In 1983, Nunez became Senate President by acclamation[4] when Michael H. O'Keefe of New Orleans was indicted, maintained his innocence, but was ultimately convicted of a federal crime and imprisoned.[5][6][7]
Nunez was one of several pro-gambling legislators who were defeated or forced to retire following the 1995 legislative session. Two of Nunez' most prominent Senate colleagues, Armand Brinkhaus of Sunset in St. Landry Parish and Sixty Rayburn of Bogalusa in Washington Parish, lost re-election bids, while Senators Larry Bankston of Baton Rouge and Gerry Hinton of Slidell stood down. Also failing in his re-election bid was Rep. Raymond Lalonde of Sunset, the author of the 1992 bill which allowed for a land-based casino to operate in New Orleans.[citation needed]
Senator Dean served two terms and was succeeded in 2004 by the Republican, later Democrat, Walter Boasso. As a Democrat, Boasso finished a distant second to Republican Bobby Jindal in the 2007 governor's race, as Jindal easily captured the requisite majority n the primary to avoid a runoff.[15][16][17]
Later years and legacy
Long after his legislative service, Nunez was a member of the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.[18][19]
He operated an insurance agency.[20][21][2][22]
^Ron Gomez, My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative, Lafayette, Louisiana: Zemog Publishing, 2000, pp. 59–70, ISBN0-9700156-0-7
^"Open primary bill for congressmen introduced", Minden Press-Herald, May 19, 1976, p. 1
^Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, September 27, 1986
^"Nunez indicates he'll back Breaux", Minden Press-Herald, October 23, 1986, p. 3A
^"Louisiana International Trade Bulletin". The Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center and the World Trade Center of New Orleans. July 2005. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.