Jim Bradshaw: When Charlie Langlinais was right, he was right

Charles Langlinais, who over decades of public service led the transformation of the quiet village of Broussard into a dynamic city, quite often sought my opinion. Most of the time it was on some version of the question, “Have you absolutely lost your mind?”

He didn’t mince words when he disagreed with you.

Neither did I in the days when we first met. I was still young enough to be absolutely sure that the views I expressed in a regular political column were sound, well-reasoned, astute, and undeniable.

That led to some serious debate, usually over the phone, sometimes over a big breakfast somewhere (we were both early risers). Every now and then he showed me that I might — just might — be wrong.

Less often, he would concede that it was slightly — only slightly — possible that I could have a valid point. Most often we agreed to disagree — but always agreeably.

That’s how we came to be friends and remained friends over four decades or more.

Other friends, neighbors, and officials who were interviewed by the media after his death on January 24, all spoke of his single-minded dedication to the community where he was born. They also invariably described him as hard-headed.

Broussard Public Works Director Mel Bertrand, for example, told The Acadiana Advocate, “Charlie was very headstrong and very passionate about Broussard. If he thought he was right, he thought he was right, and he would not sway away from that. It was good and bad. He was very reluctant to cave in, to admit when he was wrong. He wanted what was best for Broussard, and he would fight you tooth and nail for it.”

That led to some mighty clashes and controversies, particularly with officialdom in Lafayette over issues arising when the lines or interests of the two communities met, or more likely butted, each other.
But, at least in my experience, his arguments, though sometimes heated, were always about the issues involved, never the personalities. Our debates never threatened our friendship.

He was Broussard’s mayor from January 1991 to December 2018. During those years he used his expertise as a surveyor and real estate developer to convince businesses and other developers that the town’s location on U.S. 90 between Lafayette and New Iberia made it the ideal place to work and live.

The first to agree with him were oil service and supply companies. Then came substantial retailers like Home Depot, Walmart, Stine, and Albertson’s. Some of them came because of the innovative tax strategies he developed. Some came just because he talked them into it.

Under his administration, the town did away with its property tax to lure new businesses. To replace that revenue, he became an expert in the use of a sophisticated tool called tax increment financing, innovating ways for Broussard to pay for development projects with the revenue generated by the development itself. Those ideas paid off not only in bringing business to town, but in street and drainage work and the other things needed to sustain municipal growth.

Over the years, the growth began to build a synergy and momentum that brought still more growth. Charlie was sometimes leading it from the front, sometimes pushing it from behind, but always keen on keeping it moving one way or the other.

Still, hard-driving and passionate as he was, he was someone who was easy to like, with a ready smile and sometimes a canaille gleam in his eye. I think some of his reputed stubbornness came from the fact that he just liked to argue for argument’s sake. He enjoyed it.

The mayor was a thoughtful man who liked people, especially his neighbors in Broussard, and one who took time to have fun and enjoy a good laugh. Bertrand was one of those who recalled Charlie’s booming laugh. “I used to love to tell Charlie a joke because I’d love to hear him laugh,” Bertrand said. “I’d stand back and just watch him laugh.”

Charlie summarized his philosophy at a gathering of friends in December 2018 after his last Town Council meeting as mayor.

“You’ve got to get involved and not complain about situations,” he said. “You’ve got to contribute. I’ve always tried to get … people around me to be involved. Instead of moaning and crying how bad it is, be a part of the solution.”

Charlie continued to be involved with his community even after leaving office, and I suspect that he is still trying to help resolve tangled situations. I can see him at the Pearly Gates explaining to The
Keeper how to put together a tax package to expand the road to them, helping traffic flow and at the same time fixing a drainage problem.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.