Well, with a 3-½ year old and 15 month old, what my wife, Sara, and I do is raise, chase and love two beautiful and energetic kids: Matthew-Paul and Ava MargaretAnn Lapleau.  We are also the proud parents of Wrigley, our 97lb. Rhodesian Ridgeback.  Sara is a Speech Pathologist with a distinction in head injuries.  Sara works on an as-needed basis teaching a continuing education course for HEALTHSOUTH Corporation and does patient care for Amedysis.  I am in Business Development for a Louisiana based family company, Mele Printing.

Q) Why did you become a Republican?

“Did I have any choice?”  When I was born my father walked into the hospital room and read the birth certificate and shouted, “what is this, Randy?”  His name is not Randy, it is Barry!  Barry Goldwater.   I was born in 65’.  Lucky for me the name matches well with my views.

Q) Beyond television, newspaper and Internet, how do you stay current with political affairs?

Yes, everyday I have my consistent news sources that I look at to see what issues are “hot” for the day and what issues “the media is telling us we should think are important.”  Aside from my regular sources, I am fortunate that our company, Mele Printing, is actively involved in the printed communication of political, campaign and congressional messages on a local, state and national level.  “I thoroughly enjoy being active in this aspect of our business.  It has allowed me to develop some professional as well as personal relationships with a good crowd of people.”

Q) What do you look forward to in Louisiana and the Republican Party in 2010?

This is a great question.  2010 will be a fun, busy and exciting year for Louisiana Republicans and myself.

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans on April 8^th, 9^th and 10^th will prime us all for a big year in Louisiana Republican politics. Charlie Davis and his executive team at the SRLC have put together an impressive lineup of Republican Party leaders to speak at the conference (Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pence and Rick Santorum just to name a few) and a large audience from all over the country.  This will be a great event to finish off the first quarter of 2010 and jump-start us into the senatorial and congressional races.

Will the state congressional delegation hold onto its existing seats?  Will the state GOP add the Louisiana 3^rd district to the delegation?  What will become of the redistricting?  This will be exciting and our company is grateful to be a part of the process.  And of course, let’s not forget about Senator Vitter.

I look forward to his campaign and watching Senator Vitter and his staff run a strong race against Congressman Melancon and maintain his seat in the Senate.

Q) What issues are you most passionate about? Why?

Healthcare, taxes, debt.  Socialized healthcare concerns me.  Being someone who has experienced a traumatic brain injury, I am confident that I would not have received the care that I did in a socialized system.  High taxes concern me as they have historically slowed down our economy and increase the possibility of unemployment.  Debt that we incur as a result of a recession can be over come as we pull out of a recession if we are in a pro-business environment.  Unfortunately, the kind of debt we are currently creating appears to be going beyond that in which a healthy economic upturn will resolve.  My concern is that the only way we will be able to address the debt will be through significant tax increases.

Q) What changes do you like that the party has made?

Believing that the future of the party rests with its connection to the younger generation, I like how the party has been proactive in communicating with the younger generation, and older generation, through sites like lagop.com, lagop.net and social network sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Q) Who is you favorite Republican Elected official and why? (Current or past is OK)

I will go with my namesake, Barry Goldwater.  Another reason that I choose Barry Goldwater is a family one.  A few years ago Sara and I were going through some of her old family photos.  We came across several large photos of her late father (William Paul Green), Barry Goldwater and a few others riding in a convertible. When we asked about the photos we learned  that back in the early 60’s my father in-law and Noble Chambers were the President of the Crowley Republican Party.  Now you have to remember that at that time there were only 12 registered republicans in all of Acadia Parish, so per Mr. Chambers, they had to be president because there were so few of them.

The two most memorable things that they worked on was organizing a Republican base in Crowley for Charlton Lyons’ 1964 race for governor against John McKeithen and Barry Goldwater’s visit to Crowley in the 60’s.

My husband, Mark, and I are the parents of three children:  Allison B. Mikaelian, G.M. ‘Tre’ Bezou, III, and Doughty B. Kogel.  We are  grandparents of five wonderful grandchildren. Mark is retired from 39 years plus with Pitney Bowes Corporation and also retired from a combination of the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, having earned the rank of Major.  He is presently working part time as a DAE Operations Specialist for FEMA.  I am a teacher at Ridgewood Preparatory School in Metairie, LA.

