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September 19, 2018
Lucille Courteaux
September 20, 2018
A Houma businessman who sought to unseat a local state senator four years ago is throwing his hat in the ring for the 2019 election, hitting the ground running with no challengers visible at the present time.
Republican Mike Fesi announced last week that he is a candidate for the District 20 seat currently occupied by Sen. Norby Chabert R-Houma. Chabert cannot run for re-election in 2019 due to state-mandated term limits. Fesi’s challenge to Chabert in 2015 won him 43 percent of the vote. Chabert drew 51 percent. That made the incumbent Chabert a winner at the conclusion of the primary, so no runoff was needed.
In a statement announcing his candidacy, Fesi indicated that his campaign fundraising efforts are so far successful, with $152,000 raised for the campaign war-chest during an inaugural event. During his last attempt at the office, Fesi had raised $500,000. His donors have included prominent members of Houma’s business community, especially those involved wit hoil and gas.
“We are overwhelmed by the encouragement we have continually received from the community and its leaders since 2015,” Fesi said. “My motto is ‘Big Mike Cares.’ I truly want to help improve the quality of life for everyone in District 20, and I encourage all residents of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes to get involved in volunteering and stewardship to make a difference in the lives of people across our area.”
Fesi is owner and chairman of Pipeline Construction and Maintenance Inc., an oil and gas service company that has worked out of Houma for more than 20 years.
Fesi describes himself as a strong conservative voice, identifying with pro-life philosophy. One of his early supporters is former state representative Lenar Whitney, who drew nationwide attention during a run for congress after posting a video on YouTube explaining why global warning does not exist.
Fesi is not a stranger to local community causes. He regularly serves lunches to veterans at Houma’s Regional Military Museum. He has also provided volunteer and financial support to MacDonell Children’s Services, a non-profit based in Houma.
His political involvement is well documented. In 2016 he was an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention, supporting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. He is also a member of the Republican State Central Committee, representing District 20. Fesi is an advocate for pro-life causes and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
The firm Fesi has hired to consult and advise his campaign, Innovative Politics, a Mandeville firm which in the past has done work for Chabert, but is known as an agency that worked for Trump during his candidacy, producing nationally-aired television ads.
District 20 covers most of Terrebonne Parish as well as south Lafourche.
Businessman Mike Fesi says he wants to help out the people in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes He’s running to be a State Senator Seeking the seat left vacant by Norby Chabert
