Warren "Puggy" Moity
| Warren James "Puggy" Moity, Sr. (Colorful Louisiana politician) | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 10, 1923 New Iberia, Louisiana |
| Died | January 9, 1997 (aged 73) Resting place: |
| Political Party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Velma Richard Moity Children: |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Warren James Moity, Sr., known as Puggy Moity (April 10, 1923 – January 9, 1997), [1] was a colorful Democratic politician from New Iberia, Louisiana. Considered to be in the mold of the popular Governor Earl Kemp Long, Moity was known for scurrilous attacks on political figures.[2]
Though he never held office himself, Moity was one of seventeen primary candiates for governor in 1971. In that race, he accused frontrunner and final winner Edwin Edwards of being homosexual. Edwards approached Moity at a campaign gathering at the Capitol House Hotel in Baton Rouge and kissed him on the cheek, evoking much laughter from those in the room. Moity polled 8,965 votes, less than 1 percent of the total ballots cast. He also ran for the Louisiana State Senate while seeking the governorship. He also ran on several occasions for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district seat, since reconfigured.[2]
In 1975, he ran for state insurance commissioner against fellow Democrat Sherman Albert Bernard, Sr. (1925-2012) at the behest of Bernard's principal opponent, former Mayor Victor H. Schiro of New Orleans. Schiro wanted Moity to attack Bernard so that Schiro could rise above the mudslinging.[3] Bernard, however, won his second term in the office, as Schiro finished with just 16 percent of the ballots cast.
Often Moity purchased half-hour television spots as a forum to ridicule candidates that he opposed. Many responded to the broadcasts though they had no intention of voting for Moity himself. Later, a critic set off a bomb under Moity's car, and though he was not injured, most of his political attacks ceased thereafter.[4]
Moity and his wife, the former Velma Richard (1926-2017), a native of Opelousas, Louisiana, had three children: Margaret Coco and husband Myron "Buddy" Coco of New Iberia, Patricia Casey and husband Leonhard Casey of New Orleans, and son, Warren J. "Puggy" Moity, Jr., and wife Marylaura of Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish. The Moitys are interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in New Iberia.[5]
References
- ↑ Warren James Moity, Sr.. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on November27, 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Warren J. "Puggy" Moity. Our Campaigns (November 27, 2018).
- ↑ Warren J. "Puggy" Moity on KLNI TV 15 New Iberia, Lousiana. YouTube.com (March 21, 2013). Retrieved on November 27, 2018.
- ↑ The Moon Griffon Show, November 27, 2018.
- ↑ Velma Richard Moity. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on November 27, 2018.