Kathryn Goppelt
Chair
At-large Kathryn married Lou Goppelt in 1984 and they have 5 children. Kathryn's education includes a B.S. from Iowa State University, Ames IA (1973), Beloit of Ames 1973-1975, AIM 1975-1977, Sudan, Africa 1977-1984, Navigators, Christian Ministries USA and overseas, Jordan. Kathryn supports the Republican party because in our two party system the platform of the Republican party is most closely aligned with her personal convictions of pro-life, pro-marriage (one man, one woman), pro-second amendment, limited government and lower taxes. She decided to run for the ARPEC because she wants to promote the party platform of conservatism with issue-based support and endorsements and to increase public awareness and participation. |
Al Robert
Vice-Chair
At-large Endorsements Vice Chair Candidate Search & Support Chair Al is married to Theresa Opperman and they have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Al is a graduate of Ascension Catholic High School and L.S.U.with a B.S. degree in Management. He is a life-long resident of Burnside, LA. with six siblings. Al and Theresa are the owner-operators of The Cabin Restaurant, which is located in Darrow. He is a life-long fiscal and social conservative who has been registered as a Republican since 18-years of age. Al made the decision to run for the APREC because he felt he could help and work with other like-minded individuals to make a difference. He wants to promote Republican causes and to recruit and elect Republican-minded citizens. As an ARPEC member, Al will oppose non-conservative agendas and/or legislation. |
Coral "CJ" Lambert
At-large
Events & Fundraising member Candidate Search & Support Member CJ is married to Phyllis (LaFleur) and they have four boys who are all graduates of East Ascension High School. He is graduate of St. Amant High School and Southeastern Louisiana University (1970) with a B.S. in Agriculture business. CJ worked as a teacher and coach for 10 years and is a retired Gonzales police officer of 17 years. CJ supports the Republican party because it is the only party that supports spending only what government takes in and it supports family values along with fighting to keep our constitutional rights. He would like to see needed changes in government through the Republican party, which is the majority party at the time. He would also like to see short terms of office for all positions without showering encumbents with all manner of endorsements and money. CJ would like to change the way public officials are investigated for wrong-doing in office. He feels we need a faster way to correct a person who has become corrupt, which could be with an oversight committee instead of our flawed internal affairs system. CJ would like to get our legislators to act, now, on campaign reform and internal affairs reform. |
Cheryl Fontenot
Secretary/Treasurer
District 9 Voter Registration Chair Media & Technology Chair Ascension (which means to rise above) is the place Cheryl calls home. On November 20, 1946, Emily Andermann and Hubert "Jennings" Kernan, became the parents of Cheryl Ann. She graduated from Gonzales High School, attended Baton Rouge Vocational Technical School and then started a career in finance. Cheryl married Stefan Joseph Fontenot and raised 5 sons with 11 grandchildren. Stefan also is the father of one son with a previous wife and has 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Since raising her boys, she has started a small business (The Jambalaya Shoppe), graduated from Leadership Ascension, served as Director to Church United Women, served as Parish Councilman from 2004 through 2007 representing District #4 and is now retired. The reason Cheryl is serving as an elected Republican Executive Committee member for a second term is because of her family. Cheryl believes in leaving a place better than you find it. Her desire is to serve and live with the attitude that when "life gives you lemons, you make lemonade". By serving on the ARPEC, Cheryl has a desire to make others, especially the young people of Ascension, aware of their need to become involved in our government for the purpose of bringing our country back to the founding father"s standards like those that her dad's brother, J. A. Kernan, gave his life for during WWII. She feels that our Nation is in trouble and needs help. |
Dwayne Bailey
District 1
Media/Technology member Voter Registration member Dwayne is a graduate of Southern University. His current occupation is Operator/Supervisor at Shell-Motiva in Convent. He is married to Donna Fernandez Bailey and they have two sons Brandon and Braxton Bailey. Dwayne is the past director of the Donaldsonville Community Health Coalition, a non-profit group that focused on providing health & alcohol and other drug prevention programs to teens located in Donaldsonville. He is proud to have served as Band Booster Club President at Donaldsonville High School and is currently a board member of Faith Christian Center. Dwayne has served with the Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Behavioral Disorders as a Regional Prevention Coordinator in both Region II and Region III of the State of Louisiana. He was appointed by Governor Mike Foster to the Governor’s Council of Developmental Disabilities where he served on the Executive Board providing services to disabled individuals and their families statewide. He has, also, served on the Baton Rouge Community HIV/Aids Board. He has also worked on various other committees and boards providing assorted health-related services. Dwayne is a National Trainer of Trainers in the area of Community-building. He stated, "It is an honor to serve on the Republican Parish Executive Committee. I look forward to working with the committee to bring strong professional leadership that enhances our local, parish and state government.” |
JoAn Brown
District 2
Endorsements Chair Joan's background includes Louisiana Licensed Addiction Counselor and has 20 years’ experience in Behavior Health treatment. She is the owner of two Nationally Accredited Behavior Health facilities. Joan has served in Washington D.C. on a legislative committee and has been chairperson for the La. Association of Opioid Addiction Treatment Providers. Joan has received the Louisiana Counselor of the Year Award and the Provider of the Year Award and has also served for the past 8 years on the Louisiana ADRA Licensing Board. Joan believes in the conservative position of separation of church and state and smaller government in order to keep the constitution in line with what the people want. She has served 4 terms on the ARPEC and has seen many changes in the past 16 years that have brought people together and has grown the Republican party into a respectable organization. She does not want the party to become a self-serving organization and wishes to pull all the people together in supporting the party, regardless of their opinions. Joan believes this will allow Republicans to have a respected voice and will make it into a WE party and not an I party. |
Robert Lee
District 3
Endorsements member Robert is 78 years-old and accepted Christ as his Saviour, as a small boy. He taught Sunday School, was a youth leader and did some pastoral work while working. Robert has worked as a plumber, welder, and pipefitter. He was born in West Virginia, raised in Florida and traveled with work, at times to support his brothers, sister and mother. Robert has been married to Mary Cramer Lee for 42 years. They moved to Gonzales in 1976. Robert and Mary have 4 children, 4 grandchildren and are retired. He worked very hard and received his GED to finish high school. Robert was raised a Democrat, moved to Independent, and then changed to the Republican Party about 40+ years ago because there was a rise of conservatives in the Republican Party. He believes in a republic form of government because it has more CHECKS against tyranny. Robert decided to run for the ARPEC because he heard there was a need for a member in his district. Also, the Bible says whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Through his position on the ARPEC, he hopes to educate God-fearing conservative people so they will move to the Republican party. Robert will support righteous legislation for freedom and oppose unrighteous legislation that will enslave us. |
Milton Clouatre
District 4
Voter Registration Vice Chair Candidate Search & Support member Milton is married to Doris Clouatre.His educational background includes Architect Design and Mechanical and Electrical Engineer Design. He is the owner of Drafting Services, L.L.C. and other companies. Milton ran for the ARPEC because he supports the Republican party and wants good governmental decisions by elected officials. |
Kathy Edmonston
District 5
Endorsements member Kathy has worked for Ascension parish schools for 20 years as a parent facilitator. She has 4 grown children with 4 grandchildren (boys). She obtained a B.A. in English from LSU. Kathy ran for the ARPEC because she supports the values of less government, reduction in spending, less taxes and conservatism. Kathy wants to further impact our parish by living by and voting for conservative ideals. |
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OPEN SEAT!
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OPEN SEAT!
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