Lester Joseph "Joey" Durel, Jr. (born April 3, 1953), rocketed to local political prominence when in 2003, he became the second Republican elected as mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana, and the second person elected as "mayor-president" of the combined City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish government. A small businessman, Durel had never before sought or held political office. He was the consummate "outsider" in his race from the political standpoint but an "insider" on the basis of business and commerce. His election also defied the statewide tide that year that heavily favored Democrats.

Durel was unopposed for his second term as mayor-president in the jungle primary held on October 20, 2007.