995) of Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs. Schwegmann, the owner of 18 grocery stores, was an outspoken conservative who had long been critical of excessive state spending and expanded government. The Schwegmann-Branton ticket lost poorly. Schwegmann finished in fifth place in the gubernatorial primary, and Branton fared even worse.

Branton was seeking to succeed conservative Lieutenant Governor Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock of Franklin in St. Mary Parish. Aycock was running for governor that year and finished a notch behind Schwegmann. Branton was weakened in his campaign by the presence of a second candidate from Webster Parish. The building contractor Francis Edward "Ed" Kennon (born 1938) of Minden, a nephew of former Governor Robert F. Kennon, was also running unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. A year later, Ed Kennon would win election to the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

Branton was philosophically aligned with State Senator Harold Montgomery (1911-1995) of Doyline in Webster Parish, another staunch conservative often at odds with his party. Branton was also personally and philosophically close to his successor, R. Harmon Drew, Sr., of Minden, another conservative Democrat. In 1995, Branton was an honorary pallbearer at the funerals of both Montgomery and Drew.

Branton resides with his wife of many years, the former Georgia Lusby (born 1921), in the town of Shongaloo, north of Minden. Branton was the mayor of Shongaloo from 1983 to 2001. He was succeeded in the mayor's office by his son, Daniel Miles Branton (born 1949). The Brantons also have a younger son, Parey P. Branton, Jr. (born 1951).