Q) Why did you become a Republican?

I became a Republican because of the conservative values and ideals of the party.

Q) What campaigns have you volunteered for?

These would be to numerous to list, but some include campaigns for Steve Scalise, Bobby Jindal, David Vitter, George W. Bush/Dick Chaney, John McCain/Sarah Palin, etc.

Q) Are you or have you ever been involved with the Republican State Central Committee, Republican Women, Pachyderm’s, College Republicans, Parish Executive Committee or any other Republican organization?  In what capacity?

I am not on the State Central Committee nor the Parish Executive Committee but  do attend most of the SCC meetings and PEC Endorsement meetings.  I am secretary of the Pelican State Pachyderm Club, Treasurer of the River Region Republican Women, Chairman of the LFRW Technology Committee, Assistant to the LFRW Region I Vice President and Associate member of the Republican Professional Women of Greater New Orleans, East Jefferson Republican Women, The Republican Women of Metro New Orleans, and The Republican Women of Jefferson Parish Clubs.

Q) What issues are you most passionate about? Why?

I am very concerned about the issues concerning Social Security, Terrorism, Health Issues, Taxation, and Immigration.

Q) What do you think the party does best?

I feel the Republican Party is best in its visionary capacity.  With conservative values, and foresight, considering ’cause and affect’ and looking beyond the “ME” generations’ “I want it NOW!” mentality, the Republican Party has  focus and strength that can pull our country through and back on the road for better times.

Q) What could it do better?

The Party is in the process of pulling itself back up and re-grouping after quite a jolt with the recent elections.  If I had to pick one word to answer this question it would be UNITY.  There is strength in numbers and by sticking together with the same focus and goals wonders can be accomplished.  Living by example and considering the needs of the masses would be favorable, as well.  We have had to spend way too much time explaining personal weaknesses and other scars where all that attention needs to be put to the causes of our nation.

Q) Who is you favorite Republican Elected official and why? (current or past is OK)

Most Republicans would probably list Ronald Reagan as an all time favorite; I must confess he is also on my list.  I too, though he may not be so popular right now, must include George W. Bush.  All leaders are going to do some things we don’t agree with, but I admire, in these two, their tenacity, their focus, and their strength in upholding their conservative values.  I have also been impressed with both in not being ashamed to give credit and allegiance to our God.

I am the communications specialist and webmaster for the Zachary Community School District, but my most important job is being a mom. My husband Daniel is the publisher of the Zachary Post community newspaper. Our children are Calla age 4, Chandler age 2 and Cecelia 1 month old.

Q) Why did you become a Republican?

I feel the Republican Party most reflects my conservative family values and offers the best direction for the future of the country that I envision for my children.

Q) What campaigns have you volunteered for?

Woody Jenkins for Congress, Bill Cassidy for Congress, Bobby Jindal for Governor

Q) When were you elected to the SCC?

June 2008

Q) What issues are you most passionate about? Why?

As a mother, the idea that any woman who has felt life growing in her womb can willingly terminate such a gift astounds me. I am pro-life and pro-family. I also believe it is our responsibility to have a strong national defense and to leave for our children a country in which they can feel safe.

Q) What do you think the party does best?

I think our party has done very little effectively on a national level in recent history, that’s why we need to return to our principles of small government, fiscal responsibility and family values.

Q) What could it do better?

As an African-American woman raised in the church, I feel like the Republican Party has failed to connect with the traditional family values central to many African-American churches. On issues of family and faith, I think so many more African-Americans identify with traditionally conservative principles, but vote against their conscience out of habit. As a party, we must continue to hold fast to our ideals which are the values that make this country great and more effectively articulate our views rather than being defined by our opposition.

Q) Who is you favorite Republican Elected official and why? (current or past is OK)

Ronald Reagan because he embodied the commitment to conservatism I think our party needs these days while not taking himself too seriously. I have two favorite quotes that illustrate this:

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15. “