Lucette, 70 years old at city hall: the incredible destiny of an elected official who did not want to be one

Lucette Routaboul, who never sought power but never stopped serving, embodies a certain idea of rural commitment, characterized by discretion, tenacity, and human connection. Nearly 90 years old, she is turning the page on a lifetime dedicated to her constituents – or almost.

In the village, she is simply called Lucette, even after three terms as mayor. When you arrive at her home, she warmly welcomes you with a smile. Her old farmhouse seems frozen in time, except for her kitchen, where a few elements betray a certain attraction to modern comfort.

Lucette Routaboul is the focus of a recent book, “Lucette Routaboul: A Global History.” Jean-Robert Jouanny traces her life in over 400 pages, something she doesn’t always fully grasp. “I consider myself like everyone else,” she explains. “I just worked, that’s all!”

Born in Sainte-Cécile-du-Cayrou, in the Tarn, on October 26, 1936, Lucette went to school here before moving to Gaillac for college.

At 22, the mayor of Sainte-Cécile-du-Cayrou asked her to replace the pregnant town hall secretary. Lucette Routaboul then started her role on April 1, 1958, working two half-days per week. “April 1st – and it’s not an April Fools’ joke,” she jokes. She juggled between her job as a secretary and helping out at the family farm.

After 43 years of secretarial work, in 2001, the outgoing mayor encouraged Lucette to take his place. Initially hesitant due to the heavy responsibilities, she eventually accepted, ran as a list leader, and was elected.

She retired, then ran again

She became the mayor of a complex town with no real village, as she describes it. The commune is a cluster of hamlets, with its 125 residents spread across nearly 8 square kilometers of land.

In 2008, she was reelected for a second term. She then decided to step back for family reasons in the 2014 elections, becoming the deputy mayor. But Lucette, with her strong character, believed her successor was not doing enough for the residents. So, in 2020, she was elected for a third term. “I have always loved interacting with people, I tried to be of service,” she explains.

Photos on the table depict what Lucette accomplished during her terms: renovating the church for €56,000, moving the town hall to the former school, and establishing a repository for the cemetery. But her main concern was increasing the number of residents.

“I retired on March 15th”: Lucette handed over the reins to her successors for the 2026 election. She is now permanently stepping away from politics but admits she will continue to visit her constituents. In total, Lucette Routaboul has dedicated nearly 70 years to the mayoral role. And to end her term on a high note, she officiated her grandson’s wedding about ten days before the elections.